Travis Zajac.JPG

Travis Zajac and the Devils will kick off the 2013-14 season this Thursday.

(Saed Hindash/The Star-Ledger)

The Devils season begins this Thursday in Pittsburgh, while the puck officially drops on the 2013-14 NHL regular season on Tuesday with a matchup between the Maple Leafs and Canadiens.

We've already looked at where one expert -- Sports Illustrated's Brian Cazeneuve -- predicted the Devils would finish in the 2013-14 season. Here are where some other experts see New Jersey finishing:

The Hockey News

Prediction: 8th in the Metropolitan Division

"If defense and goaltending will keep the Devils in games from time to time this season, will the offense be able to pull out the win? So much (too much) star power has been lost in two off-seasons that hasn't been replaced by anything to inspire confidence."

Kevin Allen, USA Today

Prediction: 8th in the Metropolitan Division

"Will the Devils score enough? They ranked 28th in goals last season, and their scoring potential doesn't appear to have improved."

ESPN.com

Prediction: 8th in the Metropolitan Division (Scott Burnside and Pierre LeBrun); 7th in the Metropolitan Division (Barry Melrose and Craig Custance)

"Although it would be easy to point out the various holes throughout the Devils' lineup, leadership is not one of them. The team is led by a group of savvy veterans in Bryce Salvador, Andy Greene, [Patrik] Elias and [Martin] Brodeur." -- Katie Strang

Sean Gentille, Sporting News

Prediction: 5th in the Metropolitan Division

"They'll struggle to hit playoff level again without Ilya Kovalchuk or David Clarkson, but they could quite easily make the postseason if Cory Schneider plays more than Brodeur. It's time."

Scott Cullen, TSN

Ranking: 20

"For all the concern over losing LW Ilya Kovalchuk to the KHL, the Devils spent the summer improving their depth, adding RW Jaromir Jagr, LW Ryane Clowe, RW Michael Ryder and RW Damien Brunner, which ought to be enough to give the Devils a competent attack."