CarterHud

From NBC

          It was a very eventful offseason for the Flyers. It was the first for new GM Chuck Fletcher, they saw a new Head Coach enter, as well as multiple players. They also didn\’t give up too much, and they still have over $13 million in cap space to sign two big RFAs. By no means is the offseason over in Philadelphia.

           Additions: Kevin Hayes, Matt Niskanen, Justin Braun, Tyler Pitlick, Kurtis Gabriel, Andy Welinski, Nate Prosser

           Subtractions: Radko Gudas, Ryan Hartman, Andrew MacDonald, Jori Lehtera, Corban Knight, Phil Varone

          Forwards
In 2018-19, Claude Giroux did something that he has done a lot in his career: lead the Flyers in points. While he dropped off significantly from his career high 102 points in 2017-18, he was still a point per game player, with 85 points, and 63 assists. Sean Couturier scored a career high 33 goals with 76 points, and finished 6th in Selke voting. He has become a top defensive forward in the league. Jakub Voracek scored exactly 20 goals for the third consecutive season, with 66 overall points. In his return to Philly, James van Riemsdyk scored 27 goals, but he played in just 66 games, so he was on pace for 33.5 goals. The Flyers traded for Kevin Hayes\’ rights, but then signed him to an excessive seven year deal worth $50 million. Hayes\’ 55 points in 2018-19 was a career high, but he has only scored 20 goals once (25 in 2017-18). Currently an RFA, Travis Konecny scored 24 goals, with a career high 49 points. He looks to hit 25 goals and 50 points after just missing both benchmarks in consecutive seasons. Oskar Lindblom had a decent rookie season, with 17 goals and 33 points. A former first rounder, Scott Laughton scored a career high 12 goals and 32 points. He also kills penalties. Nolan Patrick, drafted 2nd overall in 2017, has battled injuries in his two year NHL career, and has scored 13 goals with 30-31 points in both seasons. He looks to take his game to the next level. Tyler Pitlick was acquired from Dallas. He had wrist surgery, but could be ready to go by Opening Night. He scored eight goals in 47 games with the Stars last year. That\’s a 14 goal pace, which matches his career high. Michael Raffl has had a very inconsistent career. He\’s only played in 70 games once, he has scored 20 goals once, and he has 30 points once. And they all didn\’t come in the same season. He scored just six goals with 18 points in 2018-19. German Rubtsov eyes an NHL role after scoring 10 points in 14 AHL games last year. A 2016 first rounder, Rubtsov has dealt with multiple injuries since he was drafted. Kurtis Gabriel played in a career high 22 games for the Devils last year, with four points. He had 59 penalty minutes.

          Defensemen
Ivan Provorov had a down season, with a career low 26 points and -16 rating. This is coming after 17 goal, +17 season. He is currently an RFA. After a 65 point 2017-18, Shayne Gostisbehere had a down season, with 37 points and a -20 rating. He had a great rookie 2015-16, struggled in 2016-17, was great in 2017-18, and struggled in 2018-19, so I\’d bet a good season from Gostibehere in 2019-20. Travis Sanheim had a good first full season. He had 35 points as a 22 year old. Matt Niskanen comes to the Flyers after a down season in Washington. His 25 points were his lowest since 2012-13. Robert Hagg had a solid second season, with 20 points, a career high. Justin Braun comes from San Jose after spending his first nine years there. A defensive defenseman, Braun had 16 points last year. His -14 rating was a career low. Philippe Myers made his NHL debut in 2018-19. In 21 games, he had two points. In 53 AHL games, he had 33 points. A 2013 first rounder, Sam Morin has played in just eight games over the last three seasons. He missed most of the season with a torn ACL.

          Goalies
The Flyers sent out an NHL record eight goalies in 2018-19. The only two to play in 15 games, and also the only two with a GAA under 3, return. That\’s not counting the AHL bound Alex Lyon. Carter Hart, the hopeful savior of the Flyers, made his NHL debut as a 20 year old. He had a 2.83 GAA and .917 SV%. Brian Elliott, a 12 year veteran, returns to Philly for a third season. He had a .907 SV% and 2.96 GAA last season.

          Deep Depths
Russian forward Mikhail Vorobyev made his NHL debut in 2018-19, with two points in 15 games. Nicolas Aube-Kubel also made his NHL debut, playing in nine games. Nate Prosser signs with the Flyers after playing all but one of his 354 career games for the Wild. He played in 15 games last year. Andy Welinski signs in Philly after playing in 33 games over the past two seasons for Anaheim.

          Up and Coming
A 2018 first rounder, Joel Farabee had a great first season at Boston University, with 36 points in 37 games. A 2017 first rounder, Morgan Frost dominated the OHL for a second consecutive season. He scored 37 goals with 109 points in 58 games. Over the past two seasons, Frost has scored 79 goals with 221 points in 125 games. A 2017 second rounder, Isaac Ratcliffe scored 50 goals in 62 OHL games. Ratcliffe, Farabee and Frost are all third line options over Rubtsov.

          2019 draft class
Round 1, 14th overall: Cam York
Round 2, 34th overall: Bobby Brink
Round 3, 72nd overall: Ronald Attard
Round 4, 103rd overall: Mason Millman
Round 6, 165th overall: Egor Serdyuk
Round 6, 169th overall: Roddy Ross
Round 7, 196th overall: Bryce Brodzinski

           Management
The Flyers hired a new coach in the offseason, and it is Alain Vigneault. An NHL Head Coach for 16 seasons, Vigneault teams have a .588 winning percentage. He went to the Stanley Cup final in 2011 with Vancouver and in 2014 with the Rangers, but lost both of them. Chuck Fletcher had a long tenure in Minnesota, and had an active first offseason in Philly.

           Projected Lineup
Claude Giroux – Sean Couturier – Travis Konecny
James van Riemsdyk – Kevin Hayes – Jakub Voracek
Oskar Lindblom – Nolan Patrick – German Rubtsov
Michael Raffl – Scott Laughton – Tyler Pitlick
Extras: Kurtis Gabriel, Nicolas Aube-Kubel, Mikhail Vorobyev

           Ivan Provorov – Travis Sanheim
           Shayne Gostisbehere – Matt Niskanen
           Robert Hagg – Justin Braun
Extras: Philippe Myers, Sam Morin, Nate Prosser

                         Carter Hart
                         Brian Elliott
Extras: Alex Lyon

            Prediction
The Flyers are a team with optimism they could make the playoffs, or they could finish in last place. Unfortunately, my prediction for the Flyers in 2019-20 is the latter.

From Getty Images

          The nightmare for Ottawa Senators fans might not ever end. The team has been the worst in the NHL the past two seasons, and they forfeited their first round pick, 4th overall in this past seasons draft. Losing out on what would eventually become Bowen Byram will be a killer for the Senators, especially as the team is worse than they were last year.

           Additions: Artem Anisimov, Connor Brown, Nikita Zaitsev, Ron Hainsey, Tyler Ennis, Michael Carcone, Ryan Callahan (contract)

           Subtractions: Cody Ceci, Zack Smith, Mike Condon, Ben Harpur, Magnus Paajarvi, Oscar Lindberg, Brian Gibbons, Darren Archibald, Max McCormick, Stefan Elliott

           Forwards
Brady Tkachuk, drafted 4th overall in 2018, had a nice rookie season, with 22 goals and 45 points. Not including Matt Duchene, Mark Stone and Ryan Dzingel, who were all traded in February, Tkachuk lead the team in goals. The leader among returning forwards in points was Chris Tierney, who had a career high 48, led by a career high 39 assists. Colin White signed a big extension in the offseason. In his first full year, White scored 14 goals with 41 points, becoming the number one center by the end of the season. Bobby Ryan\’s 15 goals and 42 points were his most since 2015-16, but his -29 rating was a career worst and his $7.25 million cap hit still looks terrible. Just like everyone who joins the Senators these days, Mikkel Boedker regressed. His seven goals were his worst since 2012-13, and he was a -23. The Senators brought in Artem Anisimov from Chicago in exchange for Zack Smith. Anisimov scored 20 goals in three straight seasons up until 2018-19, when he scored a respectable 15 with 37 points. That is tied with Ryan for second in goals among returning players. Jean-Gabriel Pageau played in just 39 games, and ended up with just 12 points. Drake Batherson, a 2017 4th rounder, is trying to make the team in a top six role. He had nine points in 20 NHL games, and scored 22 goals with 62 points in 59 games in the AHL. Connor Brown scored 20 goals in 2016-17, but fell in the Leafs depth chart since. He comes to Ottawa after an eight goal, 29 point season. Anthony Duclair scored 19 goals, eight of those coming in 21 games with Ottawa, for a 31 goal pace. In a depth role with the Maple Leafs, Tyler Ennis scored 12 goals. He is a three time 20 goal scorer. In his rookie season, Rudolfs Balcers had 14 points in 36 games. He scored 17 goals in 43 AHL games. Logan Brown has played in six NHL games, and is trying to make the 2019-20 Senators. He had 42 points in 56 AHL games.

             Defensemen
Thomas Chabot developed into a legitimate number one defenseman for the Senators, with 14 goals and 55 points. He lead the team in points, not including the traded Duchene and Stone. After Chabot, the defense gets woozy. Dylan DeMelo\’s four goals and 22 points in his first season in Ottawa were career highs. Nikita Zaitsev is getting paid $4.5 million a season, most among Ottawa defensemen. In Toronto last year, he had 14 points. Another former Leaf, Ron Hainsey, joins the team. The 38 year old had 23 points and a career high +30 rating last year. Christian Wolanin had 31 points in 40 AHL games, and 12 points in 30 NHL games. With Zack Smith gone, Mark Borowiecki is the new longest tenured skater, though he he has only played in 70 games once. In 53 games this past season, he had five points. Christian Jaros had 10 points in a 61 game rookie season.

             Goalies
Craig Anderson returns for possibly his final season. He is a UFA after the season. He had a weak .903 SV% and terrible 3.51 GAA last season. He is now 38. In 24 games for the Senators after a trade from Vancouver, Anders Nilsson had a .914 SV% and 2.90 GAA. He signed a two year extension.

            Deep Depths
Nick Paul played in 20 games for the Senators, and scored two points. He has played in 56 games over the last four seasons. Michael Carcone had 44 points in 62 AHL games for Utica and Toronto last year. Cody Goloubef played in five games, his first NHL games since 2016-17. The defenseman has 23 points over 134 career games.

           Up and Coming
Erik Brannstrom, acquired for star winger Mark Stone, played in two NHL games. He had 32 points in 50 AHL games, and is the Senators\’ top prospect. He could make the NHL team. Vitali Abramov played in one NHL game after being acquired for Matt Duchene. In 70 AHL games, he scored 16 goals. Alex Formenton scored his first NHL goal after getting a nine game cameo. He had 34 points in 31 OHL games. Josh Norris, acquired for Erik Karlsson, scored 10 goals with 19 points in 17 games at the University of Michigan. After signing from Princeton, Max Veronneau had four points in 12 games.

           2019 draft class
Round 1, 19th overall: Lassi Thomson
Round 2, 32nd overall: Shane Pinto
Round 2, 37th overall: Mads Sogaard
Round 4, 94th overall: Viktor Lodin
Round 5, 125th overall: Mark Kastelic
Round 7, 187th overall: Maxence Guenette

           Management
DJ Smith was hired as the replacement to Guy Boucher. He was an assistant coach with the Maple Leafs, and now he gets his first Head Coaching gig. Pierre Dorion might not be liked by fans, but he has the trust of another person fans hate, owner Eugene Melnyk.

                Projected Lineup
Brady Tkachuk – Colin White – Drake Batherson
Anthony Duclair – Chris Tierney – Connor Brown
Mikkel Boedker – Jean-Gabriel Pageau – Bobby Ryan
Tyler Ennis – Artemi Anisimov – Rudolfs Balcers
Extras: Logan Brown, Max Veronneau

                 Thomas Chabot – Dylan DeMelo
                 Erik Brannstrom – Nikita Zaitsev
                 Christian Wolanin – Ron Hainsey
Extras: Christian Jaros, Mark Borowiecki

                           Craig Anderson
                           Anders Nilsson

                 Prediction
If you are an Ottawa Senators fan, you probably aren\’t predicting them to make the playoffs. If you aren\’t an Ottawa Senators fan, then you aren\’t picking them to make the playoffs. I fall under the second category, and I have Ottawa finishing 8th once again.

          Having a top farm system in the NHL is always a good thing. Having a top farm system, then getting the 2nd overall pick, then signing the top free agent available is an even better thing. The Rangers might not even be a playoff team, but they had an amazing offseason, signing Artemi Panarin and drafting Kaapo Kakko. They even traded for a top defenseman on top of that.

          Additions: Artemi Panarin, Jacob Trouba, Adam Fox, Greg McKegg, Philip Di Giuseppe, Danny O\’Regan

         Subtractions: Kevin Shattenkirk, Jimmy Vesey, Neal Pionk, Frederik Claesson

         Forwards
In his four year NHL career, Panarin has always been a very valuable asset. He won the Calder Trophy in 2015-16, he has scored no less than 74 points in a season, and scored 28 goals with a career high 87 points last year, setting the record for most points by a Blue Jacket in a single season. He signed with the Rangers on a seven year deal worth over $12.6 million a season. Panarin will share the top line with center Mika Zibanejad, whose 30 goals and 74 points in 2018-19 were career highs. He also led the team in both categories. Chris Kreider could be entering his final season with the Rangers. A free agent at the end of the year, Kreider scored 28 goals with 52 points in 2018-19. Kakko comes from the Finnish league, where as a 17 year old, he scored 22 goals in 45 games. He scored six goals in 10 games at the World Championships. He could be on the top line with Panarin and Zibanejad. The team signed Pavel Buchnevich to a two year deal after he scored a career high 21 goals. After being acquired from Edmonton for Ryan Spooner (who was later bought out), Ryan Strome scored 18 goals with 33 points in 63 games. His 19 goals overall were a career high, and his 35 points were his most since 2014-15. Vladislav Namestnikov is entering a contract season. He had a down year, with 11 goals and 31 points, and it seems like a 2017-18 midseason trade from Tampa has hurt him. At 19, Filip Chytil scored 11 goals, but he was a -22 player. Jesper Fast, another forward entering a contract year, had a rough 2018-19, with eight goals and 20 points. Brett Howden, a 2016 first rounder, had 23 points in a 66 game rookie season. Lias Andersson, drafted 7th overall in 2017, had just six points in 42 NHL games, and 20 points in 34 AHL games. Brendan Lemieux is an RFA, and is coming off a 12 goal rookie season. Three of those goals were scored in his 19 games with the Rangers. Greg McKegg was signed as an extra forward after a career high six goals and 11 points in 41 games for Carolina. Cristoval \”Boo\” Nieves has been a depth forward for a couple of years now. He had 10 points in 43 games last year.

             Defensemen
Jacob Trouba is the new top defenseman after being acquired from Winnipeg. He signed a seven year, $56 million deal as well. He scored a career high 50 points, led by his 42 assists. Currently an RFA, the Rangers might not have the cap space to sign Tony DeAngelo. His 30 points in 61 games last year led Rangers defensemen. Brady Skjei had 25 points for a second consecutive season, and scored a career high eight goals. Marc Staal has fallen as he has aged. He had 13 points and a career worst -9 rating last year. The Rangers acquired prospect Adam Fox from Carolina. At Harvard, Fox had 48 points in 33 games. Libor Hajek made his NHL debut last year, with a goal in five games. He had just five points in 58 games in the AHL. Brendan Smith has had a rough stint in New York. He had 13 points in 63 games with a -7 rating, and despite the fact he is getting paid over $4 million, he may not start.

              Goalies
Henrik Lundqvist will be in the Hall of Fame when he retires, as the former Vezina winner has had an amazing career. But, he had a rough 2018-19, with a .907 SV% and 3.07 GAA. For now, he is still the starter. Alex Georgiev had a decent rookie season, with a .914 SV%. He remains as the backup.

             Deep Depths
Matt Beleskey\’s $1.9 million cap hit will go away after the season. Over the last two seasons, he has one goal in five games for the Rangers. He had five goals with 22 points in 53 games this past AHL season. Vinni Littieri had three points in 27 NHL games, but he scored 23 goals in 48 AHL games. Philip Di Giuseppe signed a two way deal. In 150 career NHL games, he has 41 points.

             Up and Coming
Besides Kakko, Andersson, Howden, Chytil, Hajek and Fox, the Rangers have more young talent. 2018 first rounder Vitali Kravtsov could be NHL ready after scoring 21 points in 50 KHL games. Potentially Lundqvist\’s future replacement, Igor Shesterkin posted otherworldly numbers in the KHL. He had a 1.11 GAA and a .953 SV%.

             2019 draft class
Round 1, 2nd overall: Kaapo Kakko
Round 2, 49th overall: Matthew Robertson
Round 2, 58th overall: Karl Hendriksson
Round 3, 68th overall: Zach Jones
Round 4, 112th overall: Hunter Skinner
Round 5, 130th overall: Leevi Aaltonen
Round 6, 161st overall: Adam Edstrom
Round 7, 205th overall: Eric Ciccolini

              Management
David Quinn returns for his second season as Head Coach. It was a tough first year, but now his roster is better. With both Boston and the Rangers, Jeff Gorton has an amazing resume as a GM. A goalie with the Rangers in the late 70s, John Davidson returns, this time as team President.

             Projected lineup
Artemi Panarin – Mika Zibanejad – Kaapo Kakko
Chris Kreider – Ryan Strome – Pavel Buchnevich
Vladislav Namestnikov – Filip Chytil – Lias Andersson
Brendan Lemieux – Brett Howden – Jesper Fast
Extras: Vitali Kravtsov, Greg McKegg, Boo Nieves

             Brady Skjei – Jacob Trouba
             Marc Staal – Tony DeAngelo
             Libor Hajek – Adam Fox
Extras: Brendan Smith

                       Henrik Lundqvist
                       Alex Georgiev
Extras: Igor Shesterkin

              Prediction
The Rangers are one of the most improved teams in the NHL. But, the Eastern Conference is looking very tough this year, and it doesn\’t look like the Rangers have a spot in the playoffs. I predict they\’ll finish in 6th place in the Metropolitan Division.

From NHL.com

          2019-20 was almost a dream season for the Islanders, after beating up on John Tavares and the Maple Leafs twice, while finishing one point out of a division title, then sweeping Pittsburgh in round one. The almost part kicked in when they were eliminated in round two by Carolina. In his second offseason in New York, GM Lou Lamoriello once again made all the picks he was given, signed some players, but no stars, and seemingly missed out on the top free agent available for the second straight season.

           Additions: Semyon Varlamov, Derick Brassard

           Subtractions: Robin Lehner, Valtteri Filppula, Luca Sbisa

           Forwards
After winning the 2017-18 Calder Trophy with an 85 point season, Mat Barzal regressed, with 18 goals and 62 points, and he almost didn\’t score in the entire month of March. After scoring a career high 40 goals in 2017-18, Anders Lee, in his first year as captain, scored 28 goals. But the silver lining was that his plus minus went from a career worst -25 in 2017-18 to a career high +20 in 2018-19. Pass first winger Josh Bailey has never scored 20 goals in a season, but his 40 assists and 56 points were both second on the team to Barzal. Brock Nelson picked the perfect time to have a career season. He scored 25 goals, with a career high 53 points and a +20 rating, in a contract year. He got a $6 million payday. Jordan Eberle re-signed, though his 19 goals and 37 points were career worsts, not including the shortened 2012-13 season. Always a great defensive center, Casey Cizikas had a career best year. He scored a career high 20 goals, and was a +22 player, finishing 21st in Selke voting. Anthony Beauvillier scored 18 goals. Over the last two seasons, the 22 year old has scored 39 goals. In his first year on Long Island, Leo Komarov had a career high 20 assists and plus 18 rating, and even though he wasn\’t hurt, he didn\’t score a goal after January 20th. Derick Brassard signed a one year deal to be the third line center. While he was very solid from 2013-14 to 2017-18, he was on three different teams last season, and didn\’t seem to fit in with any of them, with 14 goals and a -19 rating. Cal Clutterbuck\’s 23 points were tied for his most in his six seasons with the Islanders. He is rehabbing from back surgery, so his availability is up for question. In his return to Long Island, Matt Martin had 275 hits, and six goals, the latter his most since his first stint with the Islanders. Former fifth overall pick Michael Dal Colle got his real first shot at NHL action. He had seven points in 28 games. Andrew Ladd missed the playoffs with a torn ACL. He had 11 points in 26 games, and owns one of the worst contracts in the league. Tom Kuhnhackl re-signed after nine points in 36 games in his first year with the team.

              Defensemen
Ryan Pulock has turned himself into the team\’s number one defenseman, with a career high 37 points and +21 rating. His partner, Adam Pelech, also wildly improved, with 21 points and a +22 rating, both career highs. Nick Leddy had three consecutive 40 point seasons, but his 26 points in 2018-19 were his lowest since 2012-13. At least his league worst -42 rating in 2017-18 evened out at zero. Devon Toews was impressive in his rookie season, with 18 points in 48 games. Scott Mayfield had his best season, with 19 points and a +18 rating. Johnny Boychuk\’s 74 games played were his most with the Isles, but his three goals were his lowest with the team. When Thomas Hickey was injured, Toews stepped in, and Hickey never got his spot back. He had four assists in 40 games, and figures as the seventh defenseman.

               Goalies
Semyon Varlamov was signed to a hefty four year, $20 million deal to replace Vezina finalist Robin Lehner. A former first rounder and Vezina finalist in 2013-14, Varlamov had a .909 SV% and 2.87 GAA in Colorado last year. Thomas Greiss had a great bounce back season, with a .927 SV% and 2.28 GAA. Goalie coaches Mitch Korn and Piero Greco have an amazing track record.

               Deep Depths
Enforcer Ross Johnston had four points in 17 games, with 23 penalty minutes and he averaged under eight minutes a game. Before the team signed Brassard, Tanner Fritz had a legitimate shot at being the third line center. He had one assist in eight NHL games, and 37 points in 57 AHL games. Defenseman Grant Hutton had six points in nine AHL games after coming from Miami University (Ohio), where he had 21 points in 37 games.

              Up and Coming
Defenseman Noah Dobson was drafted 12th overall in 2018, and he\’s a top 12 prospect in hockey. He has won the Memorial Cup two seasons in a row, with 42 points in 40 playoff games over the last two years. He had 42 points in 56 regular season games, and he has a shot at making the NHL team. Josh Ho-Sang has always been blocked in the NHL. In his 53 game NHL career, Ho-Sang has 24 points. He had 43 points in 56 games in the AHL. Sebastian Aho, a defenseman, had 46 points in 67 AHL games. He had four points in 22 NHL games in 2017-18. First rounder Oliver Wahlstrom had a rough year at Boston College, then went to the AHL and had seven points in 10 games, playoffs and regular season combined. Kieffer Bellows had just 19 points in 73 games, disappointing for the 2016 first rounder.

             2019 draft class
Round 1, 23rd overall: Simon Holmstrom
Round 2, 57th overall: Sam Bolduc
Round 5, 147th overall: Reece Newkirk
Round 6, 178th overall: Felix Bibeau
Round 7, 209th overall: Cole Coskey

           Management
Barry Trotz had a great first year as Islanders Head Coach. In his career, he has a .567 winning percentage, over 20 years. But, he has only gotten past the second round in the playoffs once, when his Capitals won the Stanley Cup in 2018. Lou Lamiorello has only made one trade in two years as Islanders GM, trading goalie prospect Eamon McAdam to Toronto for Matt Martin, on July 3, 2018. He re-signed Lee, Eberle and Nelson, but couldn\’t keep Lehner or Tavares, or bring Artemi Panarin to Long Island. His best moves were getting Trotz to coach the team, and originally signing Lehner.

           Projected Lineup
Anders Lee – Mat Barzal – Jordan Eberle
Anthony Beauvillier – Brock Nelson – Josh Bailey
Andrew Ladd – Derick Brassard – Leo Komorav
Matt Martin – Casey Cizikas – Cal Clutterbuck
Extras: Michael Dal Colle, Tom Kuhnhackl, Tanner Fritz, Josh Ho-Sang, Ross Johnston

           Adam Pelech – Ryan Pulock
           Devon Toews – Scott Mayfield
           Nick Leddy – Johnny Boychuk
Extras: Thomas Hickey, Sebastian Aho

                         Semyon Varlamov
                         Thomas Greiss
Extras: Chris Gibson, Jared Coreau

               Prediction
The Islanders might not look amazing on paper, but they have some quality players and amazing coaches. I predict they\’ll finish 3rd in the Metropolitan Division, making the playoffs.

          To get the first overall pick in the NHL nowadays means being bad, and hoping you are also lucky. For the second season in three years, the Devils have been bad, and lucky, getting two first overall picks. To add to Nico Hischier, the Devils drafted Jack Hughes first overall in 2019. Hughes and Hischier are part of the bright future that Ray Shero has built, but with star Taylor Hall\’s contract year looming, a cap crunch could be coming in New Jersey.

           Additions: PK Subban, Nikita Gusev, Wayne Simmonds, John Hayden

           Subtractions: Stefan Noesen, Drew Stafford, Steven Santini, John Quenneville, Kurtis Gabriel, Kenny Agostino, Eric Gryba

           Forwards
Knee surgery limited Hall, the reigning Hart winner, to just 33 games, where he had 37 points. Health and his contract remain big talking points. Hall is one year removed from a 39 goal, 93 point season. In his fourth season in New Jersey, Kyle Palmieri continued to be a prolific scorer, with 27 goals. He led the team in goals, and also in points, with 50. Though he has is yet to have a season like other recent first overall picks like Auston Matthews, Connor McDavid, Hall, Nathan MacKinnon or even Rasmus Dahlin, Hischier has been an impressive teenager over the past two seasons. He has 99 points combined, with 47 (17 goals) in 2018-19. The expectations for Hughes will obviously be high. He had 48 points in 24 games for the US National Under 18 Team, and as a 16 year old on the Under 18 Team in 2017-18, Hughes scored 18 goals in 18 games. He could step in the second line center role, moving Travis Zajac to the third line. Zajac, a Devil since he was drafted in 2004, was a career worst -25, but his 46 points were his most since 2013-14, and his 19 goals were his most since 2009-10. He also received Selke votes. Wayne Simmonds comes to New Jersey on a prove it deal. His 17 goals in 2018-19 were his lowest in a full season since 2010-11. In the five seasons prior to 2018-19, Simmonds averaged 28.8 goals a season. The Devils traded for Nikita Gusev\’s RFA rights from Vegas, then signed him to a two year, $9 million deal. The Russian comes to North America from the KHL, where he had 82 points in 62 games, plus 19 more in 18 playoff games. With the arrival of Hughes, Texas native Blake Coleman will likely move to the wing. He scored a career high 22 goals in 2018-19. Multiple injuries limited 21 year old Jesper Bratt to 51 games, where his career high 25 assists led to 33 points. That\’s a 53 point pace. Drafted 6th overall in the star studded 2015 draft, Pavel Zacha has yet to take it to the next level. Zacha did score a career high 13 goals in 2018-19, but leveled out at 25 points again, and he hasn\’t played in more than 70 games in a season. He could drop to the fourth line this year. Miles Wood dropped off from 2017-18, when he scored 19 goals. In 2018-19, he scored 10 goals, and was a -10 player. Over three seasons, Wood has racked up 261 penalty minutes. The fourth line right wing has yet to be decided. John Hayden, acquired at the draft from Chicago, has a good chance at playing on the right side. Over three NHL seasons, Hayden has 22 points. In his rookie season, Brett Seney had 13 points in 51 games. Joey Anderson had seven points in a 34 game rookie year. Kevin Rooney had 10 points in 41 games.

              Defensemen
The Devils acquired their top defenseman for the next three years when they got PK Subban from Nashville. Subban, who won the Norris in 2012-13, has averaged at least 22 minutes a game in every season, and is a four time 50 point scorer. Subban is coming off a down year in Nashville, with 31 points in 63 games. Sami Vatanen played in just 50 games, ruining his first full season in Jersey. He had 17 points, but he was a career worst -17. Damon Severson was an awful -27, but he had his best offensive season. His 11 goals and 39 points were career highs. Will Butcher endured a little sophomore slump, as his point total went from 44 down to 30, and his plus/minus dropped below zero, all the way to -17. At age 36, captain Andy Greene had 25 points, his most since 2013-14. He has been a -34 over the last three years. Connor Carrick, acquired for Ben Lovejoy at the trade deadline, Carrick scored seven points in 20 games post trade. He is battling with Mirco Mueller for the final defensive spot. Mueller scored 11 points in 53 games, both career highs.

                 Goalies
Cory Schneider had an amazing career, but starting in 2016-17, injuries started to derail it. He played in just 26 games in 2018-19, and struggled, with a .903 SV% and a 3.06 GAA. He had an awful 6-13-4 record. Schneider could share the starting job with goalie of the future MacKenzie Blackwood. As a 22 year old rookie, Blackwood had a .918 SV% and 2.61 GAA.

                  Deep Depths
The Devils signed 32 year old veteran Ben Street to a two way deal. For the Ducks last year, Street had five points in 21 games, and 26 points in 32 AHL games. 2015 third rounder Blake Speers hasn\’t played in the NHL since 2016-17. He had just eight points in 43 AHL games, a very disappointing season. The team signed defenseman Matt Tennyson, who played in four NHL games in Buffalo last year, and has played in 124 NHL games in total. He had 21 points in 47 AHL games.

                  Up and Coming
Another guy battling with Mueller and Carrick for the final defensive spot is 2018 first rounder Ty Smith. Smith is coming off a 69 point season in 57 WHL games. He could make his NHL debut, but I don\’t see him starting in the NHL until 2020-21. 2017 2nd rounder Jesper Boqvist comes from the Swedish League. He had 35 points in 51 games there, and is a candidate to play on the 4th line. A first rounder in 2016, Michael McLeod made his NHL debut, with three assists in 21 games. He still needs to work in the AHL, after recording 33 points (but just six goals) in 55 games.

                  2019 draft class
Round 1, 1st overall: Jack Hughes
Round 2, 61st overall: Nikita Okhotyuk
Round 3, 70th overall: Daniil Misyul
Round 3, 80th overall: Graeme Clarke
Round 3, 82nd overall: Michael Vukojevic
Round 4, 96th overall: Tyce Thompson
Round 4, 118th overall: Case McCarthy
Round 5, 127th overall: Cole Brady
Round 5, 129th overall: Arseny Gritsyuk
Round 6, 158th overall: Patrick Moynihan
Round 7, 189th overall: Nikola Pasic

                    Management
Ray Shero has done a great job rebuilding the Devils. He has had the luck of getting two first overall picks, and also fleecing Peter Chiarelli in the Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson trade. In four seasons under John Hynes, the Devils have a .492 winning percentage.

                    Projected Lineup
Taylor Hall – Nico Hischier – Kyle Palmieri
Nikita Gusev – Jack Hughes – Jesper Bratt
Blake Coleman – Travis Zajac – Wayne Simmonds
Miles Wood – Pavel Zacha – John Hayden
Extras: Brett Seney, Joey Anderson, Jesper Boqvist

                    Will Butcher – PK Subban
                    Andy Greene – Sami Vatanen
                    Connor Carrick – Damon Severson
Extras: Mirco Mueller, Ty Smith

                                   Cory Schneider
                                   MacKenzie Blackwood

                     Prediction
The Devils had a great offseason, bringing in Hughes, Subban, Simmonds and Gusev to go with Hall, Hischier, Palmieri, Severson, Vatanen and Butcher. If the goaltending can hold up, which I think it can, then the Devils will finish 4th in the Metropolitan Division, making the playoffs in 2019-20.