2021-22
Record: 27-46-9 63p (7th in the Metropolitan)
Playoffs: Did Not Qualify
Key Losses
F – Pavel Zacha (Trade – BOS), D – Ty Smith (Trade – PIT), D – PK Subban, F – Janne Kuokkanen
Key Additions
F – Ondrej Palat, G – Vitek Vanecek, D – Brendan Smith, F – Erik Haula, D – John Marino
2022-23 Preview
Even though the New Jersey Devils didn’t qualify for the playoffs again last season, they certainly did take big strides in setting themselves up for that next big step this season. Adding fellow Czech countrymen Ondrej Palat and Vitek Vanecek in goal will certainly help. Palat will add some more scoring and valuable leadership, while the Devils hope Vanecek can help stabilize the revolving door of goaltenders the last few years to help push and compliment MacKenzie Blackwood.
If the Devils can get great goaltending, an overall healthy team, repeat strong performances from the core (Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and especially Jesper Bratt), then this team certainly has a chance to knock off one of the teams in the Metropolitan to qualify for the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2018. This team has a lot of young talent that is due to break out. My prediction is that this will be the year New Jersey and it’s young team will make the playoffs as one of the Wild Card teams.
