Here are 10 storylines to watch as Devils training camp opens this week.

 Day 1 of New Jersey Devils Rookie Camp is in the books. The 13 forwards, eight defensemen, and three goaltenders hit the ice for the first official camp practice on Thursday before traveling to Buffalo for the 2023 Prospects Challenge. 

As rookie camp rolls on and veterans make their way to Prudential Center, let's look at ten storylines to follow as the 2023-24 season kicks off. 

1. Can Alexander Holtz Leave a Lasting Impression on the Coaching Staff?

To quote High School Musical, it's now or never for Alexander Holtz. At least, it appears to be. In March, general manager Tom Fitzgerald acknowledged that the 21-year-old became a "victim of the team's success" last season. This leads some to believe that the Swede will only be kept on New Jersey's roster if he can remain in the lineup. After a summer of training, there will be pressure for the seventh overall pick to become an impactful NHL regular.

2. Nolan Foote

"I think (Foote) is the example of proper player development." - Fitzgerald.

Foote has been busy adjusting his game. Last season, the natural winger spent time playing center, giving him the potential to be a versatile asset for head coach Lindy Ruff. The organization raved about the 22-year-old last season, and while he doesn't have the same outside pressure as Holtz, it will be interesting to see how far he can make it once camp begins.

3. How Will Simon Nemec Look Compared to NHL Regulars?

Nemec's first season in North America was a success. He earned 34 points (12 goals, 22 assists) in 65 games and was named to the 2022-23 American Hockey League Top Prospects Team. But as we know, the AHL and NHL are two very different leagues. In training camp, Nemec will compete against the organization's top defensemen, including Dougie Hamilton and Jonas Siegenthaler. It will be a good measuring stick for the 19-year-old to see how his development is progressing.

4. What Will Tyler Toffoli Add to the Team?

Tyler Toffoli is already bonding with his new teammates off the ice, but when it comes to the ice and the locker room, what impact will the 31-year-old have?

Having been on four NHL teams before joining the Devils, he is no stranger to learning a new system, but how long will it take him to acclimate to Lindy Ruff's system? Toffoli will take Tatar's spot in the top nine, and there will undoubtedly be comparisons drawn between the two, especially when so many fans wanted Tatar to return this season. Can Toffoli bypass the 48 points Tatar earned last season and come close to his career-high 73 points? Is he the missing piece to New Jersey's power play? There are a lot of questions surrounding the team's newest winger.

5. The Power Play

Timo Meier, Jesper Bratt, Dawson Mercer, Ondrej Palat, Hughes, Hischier and Toffoli. How will the coaching staff break up their forward talent for the power play? Will associate coach Travis Green deploy his five best players in the first unit or separate them to create two even units? There are plenty of options, and I'm sure the coaching staff will experiment with different variations until they find the chemistry they are looking for.

6. Luke Hughes Rookie Season

There is a lot of excitement surrounding 20-year-old Luke Hughes after his NHL debut late last season. How much will he be able to contribute in his first full season with the club? It is a known fact that defensemen take longer to develop in the NHL, and mistakes are part of a young player's development. Knowing the spotlight that will be on Hughes this season, he is a storyline that will be prominent well beyond training camp.

7. Can Jack Hughes Repeat or Surpass Last Season’s Performance?

Last season, Hughes was electric. He set a franchise record with 99 points, surpassing Patrik Elias' 96 points (2000-01). He earned 138 votes for the Hart Trophy, an award for the most valuable player in the National Hockey League, and was named a finalist for the Lady Byng Award. Can the 22-year-old reach the 100-point mark and prove that last season was the start of him being a top player in the league?

8. A New Look Fourth Line

There was something that worked when Miles Wood, Michael McLeod, and Nathan Bastian played together. The "BMW Line" shut down the opposing team's top lines and contributed offensively. At times, they were even the team's best line.

When the trio were separated, however, fans saw them individually struggle. With the departure of Wood, can McLeod and Bastian recapture that fourth-line magic with Curtis Lazar, Tomas Nosek, or Foote?

9. Who Will Be The Extra Forwards to Start the Season?

No one wants to see a young and promising forward like Holtz or Foote sit in the press box when they could be playing big minutes in the AHL, but there is value for them to practice with NHL players regarding skill level and pace. Would the coaching staff utilize the two youngsters over a physical player like Lazar or a versatile forward like Nosek? Who Ruff chooses to put into the lineup will likely be dedicated by their opponent, but it will be interesting to see who makes up that rotation to start the season.

10. Goaltending

The Devils made things interesting when they signed Keith Kinkaid to a one-year, two-way deal. He joins Akira Schmid and Erik Kallgren, who will compete for the final spot behind Vitek Vanecek. Largely considered their weakness entering the 2023-24 season, the goaltenders joint performances will dictate if Fitzgerald makes a more significant move at the trade deadline.