After a season that saw the New Jersey Devils’ offense, particularly at even strength, fall short of expectations, a wave of change has swept through the locker room. General Manager Tom Fitzgerald made a clear statement: “We won’t be coming back with the same group… it wasn’t good enough.” And he’s certainly delivered, ushering in a fresh cohort of talent poised to inject much-needed scoring punch into the lineup.
Last year, while the power play was a shining example of efficiency, the team’s overall offensive output ranked a disappointing 20th in the league. The primary culprit? A struggling bottom six forward group that too often failed to generate acceptable levels of offense. Injuries, of course, played their part, but the consistent lack of secondary scoring was undeniable.
Fitzgerald’s overhaul saw familiar faces like Erik Haula, Tomas Tatar, Nathan Bastian, Daniel Sprong, Curtis Lazar, and Justin Dowling depart. In their place, the Devils have welcomed seasoned veterans Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov, defensive forward Juho Lammikko, and promising prospects Thomas Bordeleau via trade, and Arseni Gritsyuk (with a potential assist from Lenni Hameenaho) from the prospect pool. Additionally, the team secured Cody Glass with an extension, solidifying another key piece.
While not all these new additions will start with the big club or remain exclusively in the bottom six, their presence undeniably reshapes the team’s offensive dynamics. Even if a player like Dadonov slots into a top-six role, it means a veteran from that group moves down, providing an immediate upgrade to the third or fourth line.
Defensive Contribution: More Than Just Shutouts
It wasn’t just the forwards who needed to find the back of the net more often. The Devils’ blueline, while strong defensively, didn’t contribute enough offensively. Dougie Hamilton, after battling a pectoral injury, managed nine goals in 62 games. While he might have added a few more if fully healthy, it wasn’t the kind of offensive production expected from the team’s top defenseman. The rest of the blueline offered even less, with Luke Hughes scoring seven, Brett Pesce three, Brenden Dillon and Jonas Siegenthaler each two, and Johnny Kovacevic just a single goal after the season opener. While these players excel in defensive roles, the sheer lack of goal-scoring from the defense put an undue burden on the forwards.
Prospects like Seamus Casey and Simon Nemec showed flashes of offensive potential in limited appearances, but their overall impact is still developing.
The Core and the Wildcards: Setting Goal Expectations
Looking ahead to the 2025-26 season, the big question is: what can we realistically expect from each player in terms of goal scoring? Let’s break down some projections for key players, considering their past performance and potential for growth or regression.
Forwards: The Engine of the Offense
- Nico Hischier: Coming off a career-high 35 goals, Hischier is entering his prime. While his shooting percentage might normalize slightly, his continued development as a shooter suggests he’ll remain a potent scoring threat.
- Expectation: 30 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 40 goals
- Disappointment (Anything less): 25 goals
- Jack Hughes: Injuries have been a frustrating part of Hughes’ recent seasons, but when healthy, he’s a dynamic force. Entering his age-24 season, he’s primed for a breakout if he can stay on the ice.
- Expectation: 35 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 45 goals
- Disappointment: 27 goals
- Timo Meier: As the team’s highest-paid forward, the expectation is for Meier to consistently hit the 30-goal mark he achieved in San Jose. His volume shooting remains a key asset.
- Expectation: 27 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 35 goals
- Disappointment: 25 goals
- Stefan Noesen: After a career-best 22 goals, Noesen’s power-play prowess could help him maintain strong numbers, though some regression might be in store.
- Expectation: 15 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 22 goals
- Disappointment: 10 goals
- Jesper Bratt: While setting a franchise record for assists last season (67), a slight uptick in goal scoring would elevate Bratt’s already stellar overall production. More shots on net could be the key.
- Expectation: 25 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 35 goals
- Disappointment: 20 goals
- Dawson Mercer: His role in the lineup will significantly impact his scoring. If he consistently plays in the top six, he’s poised for another 20-goal campaign.
- Expectation: 20 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 30 goals
- Disappointment: 18 goals
- Paul Cotter: A high shooting percentage in limited appearances suggests a potential step back in goal totals, despite his raw talent.
- Expectation: 8 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 16 goals
- Disappointment: 5 goals
- Ondrej Palat: If Palat slides into a bottom-six role, his offensive output might decline from his 15 goals last season.
- Expectation: 8 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 15 goals
- Disappointment: 5 goals
- Cody Glass: Likely centering the third line, Glass’s ability to consistently find the net will be crucial for depth scoring.
- Expectation: 8 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 15 goals
- Disappointment: 6 goals
- Evgenii Dadonov: The veteran newcomer brings consistent scoring ability, capable of matching the combined output of several departed bottom-six players.
- Expectation: 15 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 20 goals
- Disappointment: 10 goals
- Connor Brown: Coming off a strong 13-goal season and deep playoff run, Brown offers versatility and reliable depth scoring.
- Expectation: 13 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 20 goals
- Disappointment: 10 goals
- Arseni Gritsyuk: A true wild card, Gritsyuk arrives from the KHL with impressive scoring rates. His potential range is vast, from a modest contribution to a significant breakout. He’s ready to compete for an NHL spot after his success overseas.
- Expectation: 11 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 30 goals
- Disappointment: 7 goals
- Remaining Depth Forwards (Lammikko, Hameenaho, Bordeleau, etc.): This group is expected to provide a collective boost, significantly improving the overall depth scoring compared to last season.
- Combined Expectation: 10 goals
- Combined Realistic Ceiling: 20 goals
- Combined Disappointment: 7 goals
Defense: The Unsung Goal Scorers (Hopefully)
- Dougie Hamilton: Despite recent injury woes, a return to his career-average shooting percentage should see his goal totals bounce back.
- Expectation: 15 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 20 goals
- Disappointment: 10 goals
- Luke Hughes: As he continues to develop into a top-tier defenseman, a double-digit goal season is a realistic next step.
- Expectation: 12 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 20 goals
- Disappointment: 7 goals
- Brett Pesce: A defensive rock, Pesce isn’t known for his offense, but he should provide a few timely goals.
- Expectation: 3 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 7 goals
- Disappointment: 2 goals
- Jonas Siegenthaler: An elite shutdown defenseman, Siegenthaler’s value is almost entirely defensive; goals are a bonus.
- Expectation: 2 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 4 goals
- Disappointment: 1 goal
- Brenden Dillon: Another physical, defensive presence, his goal output should align with his career averages.
- Expectation: 2 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 5 goals
- Disappointment: 1 goal
- Johnny Kovacevic: While primarily defensive, Kovacevic has shown a bit more offensive flair than some of his blueline counterparts in the past.
- Expectation: 1 goal
- Realistic Ceiling: 3 goals
- Disappointment: 1 goal
- Simon Nemec: Poised for more playing time, Nemec has the potential for a significant offensive bounce-back season, especially if healthy and comfortable in the system.
- Expectation: 4 goals
- Realistic Ceiling: 10 goals
- Disappointment: 2 goals
- Seamus Casey: Expected to spend most of his time in the AHL, his NHL goal totals will likely be limited in appearances.
- Expectation: 1 goal
- Realistic Ceiling: 5 goals
- Disappointment: 1 goal
- Jacob Markstrom: In a bold prediction, we’re calling for the new Devils’ netminder to score a goal this season!
- Expectation: 1 goal
- Realistic Ceiling: 2 goals
- Disappointment: 1 goal
The Outlook: A Brighter Offensive Horizon
Adding up these “expected” goal totals for the entire roster, the Devils could reach approximately 266 goals this upcoming season. To put that in perspective, the team scored 242 goals last year, which ranked them 20th in the league. A 24-goal improvement would elevate them to roughly 10th overall, on par with a team like Carolina from last season. While not an “elite” top-5 offense, a top-10 or top-12 ranking is a significant leap forward and certainly good enough to compete for a division crown, especially if the defense and goaltending remain strong.
The biggest takeaway from this exercise is the potential impact of the revamped depth forwards. The core offensive group largely remains intact, as do the defensemen, but the bottom six has undergone a substantial makeover. The increased winger depth, with players like Dadonov, Brown, and the exciting prospect Gritsyuk, should provide a much-needed jolt. While center depth behind Hischier and Hughes remains a minor concern, if the wingers can pick up the slack, the Devils are poised for a far more potent offensive attack. The performance of Cody Glass and particularly Arseni Gritsyuk will be key wildcards in determining just how high this team’s offensive ceiling can go.
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