New Jersey Devils player profile: Tomas Tatar

The veteran winger did not have his best season but it was much better than meets the eye – at least with Seattle.

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Playing for the New Jersey Devils was so nice Tomas Tatar wanted to do it twice.

After just one season away from the club, the veteran winger decided the grass wasn’t greener on the other side and returned to the organization in free agency.

Let’s take a closer look at the year that was and Tatar’s outlook for 2024-25 with the Devils.

Note: I will be profiling each new member of the Devils. The mini-series started Tuesday with an in-depth look at bruising defenseman Brenden Dillon.

2023-24 review

Tatar’s production took a big cut this past season. In fact, his outputs were halved. He followed up a 20-goal, 48-point campaign with just nine goals and 24 points split between Colorado and Seattle.

Tatar’s time with the Avalanche was rocky, to say the least. He scored just once in 27 games while posting a 45 xGF% at 5v5 and being outscored in that game state. He simply wasn’t a fit and his game never got off the ground.

Although his outputs don’t pop off the page (15 points in 43 games), he really found himself with the Kraken.

He posted a 52.58 CF%, 51.26 xGF%, and helped the Kraken outscore opponents 22-11 during five-on-five play.

He was also much more efficient offensively. Tatar averaged .92 goals and 1.72 points per 60 minutes at five-on-five. Jared McCann was the only Kraken player who fared better than Tatar in either category.

Tatar was a high-danger chance machine with the Kraken, generating 4.71 per 60 minutes. That was not only better than the mark he posted during his 48-point season with the Devils, but the best of his entire career.

He really struggled with the Avalanche and there is no denying that. But Tatar’s rate stats with the Kraken were similarly good – and better in some cases – to what he put up during a great 2022-23 season with the Devils.

A quick glance at the counting stats would likely have you thinking Tatar is cooked. When you dig beneath the surface, it becomes clear the veteran winger still has gas left in the tank.

The Devils were smart to bring him back at a very affordable cost.

2024-25 outlook