With three pre-season matches in the books, the New Jersey Devils are in excellent condition on the way to the 2025-26 season. They have all the components of a fighting team, and fans are waiting full of excitement for what the club can achieve this time. It seems that it is only a matter of time before they make a deeper play-off run with stars, so this season marks a critical campaign. As the countdown to the season opener on October 9, this series will entail previews and predictions, which speculates what could be in the store for each member of the Rooster of the Devils.
This episode contains Paul Cotter, a grainy Bottom-Six attacker who should be a source of secondary score.
Paul Cotter: at a glance
Set up: 115one General (4one Round) by the Vegas Golden Knights in 2018
Contract status: Years three of three, $ 775,000 Average annual value (AAV)
2024-25 Statistics: 16 goals, six assists (22 points in 79 games)
Career Statistics: 38 goals, 29 assists (67 points in 217 games)
2024-25 season Summary
The devilish Cotter taken over last JuneTogether with a third round pick in the 2025 design, in exchange for goalkeeper Akira Schmid and Forward Alexander Holtz. The idea was that he would bring a hard, tough game to their lower six. But after the trade, general manager Tom Fitzgerald told the media He believed that the 25-year-old hidden depth and versatility had. “We bet on the advantage of Cotter and he has just scratched the surface of what he can do,” Fitzgerald said.
In the end, his gamble paid off and it is clear that the Devils have won the trade. Cotter lit a spark with his physicality and energetic play, making his first season as a devil incredibly memorable. Fans were impressed by his target score skills from the start, they are grit and printing prices. He set the bar high and started October with six goals and two assists. Head coach Sheldon Keefe was so impressed by Cotter that he even earned a stint on the top line next to Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt. He also set up several career heights, including goals (16), blocked Schoten (32), time on ice per match (13:05) and Faceoff victories (41).
Even after his score became spotty during the second half of the season, he remained strong, landing controls and hits on game-per game. He ended the regular season with 244 hits and set a new franchise record. His physical nature has also set a new standard for the rest of the team. By acquiring Cotter and Brenden Dillon, it sent a clear message – the devils were done to push around. Now the team is more willing to enter into tough puck fights, defend each other and give grit priority.
Just like the rest of the team, Cotter excelled in scenarios with high overdays. He not only scored ten goals from the lock and the fold, but also his High-Danger Shooting percentage of 35.7 Put it in the 98th percentile of the attackers. In addition, the Devils 174 scoring opportunities with high Danger (HDCF) and 17 goals (HDGF) with Cotter on the ice registered. Having a Bottom-Six player who can make excellent scoring opportunities around the net is just another factor that makes it more difficult for the Devils to play against.
The Playoffs of Stanley Cup 2025 marked Cotter’s first performance of the late season. During round 1 he only made one assist, but helped the team to generate a considerable amount of scoring opportunities. While he was on the ice, the Devils recorded 39.11 Shot attempts every 60 minutes. All in all, Cotter looked solid during his first season in New Jersey, which strengthens the Line -up with physicality and the scoring depth was added.
2025-26 expectations
For the coming season, it is expected that Cotter will embrace a Bottom-Six role, but his most important focus ahead must be consistency. Having an energetic skater with a combination of physicality and scoring can bring the team far, which increases the level of competitiveness and tenacity of the Devils. If he can build on the momentum of last season, there is a high possibility that he can cross the threshold of 20 goals.
His cap -hit is just an extra bonus. Cotter’s current AAV of $ 775,000 makes him a great addition for an even greater price. Because his contract ends at the end of the season, he will have much to prove in an attempt to earn an extension.
Related: Devils’ 2025-26 Player Previews: Jacob Markstrom
It should be interesting to see who will be Cotter’s line sizes before 2025-26. Last season he spent the highest amount of ice age next to Erik Haula, who was Traded to the Nashville Predators In June. He also registered a significant amount of minutes with Dawson Mercer, who is expected to reach the top-six forward group of the Devils again as a wing. After renewing their third and fourth lines, Cotter has a few options for potential new line sizes, which were already investigated during the preseason.
It might only be September, but Cotter’s hands are in the middle season. pic.twitter.com/ivw0unzf9b
– New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) September 21, 2025
Until now he has appeared in two pre -season matches and he started strongly with a goal against the New York Rangers. For both in previous season matchups, he was on a line with Juho Lammikko and Arseni Grityuk. In fact, this trio recorded the highest amount of 5-on-5 ice age against the New York Islanders on Friday evening and Cotter has obtained an assist in the 4-2 victory of the Devils. His chemistry with Grutyuk in particular has been felt. Together they have been on the ice for three goals from Devils, together with 43 shot attempts and 13 scoring opportunities with a high danger. When asked for his new LinemateCotter had nothing but good things to say and remained convinced that Grityuk would be an important addition to the team.
On the way to his second season as a devil, Cotter has already emerged as a favorite with fans, so that the team embraces a more physical mindset. He will strengthen the line with strength and toughness and should be an exciting player to look at.
#Devils #Player #Previews #Paul #Cotter #Hockey #Writers #Jersey #Devils #Latest #News #Analysis