Great season, folks. I'm only sad it's over. There are good things to come. The Devils have the most talented young core in the league and a top-3 prospect pool.
We're going to see some changes in the line-up, of course. Here are some guesses:
GOAL:
Akira Schmid is going to get a shot at the 1G job in camp, but the likely scenario remains a 1A/1B situation with Vitek Vanecek. I think it's a pretty sure bet that Mackenzie Blackwood's RFA rights are traded. The fact he did not get a shot in Game 5 despite Vanecek/Schmid struggles vs. Carolina says a mouthful. Ideally, a team desperate between the pipes, like San Jose or Ottawa, might be willing to give up a B-prospect or 3rd rounder for Blackwood.
It is important to consider that, in the playoffs, the Devils goaltending was outplayed by the opposition in both series. Though there will be temptation to trade for a top netminder, I'm not sure any of the big names will be up for sale, and therein lies the conundrum. I think the Devils are still a playoff team next year with Schmid/Vanecek, and Schmid's upside might be higher than we yet know.
DEFENSE:
A lot of certainties here but also some questions. We can probably surmise with some confidence that the top 4 will be (left to right):
Siegenthaler - Hamilton
L. Hughes - Marino
Bahl - ???
Beyond that, there are questions. Damon Severson and Ryan Graves are both UFAs, and Brendan Smith is under contract for another year but probably better served as a 7D on a contender. Though Simon Nemec is one of the top 2 RD prospects on earth right now, there's no guarantee he will make the team out of camp. Furthermore, do the Devils want to start the season with 2 rookie defensemen?
Severson has probably priced his way out of New Jersey. He'll get his money somewhere else, and best of luck to the longtime Devils RD. Ryan Graves is also unlikely to be back -- though his combination of size and mobility will get him a good offer somewhere, the Devils are best suited not giving valuable cap term to a player with his inconsistencies on the back end.
Bahl's emergence was huge for the Devils this year -- I feel he's a big part of the future. But I feel the Devils would be smart to sign a veteran 3RD to a short deal next season. My personal preference would be Radko Gudas -- he's one of the most physical players in the league, and he's also very sound defensively and competent with the puck. He would make the Devils much tougher to play against, for certain.
CENTER:
The Devils are blessed to have a 1/2 center punch of Hughes/Hischier for many years to come. Mikey McLeod is a UFA, and I think he'll get a reasonable raise to be the 4C for the foreseeable future. 3C is a question -- and most of us realize Dawson Mercer is best suited as a top-6 wing, not the 3C. It is possible the Devils sign Haula to a 1-year deal at a reduced rate. Curtis Lazar will be back, but he's probably better suited to a 4th line W role who can fill in at 4C in case of injury. Do the Devils think Jesper Boqvist could be the 3C?
Personally, my 3C fantasy would be to sign a guy with grit and two-way ability like JT Compher, I think he'd be an outstanding fit in NJ.
As center is the only position where the Devils have literally nothing coming up through the prospect pool, they pretty much have the choice of either promoting McLeod to 3C and using Boqvist/Lazar at 4C, or sticking with McLeod at 4C and finding a 3C outside the organization.
WING:
Our only top 6 wings certain to be back is Dawson Mercer and Ondrej Palat.
Timo Meier is a free agent, but you can bet your bottom dollar that, after all the Devils gave up to acquire him, GM Tom Fitzgerald will make signing Meier his top priority.
Tomas Tatar is a UFA, as is Erik Haula -- I could see both of these players being offered 1 year deals at a reduced salary, but do they accept or look elsewhere?
Lesser RFAs include Yegor Sharangovich and Nathan Bastian. Bastian could probably be had at close to the league minimum, so I'd expect him back. Sharangovich is a different question, and he might be trade bait.
Miles Wood is a UFA and I doubt he'll be back. Some team will overpay for his combination of elite skating and toughness.
The bazillion dollar question is, of course, Jesper Bratt. Without getting into all the nuances of his contract wars with GM Tom Fitzgerald, there may be some bad blood there. That bad blood may have been exacerbated by the fact Bratt was the Devils very worst forward in the 2023 playoffs. I love the guy, but he was awful all playoffs long, and there's really no nicer way to put it.
Let's say Meier gets paid in the $8-$8.9 million range, which is realistic. The Devils would then have $31 million+ wrapped up in Hughes/Hischier/Meier/Palat through at least 2027. Bratt is not going to be paid much more than the $6.5-$7.0 million range if he wants to stick around. If he's asking in the $8 million+ range, he's gone, it's simple as that.
Jesper Bratt needs to make a decision, and if his agent disagrees he needs to get a new agent. Does he want to stay on the most up-and-coming young team in the NHL for the next 5-8 years? If so, he's going to have to be realistic in his contract demands. However, if he wants to make every penny possible, I doubt Fitzgerald will have the patience for it.
Ultimately, it's up to Jesper Bratt. I'd love to see him sign a 7 year, $7 million deal. But if he wants more, you can bet your boots Fitzgerald will use him as trade bait at the 2023 draft.