Flashback to the end of the 2018-19 NHL season. The New Jersey Devils rolled out a group of forwards in their top-9 that looked like this:
Blake Coleman-Travis Zajac-Stefan Noesen
Kenny Agostino-Kevin Rooney-Kyle Palmieri
Drew Stafford-Blake Pietila-Joey Anderson
With all due respect, it’s not exactly a group that strikes fear into the hearts of defensemen and goaltenders. Other options on the 2018-19 roster included Nick Lappin, Eric Tangradi, and Kurtis Gabriel.
Projected lines and pairs for #NJDevils #Caps pic.twitter.com/laKzee3wGP
— Dan Rice (@DRiceHockey) March 19, 2019
Flash forward to the present day, as we sit less than three months before opening night at the Rock in 2024…this is what the Devils top-9 is (roundabout) looking like today:
Jesper Bratt-Nico Hischier-Timo Meier
Dawson Mercer-Jack Hughes-Tyler Toffoli
Ondrej Palat-Erik Haula-Nolan Foote/Alexander Holtz
Quiet the difference in talent, top to bottom.