3 Devils Who Must Step Up After the Break – The Hockey Writers New Jersey Devils Latest News, Analysis & More

Now that the NHL’s 4 Nations Face-Off is over, the New Jersey Devils will look to get back on track after going 5-5-0 in their last 10 games. They return to work today (Feb. 22), hoping to cement their playoff position as they face the Dallas Stars.

There are a few difficulties the Devils faced prior to the break, including injuries, inconsistency, and a lack of movement prior to the trade deadline. Nonetheless, there are a few Devils who must make a stronger effort. Let’s take a look at three players who need to step up for the remainder of the season.

Curtis Lazar

Curtis Lazar has had a tough season, especially after being sidelined for months following knee surgery. However, after returning to the Devils’ bench, he went 11 games without scoring a point. Lazar managed two points throughout January but has just one shot on goal in his last six games.

The Devils need Lazar to snap out of his recent slump to correct their bottom-six scoring problem. With just four points in 32 games, Lazar must start contributing more. This season, he has created 17 scoring chances for the Devils, as compared to 77 during the 2023-24 season.

Despite having a career-high 25 points last season, Lazar has just one goal and three assists this season. His puck possession is also not ideal, and he allows more scoring chances against the Devils than he generates. This is demonstrated by his minus-6.8 on-ice expected goal differential, as well as his 36 Fenwick percentage.

Even though Lazar is a fourth-liner, he needs to step up, especially if the Devils want to succeed in the postseason. It appears that Lazar will remain on a line with Tomas Tatar and Nathan Bastian, but this combination must start generating more offensive chances.

Tomas Tatar

Tatar needs to embrace his role as a veteran leader. He has managed just one assist against the Montreal Canadiens this month, and has only four points since New Year’s. It’s no secret that his point production has decreased since last season. Right now, Tatar is on pace for 21 points. This would be his lowest total since his 2012-13 sophomore season on the Detroit Red Wings.

Tatar rotates between the Devils’ third and fourth lines, averaging 0.9 shots on goal and 0.25 points per game. Tatar also hasn’t been excelling defensively. He has 28 giveaways this season, 11 of which were in the defensive zone.

Tatar records an average of 10:39 ice time per game, part of which he spends on the Devils’ second power-play unit. Tatar has just three points on the man advantage this season, which certainly doesn’t help the Devils’ recurring problem with secondary scoring.

Originally, the Devils attempted to recapture the magic of the 2022-23 season, where Tatar was a 20-goal scorer on a line with Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer. However, Tatar must find a way to excel in his new bottom-six role before it’s too late. Tatar’s one-year contract with the Devils will expire at the end of the season, and the 34-year-old will become an unrestricted free agent.

Dawson Mercer

The final player that needs to contribute more is Mercer. Despite recording at least one shot per game for the last month, Mercer has just six points in his last 15 games. He took on additional responsibility in the wake of Hischier’s injury, serving as a second-line center leading up to the break. In the Devils’ last three games, he returned to his dominant right-wing position for Timo Meier and Erik Haula.

Currently, Mercer ranks below the 50th percentile in both top shot speed and offensive zone time. He is on pace to score 36 points this season, which is a major drop-off from the 56-point career high he set two seasons ago.

Related: 3 Main Struggles the Devils Must Address After the Break

Despite his recent struggles, Mercer is still a valuable asset. This marks his fourth straight season skating in every single game. It’s clear that the Devils’ franchise intends to keep him around, especially since he signed a three-year, $12 million extension last September.

He could also play an important role if the Devils advance to the postseason. During their 2022-23 playoff run, Mercer scored three goals, including one on the power play and a shorthanded goal. With just 25 games remaining in the regular season, Mercer must improve his offensive play.

Devils’ Efforts Moving Forward

The Devils remain in the third playoff slot in the Metropolitan Division, eight points ahead of the Columbus Blue Jackets. They must play with consistency, instead of repeating last season’s heartache. According to MoneyPuck, the Devils have an 89.1% chance of advancing to the postseason, but there is still plenty of work to be done.

It all starts with their next game tonight, where the Devils will face the Stars at the Prudential Center.