The Devils have had a big offseason, and look poised to take a step towards being a consistent playoff contender and eventually competing for the Stanley Cup. There’s still one decision looming that will have a big impact on that timeline.



If Taylor Hall is in the opening night lineup 15 months from now, the path to contention for the Devils is relatively clear. If he is not, then more uncertainty beckons. With Hall, the Devils could squeeze into the upper echelon of the Eastern Conference as soon as the 2020-21 season.



Without Hall, winning the 2019 draft lottery and landing Jack Hughes will have been even more critical in the coming years. The next couple of seasons might not be as successful, but the potential to begin the 2022-23 campaign with a Cup Contender in New Jersey is still plausible.



So, we’re going to take on the daunting task of projecting what the lineup might look like in October 2022. Here is what the Devils’ lineup looked...