NHL Preview 2019-20: New Jersey Devils

(This year again, I will twin-post with my Collectibles Blog and write about a player who is related to my Preview post here. Today, representing the New Jersey Devils, journeyman goaltender Mike McKenna, for whom the Devils were one of 15 NHL organizations).

GM: Ray Shero (since 2015). 7.5/10
Coach: John Hynes (since 2015). 5/10

2018-19 record: 31-41-10, 74 pts. (8th in the Metropolitan Division, 15th in the Eastern Conference).
Playoffs: Did not qualify.

Departures: Brian Boyle (C), Keith Kincaid (G), Kurtis Gabriel (RW), Kenny Agostino (LW), Stefan Noesen (RW), Ben Lovejoy (D), Drew Stafford (RW), Eric Gryba (D), Eddie Lack (G).

Arrivals: P.K. Subban (D), Wayne Simmonds (RW), Nikita Gusev (LW), Connor Carrick (D), John Hayden (RW).

Top forwards: Taylor Hall (70-80 points), Nikita Gusev (50-65 points), Jack Hughes (40-45 points), Travis Zajac (30-45 points), Nico Hischier (40-55 points), Blake Coleman (30-40 points), Jesper Bratt (30-40 points), Pavel Zacha (30-40 points), Simmonds (20-30 points).

Must-improve forward: Do not expect Simmonds to ever go back to being a productive power forward. Powerplay specialist? Perhaps. But betting on him to get more than 30 points seems unrealistic at this juncture. It would be nice if he went back to 20-25 goals, but it's unfair to expect it of him at this point in time, now that his body is bruised and aching from years of sacrifice to enrich his teammates.

Top defensemen: P.K. Subban (45-60 points), Will Butcher (30-40 points), Damon Severson (30-40 points), Sami Vatanen (20-35 points), Andy Greene (10-15 points), Mirco Mueller (10-20 points).

Goalies: Corey Schneider (77/100), Mackenzie Blackwood (81/100).

Top prospects: Hughes (18 years old, C, 2019 first-overall pick), Jesper Boqvist (20, F), Michael McLeod (21, C, 12th overall pick in 2016), Jérémy Groleau (19, D), Ty Smith (19, D), Nathan Bastian (21, RW).

Analysis:
The Devils might be the most-improved team in the league, or at the very least, second to the New York Rangers, with whom they will be nearly tied at year's end. Getting Taylor Hall back for an entire season might even push them into the playoff picture, what with the additions of Subban, Highes, and Gusev (the best forward playing in Europe in 2018-19).

However, if they do make it to the postseason, it won't be for a long time; they don't have the coaching nor the goaltending to advance further than the first round, and overcoming those two obstacles is too much for any excellent defense and strong-if-top-heavy forward group.

.Eventually, Blackwood will grow into the #1 role and supplant Schneider - then we'll talk "contender status".

Prediction: 5th in the Metropolitan Division, 17th in the NHL.