Inside look at New Jersey Devils
Similar roster returns with hopes of building on playoff appearance
The New Jersey Devils are confident they can remain competitive in the Metropolitan Division and the Eastern Conference despite not being an active participant in free agency or trades during the offseason.
"We're always trying to make our team better, but we feel like we have to start from within," coach John Hynes said. "We like the group we have very much and we're expecting those guys to be better. It's up to the players to take a step physically and mentally; they need to become better players.
"If your team is going to grow, it starts from within and it's about putting in the time to make sure we all come back better than we were last year. That's the first step in us becoming a better team."
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The Devils, who were 44-29-9 and qualified for the Stanley Cup Playoffs for the first time in six seasons, return a roster that resembles the one that lost to the Tampa Bay Lightning in five games in the Eastern Conference First Round.
Key moves this summer involved re-signing forwards Blake Coleman to a three-year contract worth $5.4 million and Stefan Noesen to a one-year contract worth $1.725 million on July 17. Each scored 13 goals last season.
"We need to take a step forward and we need to understand how difficult that's going to be as a team," said forward Brian Boyle, who had 23 points (13 goals, 10 assists) in 69 games last season. "Each individual has to come in and take care of what you can in the summertime."
The Devils persevered last season mostly without forward Marcus Johansson, who was limited to 29 games because of a bruised ankle and two concussions. Forward Kyle Palmieri ranked second on the Devils in goals (24), power-play goals (11) and game-winning goals (five) despite missing 20 games with injuries.
"We want to be a team that makes deep playoff runs and, year in, year out, competes for the Stanley Cup," Palmieri said. "It's time to take that next step. Last year doesn't mean anything going into this year. I think as a team we all just need to find another level."
Forward Taylor Hall will be ready for training camp after having surgery for torn ligaments in his left hand April 30. Hall won the Hart Trophy as NHL most valuable player after getting an NHL career-high 93 points (39 goals, 54 assists) in 76 games.
"Now I think the hardest step is going from making the playoffs to being a team that can challenge for the Cup," Hall said. "I'm really looking forward to trying to do that."
Rookies scored 51 goals for the Devils, second in the NHL behind the Boston Bruins (58). Leading the way was center Nico Hischier, the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft, who played with Hall most of the season and had 52 points (20 goals, 32 assists). Hischier turned 19 on Jan. 4.
The Devils will continue to rely on 19-year-old forward Jesper Bratt, who had 35 points (13 goals, 22 assists), and Coleman, 26, who had 25 points (13 goals, 12 assists) and three shorthanded goals.
The Devils ranked 15th in the NHL with a 2.93 goals-against average and eighth in penalty killing (81.8 percent), but goalie Cory Schneider could miss the start of the season after the 32-year-old had surgery for torn cartilage in his left hip May 1. If he needs more time to recover, Keith Kinkaid will start the season as the No. 1 goalie. The 29-year-old was 26-10-3 with a 2.77 GAA and .913 save percentage in an NHL career-high 41 games last season.
Will Butcher, 23, returns after scoring 44 points (five goals, 39 assists), the most by a Devils rookie defenseman. Sami Vatanen, 27, had 28 points (three goals, 25 assists) in 57 games after being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in a trade for forward Adam Henrique on Nov. 30, 2017. Mirco Mueller, 23, played 28 games but may get more ice time following the loss of John Moore to the Boston Bruins as an unrestricted free agent.
Defensemen Eric Gryba, 30, signed to a one-year, two-way contract on July 1; Egor Iakovlev, 26, who signed a one-year contract on May 21 after six seasons in the Kontinental Hockey League; and Steven Santini, who signed a three-year contract worth $4.25 million on Aug. 14, will challenge for spots.
"We're expecting some guys to take a step on defense," Hynes said. "It's up to them to come back more prepared and be better than they were."
