Devils season preview: Markstrom, Dillon, Pesce additions prime New Jersey for playoff push | NHL.com

ROSTER RUNDOWN

Making the cut

The injury to Luke Hughes could give two-way defenseman Santeri Hatakka an opportunity to earn a spot from the outset as a left-handed shot on the third pairing. The 23-year-old (6-foot-1, 191 pounds), a sixth-round pick (No. 184) by the San Jose Sharks in the 2019 NHL Draft, had 20 points (five goals, 15 assists) in 48 games with Utica of the American Hockey League last season and had two assists, 14 hits, 12 blocked shots and was plus-5 in 12 games with the Devils. He wasn’t a defensive liability and proved effective in transition. Hatakka was part of the trade with the Sharks that included forward Timo Meier and involved nine players and four draft picks on Feb. 26, 2023.

Most intriguing addition

Dillon, a 33-year-old left-handed shot, signed a three-year, $12 million contract ($4 million AAV). He’ll provide New Jersey with an authoritative presence on the back end, something the unit lacked last season when it had the seventh-fewest hits and fourth-fewest blocked shots. Since entering the League in 2011-12, Dillon ranks 11th among all players in hits (2,174) in 892 games.

Biggest potential surprise

Paul Cotter, a 24-year-old forward acquired in a trade with the Vegas Golden Knights for right wing Alexander Holtz and goalie Akira Schmid on June 29, is expected to lock up the type of third- or fourth-line role the Devils desperately need with his versatility, speed and physicality. He’s tenacious on pucks, something general manager Tom Fitzgerald envisioned within his bottom-six. He also has experience; he’ll join Allen, Ondrej Palat, and Kurtis MacDermid as teammates who at one time have won the Stanley Cup.

Ready to contribute

Markstrom, who has two seasons remaining on a six-year contract and can become an unrestricted free agent after 2025-26, is expected to be that consistent, reliable player at a position that has been anything but in recent years. He is 215-196-57 with a 2.73 GAA and .909 save percentage in 485 regular-season games (468 starts) for the Panthers, Vancouver Canucks and Flames and 13-13 with a 2.90 GAA and .911 save percentage in 26 playoff games. He has played at least 60 games three times in his NHL career and also played 59 games two seasons ago in 2022-23. The last Devils goalies with 60-plus appearances in a single season were Cory Schneider (60 in 2016-17; 69 in 2014-15) and Martin Brodeur (77 in 2009-10).

Fantasy sleeper

Simon Nemec, D (undrafted on average in fantasy) – Nemec played in 60 games with New Jersey last season and had 19 points (three goals, 16 assists). The 20-year-old defenseman has fantasy value early on this season, as he might see solid ice time in the absence of both Luke Hughes (shoulder; 4-6 weeks) and Brett Pesce (week-to-week). In 2022-23 Nemec had 34 points (12 goals, 22 assists) in 65 games with the Utica Comets of the AHL. – Anna Dua

PROJECTED LINEUP

Timo Meier — Nico Hischier — Jesper Bratt

Ondrej Palat — Jack Hughes — Dawson Mercer

Tomas Tatar — Erik Haula — Stefan Noesen

Paul Cotter — Curtis Lazar — Nathan Bastian

Jonas Siegenthaler — Dougie Hamilton

Brenden Dillon — Brett Pesce

Santeri Hatakka — Simon Nemec

Jacob Markstrom

Jake Allen

Injured: Luke Hughes (left shoulder)