Nathan Bastian

Bastian missed large chunks of the 2022-23 season with upper-body injuries and was limited to just 43 games. He scored six goals and 15 points, though he failed to record a power-play point. The 25-year-old averaged 1:31 of ice time per game with the man advantage before the All-Star break but that fell to five seconds per contest in 17 games after. Bastian laid out 99 hits after racking up 210 in 72 games during the 2021-22 campaign. New Jersey added some pieces between last year's trade deadline and this offseason, so Bastian will be fighting to maintain a bottom-line role with no power-play time this season.

Bastian expanded his game nicely at the AHL level last season and has a shot to earn a full-time NHL role with the Devils at age 23. The 6-foot-4, 205-pound power forward racked up a career-high 38 points in 62 games with AHL Binghamton in 2019-20, showcasing a newfound playmaking ability that helped him dish out 22 assists to go with 16 goals after he had failed to reach double-digit helpers in two previous minor-league campaigns. He has showcased a nice mix of skill and physicality in the minor leagues but it remains to be seen whether Bastian's skating has improved enough to keep up with NHL competition. If it has, Bastian will have the chance to climb a Devils right wing depth chart that's barren behind Kyle Palmieri.

Bastian has excellent size at 6-foot-4 and 205 pounds, and the 21-year-old flashed some exciting potential with three goals and 10 PIM in a seven-game stint at the NHL level. The youngster would be a good fit in New Jersey's bottom six if the team opts to go that route, but it's also possible that Bastian will be sent down to AHL Binghamton for another year of seasoning. He's posted 28 goals, 14 assists and 108 PIM in 126 appearances through two seasons there.