The Devils finished with a 38-39-5 record (81 points), three points behind Buffalo
The Buffalo Sabres took a step back after barely missing the playoffs in 2023, finishing seven points out of the final Eastern Conference wildcard spot with a 39-37-6 record (84 points). The regression cost head coach Don Granato his job and put more pressure on GM Kevyn Adams to snap the league’s longest playoff drought of 13 seasons.
Adams brought back veteran head coach Lindy Ruff to stress accountability and has made trades and free agent signings to remedy the Sabres depth and defensive issues, but the question now is whether they are as good or better than their competition in the Eastern Conference.
After making it to the second round in 2023, the New Jersey Devils suffered a slew of key injuries and struggled with below-average goaltending, which led to the dismissal of Ruff in early March and the club finishing 10 points out of a playoff spot with a 38-39-5 record (81 points), three points behind the Sabres. This summer, GM Tom Fitzgerald addressed some of his club's most critical needs in the trade market and free agency, dealing for goaltender Jacob Markstrom, signing veteran defensemen Brett Pesce and Brendan Dillon, and hiring former Toronto head coach Sheldon Keefe.
Forwards
New Jersey made only a couple of notable additions up front, signing free agents Stefan Noesen and Tomas Tatar. The Devils have an excellent top-tier group with centers Jack Hughes, and Nico Hischier, wingers Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier, and and solid depth in Dawson Mercer, Alexander Holtz, and veterans Ondrej Palat, Erik Haula, Tatar, and Noesen. While the Sabres improved their forward depth this offseason, the Devils appear to have an edge in offensive firepower, but if they lose Hughes or Hischier for long stretches as they did last season, that will significantly debilitate them.
Defense
The Devils dealt John Marino to Utah for draft picks at the draft, but quickly filled the hole vacated with the signings of Pesce and Dillon. The biggest addition will be the return of All-Star Dougie Hamilton, who missed most of last season with a torn pectoral muscle. Veteran Jonas Siegenthaler and youngsters Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec give Keefe the luxury of a very talented and deep blueline. Although New Jersey does not have a defenseman as dynamic as Dahlin, and Buffalo’s top-four is better, the Devils quality options 1 through 6 give them a slight edge.
Goaltending
The trade for Markstrom and having veteran Jake Allen as a backup has propelled the Devils from one of the weakest tandems in the NHL to potentially one of the strongest. The only concern is how much the 34-year-old the former Flame has left in the tank, but he had a 2.78 GAA and .905 save % with a bad Calgary club last season.
The pairing of Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen and Devon Levi could be one of the better in the NHL if Ruff can coax more accountability and improved defensive play from them. Buffalo’s tandem is young and has more potential, the Devils pair have more experience, so it is about even.
Outlook
New Jersey will benefit from the short travel in the slightly less competitive Metropolitan Division. The Devils are even or slightly better than the Sabres in all areas, which likely will find them in the top three in the Metro instead of that bubble group of five or six teams fighting for the wild card spots.
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