This week, The Athletic takes a detailed look at the state of the Devils, exploring each position on what could be the most exciting New Jersey roster since Gary Bettman handed Scott Stevens the Stanley Cup for the third time in 2003.



First up, the centers.



Tuesday: Centers



Wednesday: Wings



Thursday: Defensemen



Friday: Goalies



2018-19 in review



Nico Hischier in his second season played nearly two minutes more per game and started fewer shifts in the offensive zone. Despite missing 13 games and spending two-thirds of the year without Taylor Hall, Hischier scored at roughly the same rate as his rookie year. Overall, it was a small step forward for the former No. 1 draft pick and there’s reason to believe he will take a bigger step in Year Three.



Pavel Zacha failed to lock down the No. 2 center role for the second straight season, but did produce nine goals and 21 points in his final 33 games and became a...