The Devils top six is mostly set for 2016-17 but the bottom six remains in the air and Devils will be relying on their young players there to make a difference.
After the Devils completed the trade that brought Taylor Hall to New Jersey, the forwards group immediately changed its complexion. Instead of being a weakness, the forwards became, if not a strength, at least not such a liability. The addition of Hall, likely a top-five player at his position in the entire league, gave the Devils the top-tier forward talent they have been sorely missing since the departures of Zach Parise and Ilya Kovlachuk.