Devils committed to build on playoff berth, ready to upgrade

NEWARK, N.J. -- Coach John Hynes said the need for better players already in or acquired outside the organization will be of utmost importance if the New Jersey Devils are to return the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
"Players will soon need to get back to training harder, better and smarter," Hynes said Wednesday. "Coaches need to be sharper and find ways to be better teachers. Moving forward, we have to try to make our team even better any way we can, whether it's through the NHL Draft, NHL free agency or prospect development.
"We have to have better players."

Ray Shero, hired as Devils general manager May 4, 2015, said he and his staff will determine the next phase in building a winner over the next few weeks.
There are several top players scheduled to become unrestricted free agents July 1, including two with New Jersey ties: Washington Capitals defenseman John Carlson and Toronto Maple Leafs forward James van Riemsdyk.
Carlson, 28, was born in Natick, Massachusetts but grew up in Colonia, New Jersey. He played for the New Jersey Rockets of the Atlantic Youth Hockey League for two seasons before joining the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League.
Van Riemsdyk, 28, was born in Middletown, New Jersey. He played two seasons for Christian Brothers Academy (Lincroft, New Jersey) and USA Hockey's National Team Development Program.
"In 2015-16, we could have signed older players to move us a little bit, but it didn't make any sense to me," Shero said. "I don't want to be in year three or four knowing we've got these contracts that we don't want or need. We want to build internally, create a culture and foundation, but we'll see where we are and talk about potential trades and free agents.
"[Spending to the NHL salary cap] has never been a question. But from a team standpoint, that would put us in a world of hurt. That's not the way of building a team."
Shero wouldn't confirm the Devils would be in the market for a defenseman. They acquired defenseman Sami Vatanen from the Anaheim Ducks in a trade for forward Adam Henrique on Nov. 30.

"It wouldn't be smart for anyone to say they don't want to upgrade defense, but do I have a secret plan to do it? Not yet," Shero said. "We'll have to review and see what's available. I was happy with our defense. Getting [Vatanen] was a good start and really helped Andy Greene's game."
The Devils have seven players set to become unrestricted free agents July 1: forwards Michael Grabner, Pat Maroon, Drew Stafford, Jimmy Hayes and Brian Gibbons, defenseman John Moore, and goaltender Eddie Lack.
The Devils went 10-4-2 in their final 16 regular-season games to finish 44-29-9 and clinch the second wild card into the playoffs from the Eastern Conference. It was their first trip to the playoffs since 2012.
New Jersey was eliminated by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the Eastern Conference First Round in five games.
New Jersey co-owner Joshua Harris, who purchased the Devils with David Blitzer on Aug. 15, 2013, was asked if he felt they were one or two players away from advancing beyond the first round next season.
"If we want to be Stanley Cup champions, we need to add to the nucleus for sure," Harris said. "In order to win, you need great players. But in a cap system, you only have a certain amount of dollars to spend, so the key is to spend it on the right players. The most reliable way to add to the nucleus, although it takes longer, is to draft and develop.
"I have enjoyed watching the progress that [Hynes], [Shero] and (assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald) have made both on and off the ice in terms of building the organization."

Harris and Blitzer said they believe in Shero and the process he's taking to build a perennial contender, which included trading for forward Taylor Hall before last season.
"If Ray wants to sign a big contract, we go through a process of learning what other players are being signed for, the player's health, where does he rank analytically and what our scouts are saying," Harris said. "It's all the things you would do in making a large investment.
"Ray is great at identifying talent, along with [Fitzgerald and Hynes], so for the right player, we're in. It's not a matter of the money but a matter of finding the right player."

Hynes said that even though he's proud of what the Devils accomplished, everyone needs to learn from what happened and raise it to another level.
"The exciting part is the offseason; you have to find ways to get better," Hynes said. "It's not about taking the summer off and thinking we're going to be better next year. We wanted to gain respect back in the League, wanted to be competitive, and we feel we accomplished that. We have to be proud but not satisfied, because when you're content you lose your edge."