This has been one of the biggest offseasons in recent Devils history, one when they not only improved their team dramatically but also created a legit buzz about hockey in Newark.

They nabbed the first-overall pick through the lottery for the second time in three years and took American wunderkind Jack Hughes. General manager Ray Shero then traded for bombastic defenseman P.K. Subban and Russian winger Nikita Gusev and signed fan favorite Wayne Simmonds.

Coach John Hynes is entering his fifth season behind the bench, making him the longest-tenured coach of any major pro team in the New York area. With star winger Taylor Hall entering the final year of his contract, and with some uncertainty in goal, there are big questions. But there is rightful excitement for what this group might be able to do, and expectations are rising.

Offense

Still the biggest question around the Devils is the future of Taylor Hall, who was the league MVP in 2018 but was limited to just 33 games last season after knee surgery. He enters the final year of his contract, and after Hall looked great in preseason, Ray Shero has met with his agent and they’ve agreed to let the season start and see how things play out. That could get dicey if he still isn’t signed leading up to the trade deadline.

If that proves to not be such a distraction, then Hall is going to need some help around him. It seems as if the No. 1-overall pick from 2017, Nico Hischier, will be the first-line center, with sniper Kyle Palmieri on the right. Then Jack Hughes slots in (for now) as the second-line pivot, with the hope Nikita Gusev can be a finisher on the left. Veteran center Travis Zajac is trying to show he has some gas left in the tank at age 34, and speedy Jesper Bratt on his left might help. Pavel Zacha also finally came over from Europe after a contract holdout and adds some skill to a fourth line.

Defense

There has never been a question about P.K. Subban’s talent, but there have been questions about his ability to defend. With such a penchant to get up in the play, it should be interesting to see how long he stays paired with another offensive-minded player in Sami Vatanen. Captain Andy Greene also could play in to that left side with Subban, playing protected minutes.

Damon Severson has come into his own as a top-four defenseman on the right side and he could play with Will Butcher, the Hobey Baker Award winner out of Denver who signed as a free agent with the Devils in the summer of 2017. Both Connor Carrick and Mirco Mueller also will fight for time.

Goaltending

It was a nice story at the end of last season when 33-year-old Cory Schneider returned from a tumultuous two years struggling with injuries to perform well in a few games. Dealing with ailments to his knees and hips, Schneider was fresh this preseason and looked terrific, posting a .951 save percentage in parts of three games. He is an early favorite for the Masterton Trophy for perseverance and dedication to the game.

It should help that he will split time with Mackenzie Blackwood, the 22-year-old who showed big promise in 21 starts last season, posting a 2.61 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.

Coaching

John Hynes is a demanding coach, which is good for a young team. But now that there are quite a few veterans on the roster, it’ll be curious to see how they react to his style. There are also some high expectations from the front office, so if the team gets off to a slow start, it won’t be long until there is speculation about Hynes’ job status.

A plus for Hynes is that he has a relationship with Hughes, as the two have been involved in USA Hockey. With Hughes being such a big part of the future, that could help Hynes’ message resonate inside the locker room.

Most important offensive player

Taylor Hall. Having been in the league such a long time, it’s hard to remember that Hall is only 27 years old. When he is healthy, he is still one of the league’s top offensive players — and the Devils are going to need him to be just that.

Most important defensive player

Sami Vatanen. If the 28-year-old Vatanen can hold down the fort and pair with P.K. Subban to create a dynamic first pair, then the club is going to be able to produce some offense from the back end. If not, it could be difficult to maximize Subban’s talents.

Top rookie

Jack Hughes. The 18-year-old center has shown a maturity that belies his age, and that goes with preternatural vision and poise on the ice. Of course, he still hasn’t played a real NHL game, so things will only get harder.

Key coaching decision

John Hynes is going to have to decide just how hard he wants to push this group, which has a few more combustible pieces than it has had in years past. It’s a fine line to walk in trying to keep players accountable without causing too much irritation, and it won’t be easy for him to find a happy medium while trying to stay competitive.

Prediction

If the goaltending can be reasonably good and the roster stays relatively healthy — and they don’t trade Hall — the Devils will be playing meaningful games late in the season. But they are still a year or two away and will miss the postseason for the seventh time in the past eight years.