We Count Down the Top 10 New Jersey Devils for 2024-25 – No. 8 – Brenden Dillon – Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

Welcome to Hockey Writers Counting down the 10 most impactful New Jersey Devils for the 2024-25 season. This is not a top 10 countdown but a list of players who are set to make the biggest impact. These 10 players offer unique contributions, are difficult to replace, and are vital to the Devils’ quest to return to the postseason. The list continues with number eight, Brenden Dillon.

After trading behemoth defenseman Kevin Bahl to the Calgary Flames as part of the Jacob Markstrom trade, the Devils needed a physical, left-shooting defenseman who could provide shutout minutes and kill penalties. On the first day of free agency, they got their man, signing Dillon to a three-year contract worth $4 million a year. The contract exceeded his AFP Analytics projections, but adding a player like Dillon to their defense was necessary, even at the cost.

Dillon Is The Type Of Defender The Devils Need

Dillon is almost identical to former Devil Ryan Graves in size at 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, but even though he’s six years older, he’s still a smoother skater, faster than Graves (via NHL Edge) and brings more sharpness and aggression. . Dillon has never been shy about representing his teammates, which is a New Jersey quality. Last season, he was involved in seven tackles, most of which were in response to liberties taken by opponents on his Winnipeg Jets teammates.

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He is also an excellent penalty killer and defensive defender without sacrificing mobility and the ability to get the puck out of harm’s way by passing or skating. Last season, he was credited with 241 tackles and 111 blocks; both would lead New Jersey, as would his 82-game average of 198 hits and 110 blocks. He is a complete defender, averaging at least 20 points in every full season since 2017. Add to that his plus-53 rating over the past four seasons while often playing against opposing top lines, and his value is clear.

Dillon has also shown consistency throughout his 13-year career, playing at least 76 games in every full season since his rookie season. His ability to kill penalties is one of the reasons why New Jersey is willing to exceed his projected salary. In 2023-24, with Dillon on the ice for killing penalties, the Jets saved nearly three more goals than expected per 60 minutes. The team stopped the puck at a .895 percentage and gave up just 18 goals in nearly 180 minutes. At even strength, he held his opponents to 12 goals less than expected during the season while his team scored five more than expected, taking an expected share of 51% to nearly 60%.

Dillon’s Impact on Devils’ Success in 2024-25

Over the past two seasons, the Devils have learned just how much value they can get from playing an elite defenseman on their third pairing. During that time, Damon Severson had his most productive two-way campaign and earned himself a lucrative contract with the Columbus Blue Jackets. Where and with whom the new coach, Sheldon Keefe, will send Dillon is unknown. General manager Tom Fitzgerald revealed that the two were still unclear. It’s easy to see Dillon’s position with every right-shooting defender. He can be a great defensive anchor for Dougie Hamilton, he can form an elite shutdown pair with Brett Pesce, and he can help develop Simon Nemec as he fully acclimates to the NHL. This flexibility and adaptability will be key to the new system’s learning curve and the coach learning the new players.

His flexibility is not the only attribute that brings value. Too often in recent years, the Devils have been harassed near the crease and have been unable to clear opponents who are trying to take their eyes off their puck. With Dillon on the ice, that shouldn’t be a problem and will translate to an advantage on the penalty kill. Fitzgerald has focused this offseason on making his team difficult to play against and Dillon is the backbone of that strategy. He has a reputation for protecting his teammates and will help ensure that teams face consequences when targeting the Devils’ stars. He works as a blocker as anyone else on the roster.

The Devils also appeared to be desperate for maturity and leadership last season, and both are areas where Dillon will add to the lineup. He plays with a chip on his shoulder, having turned himself from an undrafted rookie into a veteran with 892 games in 13 seasons. He is an undeniable success story, and carries himself with an infectious spirit off the ice, which should help unify the locker room and lead to a more cohesive team on the ice. He brings 83 games of playoff experience, including a 20-game postseason streak. His determination and understanding of what it takes to get the Devils where they need to go is important to the young defensive players currently on the Devils roster as well as their prospect pool. While he wasn’t the most expensive player acquired this offseason, there’s reason to believe he was much needed without Markstrom.

What They Say About Brenden Dillon

A person does not go from being undrafted to playing on the playing teams without determination. One also needs to continuously improve and provide value. Dillon’s value lies in how he controls the defensive zone and his skating. Here are some thoughts from Jets captain Adam Lowry when Dillon first joined Winnipeg:

“You saw what he did in his career. He is a great defender. He moves the puck well, he is big and difficult to play with. It makes it difficult to go to the net.”

Adam Lowry, Winnipeg Jets

The Devils have needed a big defenseman, who can get the puck out of trouble and who is formidable in defending his crease. It looks like they finally found that player in Dillon. While his acquisition didn’t make the biggest headlines of free agency, his impact will be huge and he’ll develop other additions. For those reasons, Dillon is eighth on the list of most influential Devils. Stay tuned for number seven, coming soon.