What is the Biggest Priority For The New Jersey Devils This Offseason?

The New Jersey Devils will have a busy offseason ahead of them. General manager Tom Fitzgerald will have several needs to fill, including coaching, goaltending, defense, and scoring. But let’s stick with the team and focus on potential coaches another time. Those three areas of need (goaltending, defense, and scoring), were the same ones he had to address this past offseason, but he only filled one of those needs.

There was an opportunity to fill the most significant need, goaltending, last offseason season, and the Devils missed that. As the season winds down and we look ahead to the offseason, there is another area the Devils general manager will need to fill. That area is physicality.

As Full Press Hockey has reported, the Devils will look to add a number one goalie this offseason to pair with Jake Allen. Tom Fitzgerald could not get that number one guy at the deadline. The Devils were trying for Jacob Markstrom, Juuse Saros, John Gibson, and Elvis Merzklikins. New Jersey will target Markstrom and Saros again, but the price of getting them will be high.

We know defenseman Dougie Hamilton will be back, but the Devils need to add another defenseman who can move the puck and add a physical presence on the blue line. Not to mention a veteran to help the young players come along. It is a lot to ask of the general manager as the salary cap increases.

Playoffs: 2024 Stanley Cup Playoffs: Wild Card Spots Up For Grabs In Eastern Conference

In a recent episode of the Full Press Hockey Podcast, Bruce Zeman of Vox Media raises an essential question: What is the most significant need for the New Jersey Devils? 

FullPressHockey.com Transcription***

Bruce Zeman: “One of the things that we didn’t really talk about today yet and that hasn’t been addressed is the need for some physicality out there. And you know, what is gonna happen with that? I mean, there’s some names out there that we’ll see if they come here, but that you know, you’ve got goaltending, you need defense, you need a physical forward. Those guys don’t grow on trees.”

Jim Biringer: “You always said you have to give something to get something.”

Zeman: “And especially in the goal. So let me throw this out to you then: if you have to prioritize goaltending, the defense or player that brings some physicality, which one are you going to address first?”

Biringer: “I tried to go defense first, to be honest, because I believe in this philosophy, and I’m seeing this with Edmonton, Minnesota, and Tampa. Teams that have struggled to play defence, Colorado to an extent, teams that play better defence, it allows the goaltender to play their game better, right? The goalie is not asked to do too much. He’s just asked to do enough.

Like Vegas is struggling with injuries. Their goalie is being relied upon more. Toronto’s playing defense a little bit better. I think if you’re a steady defenseman, and the Devils need to get the puck out of the zone quicker and get it out. And that’s their issue because the puck always stays in and I think that’s where the defenseman can help you.

You bring in that puck-moving defenseman that can get it out and get the offence going. Now, you’re not trapped in your zone for a couple of shifts. And now the goal is tired, and for moving side to side, the pucks are in the net. I think that’s where what would really really help the Devils which would help the goaltending.”

Zeman: “Yeah, I still do, and I believe from the beginning of the season that they also really need to get some type of physicality out there. I mean, I don’t think the Brendan Smith experiment worked. I mean, it worked for a little bit, but I don’t think that’s the answer. But again, who is that guy that you’re going to get to do that.  Those guys are also going to come at a premium.”

Again, it all starts from the net out. Have that number one goalie, number one defenseman, and number one center. Build around that.

The New Jersey Devils and Tom Fitzgerald have prioritized the goalie, and now it is on to the other areas that need to be filled.