New Jersey Devils Keep Same Mark in Offseason Re-Grades
By Nick Ziegler
![Mar 28, 2017; Newark, NJ, USA; Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save against New Jersey Devils left wing Taylor Hall (9) during the shootout at Prudential Center. The Jets won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports Mar 28, 2017; Newark, NJ, USA; Winnipeg Jets goalie Connor Hellebuyck (37) makes a save against New Jersey Devils left wing Taylor Hall (9) during the shootout at Prudential Center. The Jets won 4-3. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/e4bfb1ecb3a937875750e83a8376b54e0e5092f85af2c730673d302ed7fc44f1.jpg)
Craig Custance of ESPN.com recently re-graded the offseason for all of the teams in the NHL. How did the New Jersey Devils do?
In the offseason, the New Jersey Devils made one of the biggest trades of the offseason to acquire Taylor Hall from the Edmonton Oilers. Coming into the offseason, the biggest need for the Devils was to improve the offense.
Last season, the Devils had one of the worst offenses in the NHL, and they knew they needed to make a splash. In the offseason, Ray Shero wasted little time making that splash, as he sent defenseman Adam Larsson to the Oilers for Hall.
Even though the Devils didn’t play well as a team this season, Hall did his part offensively. This season, Hall has totaled 53 points this season and is first on the team in assists. Also, Hall has totaled a very respectable 20 goals.
In July, Custance gave the Devils a grade of an A for their offseason. Despite the struggles this season, that grade hasn’t changed. Here’s what Custance had to say about the Devils.
"Acquiring Taylor Hall earned GM Ray Shero a high grade, with the caveat that it wouldn’t be easy to replace Adam Larsson’s minutes. That has proven to be true, and the Devils still have work to do on that front. The Devils have bottomed out in the Eastern Conference, and they should get an important piece to the rebuild with a lottery pick in the draft."
Even though the Devils didn’t live up to some expectations this season, their offseason grade was mostly given because of the acquisition of Hall. Since Hall has played well in his first season in New Jersey, seeing the offseason grade remain the same makes sense.
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The Devils are still rebuilding, but having a player like Hall will help in the future. Scoring continues to be an issue for the Devils. However, they have a building block in Hall.