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EDINA, Minn. — Erik Haula believes the moves the New Jersey Devils made this offseason are enough for them to get back to the Stanley Cup Playoffs.

“At Da Beauty League, a 4-on-4 summer league featuring NHL and collegiate players with ties to Minnesota, the Devils forward praised general manager Tom Fitzgerald, affectionately known as ‘Fitzy’. He said, ‘I think Fitzy did an excellent job addressing areas we need to improve upon.’ He added, ‘Everything starts from there. My fellow players and I are eager to begin in a few weeks.'”

New Jersey (38-39-5), coming off a seventh-place finish in the Metropolitan Division and missing the playoffs for the 10th time in 12 seasons, made its biggest offseason splash by acquiring goalie Jacob Markstrom in a trade with the Calgary Flames on June 19 for defenseman Kevin Bahl and a first-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Markstrom went 23-23-2 with a 2.78 goals-against average, .905 save percentage and two shutouts in 48 starts last season. Since 2019-20, the 34-year-old is fourth in the NHL in games played (256), tied with Tristan Jarry of the Pittsburgh Penguins for fourth in shutouts (17), and ranks sixth in saves (6,594), shots against (7,256) and wins (128).

Last season, the Devils utilized five goalkeepers and conceded an average of 3.43 goals per game. This was on par with the Montreal Canadiens and Ottawa Senators, ranking as the fifth-highest in the NHL.

“Haula expressed that acquiring ‘Marky’ was a significant move. He emphasized that they slightly needed someone reliable like him to serve as the team’s backbone. He praised him as a proven professional and added that having ‘Jakey’ (Jake Allen, who was traded from Montreal on March 8) alongside him would provide a strong one-two punch,” he said.

After trading Bahl and then sending defenseman John Marino to the Utah Hockey Club on June 29 with a fifth-round pick in the 2025 draft for a second-round pick in 2024 and 2025, the Devils bolstered their blue line on July 1 by signing Brett Pesce to a six-year, $33 million contract ($5.5 million average annual value) and Brenden Dillon to a three-year, $12 million contract ($4 million AAV).

Last season, 29-year-old Pesce accumulated 13 points, including three goals and 10 assists, in 70 regular-season games for the Carolina Hurricanes, along with one assist in two playoff games. On the other hand, 33-year-old Dillon garnered 20 points, with eight goals and 12 assists, in 77 regular-season games for the Winnipeg Jets, as well as three assists in three playoff games.

New Jersey also brought back forwards Stefan Noesen (three-year, $8.25 million contract on July 1; $2.75 million AAV) and Tomas Tatar (one-year, $1.8 million contract on July 2), who each played for the Devils previously.

Noesen, aged 31, previously played with New Jersey from 2016 to 2019. Last season, he scored 37 points, including 14 goals and 23 assists, in 81 regular-season games for Carolina. He also scored four goals in 11 playoff games. Tatar, on the other hand, at the age of 33, was a part of the Devils from 2021 to 2023. He scored 24 points, which consisted of nine goals and 15 assists, in 70 regular-season games for the Colorado Avalanche and Seattle Kraken last season.

However, the biggest factor up front for the Devils this season could be the health of Jack Hughes. The 23-year-old center was sidelined twice last season for a total of 16 games with an upper-body injury before missing the final four games because of shoulder surgery. Hughes, who finished second on the Devils with 74 points (27 goals 47 assists) in 62 games, behind forward Jesper Bratt (83 points; 27 goals, 56 assists in 82 games), is expected to be at training camp.

“Hughes has no limit, he’s certainly one of the top players in the League when it comes to handling the puck, and he’s extremely dangerous when he’s on the rush,” Haula stated. “With him fully fit, as well as a few others who have resolved some issues, we’re prepared to take on any challenge.”

Haula is eager for Sheldon Keefe, New Jersey’s new coach, to lead the team back into the postseason. Keefe was brought in on May 23 as a replacement for interim coach Travis Green, who took over from Lindy Ruff after Ruff was dismissed on March 4. The 43-year-old Keefe previously served as coach for the Toronto Maple Leafs for five seasons until he was let go on May 9. He had a 212-97-40 record in 349 regular-season games and a 16-21 record in 37 playoff games.

“We have high aspirations,” said Haula. “The goals are set, but everything begins with the first day, and we’ll progress from there. Having a strong start is crucial to build confidence in our team and steer it in the right direction. With a new coach and a mix of new and familiar faces, I believe we’re capable of achieving just that.”