The trade for goaltender Jacob Markstrom should help get the Devils back into the playoffs

New Jersey Devils

Last season: 38-39-5, missed playoffs for the 10th time in 12 seasons.

COACH: Sheldon Keefe (212-97-40 over 5 seasons with Toronto), hired May 23.

SEASON OPENER: Oct. 4 vs. Buffalo in Prague, Czech Republic.

DEPARTURES: D Kevin Bahl, D John Marino, D Brendan Smith, G Vitek Vanecek, G Kaapo Kahkonen, G Akira Schmid, F Alexander Holtz, F Tomas Nosek, F Chris Tierney, Coaches Lindy Ruff and Travis Green.

ADDITIONS: Keefe, G Jacob Markstrom, D Brett Pesce, D Brenden Dillon, D Johnathan Kovacevic, F Stefan Noesen, F Tomas Tatar, F Paul Cotter.

GOALIES: Jacob Markstrom (23-23-2-2, 2.78 goals-against average, 0.905 save percentage), Jake Allen (12-18-4-0, 3.44, 0.895).

BetMGM STANLEY CUP ODDS: 11-1.

What to expect

The Devils have been searching for a No. 1 goaltender since Hall of Famer Martin Brodeur left after the 2013-14 season. While Corey Schneider, MacKenzie Blackwood and Vitek Vanecek have looked good at times in the last decade, Markstrom has the potential to fill the hole. General manager Tom Fitzgerald sent young defenseman Kevin Bahl to Calgary for him, but the veteran can be the stopper that gets New Jersey back on track after a dismal season. Keefe had success with the Maple Leafs and he has a chance for more taking over a talented young team.

Strengths and weaknesses

The good: New Jersey is fast and has a ton of scoring ability with Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer. They pick up some grit up front adding Stefan Noesen and a solid defender in Brett Pesce. Markstrom and Jake Allen are a solid 1-2 in goal.

The not-so-good: The Devils gave up 283 goals last season, which was 27th out of 32 teams. The defense and goaltending take most of the blame, but the forwards need to come back to help out. Injuries has been a foe in recent years. Defenseman Dougie Hamilton missed most of the season (pectoral injury) and Jack Hughes missed the end (shoulder). Defenseman Luke Hughes is missing the start of the year (shoulder) and Pesce is working through a lower-body problem. For all their speed and talent, the Devils have been pushed around a lot on the ice and they need to be tougher. Simon Nemec, 20, needs to take another step.

Players to watch

Luke Hughes. The No. 4 overall pick in the 2021 draft, Hughes was named a finalist for the NHL rookie of the year. He finished tied for second among rookies with 47 points (nine goals, 38 assists) and played in all 82 games. His point total was the second-most points by a first-year defenseman in franchise history (Barry Beck, 60, Colorado Rockies, 1977-78). The negative: Hughes was minus-25 on the ice. That needs to improve.

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