This has gone a lot faster than most predicted, which doesn’t mean the Devils are planning on slowing down.
The rebuild that commenced when Ray Shero took over as general manager in 2015 has come to fruition quickly, as the Devils made the playoffs last season to break a five-year drought. They have the reigning Hart Trophy winner in Taylor Hall, and they have a budding star in the No. 1-overall pick from 2017, Nico Hischier.
None of that guarantees more success this season, and they still have many questions to answer if they want to bring themselves into postseason contention.
1. Is Cory Schneider still a No. 1 goalie?
Nobody in the NHL will deny that goalie is the most important position on every team, and Schneider has had his two worst years the past two seasons in New Jersey. If he can’t be the bedrock between the pipes, maybe Shero has to explore the trade market for the 32-year-old with four years left on his deal at $6 million per. If he does, it seems like Keith Kinkaid might be able to carry the load.
2. Can Taylor Hall repeat?
Maybe the trade of the decade came when Shero dumped defenseman Adam Larsson on the Oilers in exchange for Hall. He was a stud last season, but it’s to be seen if he can keep it up.
3. Is Will Butcher great?
For a good portion of Butcher’s rookie season, he was being considered for the Calder Trophy. But the points dried up a bit for the terrific defenseman out of the University of Denver. He seems to be a top-four guy, but can he be more?
4. Vets ready?
Though there are quite a few young players in the mix, the Devils are still relying on veterans such as Brian Boyle and Marcus Johansson. Boyle is coming off a remarkable year in which he battled cancer, while Johansson struggled to come back from a concussion. With Andy Green, Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri, they make up the leadership corps.
5. Are they going for it now?
Because the timeline has been accelerated more than most thought, Shero might be thinking about winning sooner than later. That would drastically change his approach to the trade deadline.