​Anthony Mantha changes a lot in the forward group for the New Jersey Devils.Mantha’s two-year contract has given the Devils another tool as they build for the coming season. The 31-year-old winger, fresh off a 33-goal campaign with the Pittsburgh Penguins, is viewed as a top-six fit—likely lining up on Jack Hughes’ left side. That addition reshapes the forward lines and adds size to a group that already has plenty of skill.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementGM Sunny Mehta has been active all summer, securing captain Nico Hischier, locking in Arseny Gritsyuk affordably, bringing in veterans through deals, and overhauling the net. Mantha represents the latest effort to turn a skilled but streaky roster into a more reliable contender.Here’s the current projection for opening night, broken down by position. Training camp will shake things out further, but this reflects the picture right after the latest signing.The Devils still have some salary-cap flexibility remaining after Mantha’s deal, giving them options to adjust on the fly.Left wingCenterRight wingAnthony ManthaJack HughesJesper BrattArseny GritsyukNico HischierTimo MeierConnor BrownEvan RodriguesDawson MercerJesper BoqvistCody GlassLenni HämeenahoDepth: Stefan Noesen, Riley Tufte, Amadeus Lombardi, Ben Steeves, Nick Bjugstad, Shane LaChance, Xavier Parent, Marc McLaughlinAdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementMantha brings a big body and proven finishing touch to the top unit. Lining up with Hughes’ creativity and Bratt’s slick hands on the right should create matchup problems for opponents. The right-side shift for Bratt lets him feed both high-skill teammates effectively.Hischier and Timo Meier continue as the anchors of the second line, with Gritsyuk earning more responsibility after a strong showing in his rookie year while adding secondary scoring punch. That combination mixes power, two-way play, and opportunistic offense. His promotion also allows Meier to move back to his natural ride-side, which could benefit the Swiss power forward.Connor Brown drops into the third line with Evan Rodrigues and Dawson Mercer. It creates a balanced checking unit with enough skill to generate chances and contribute on special teams. After grinding it out in the Devils’ top-six, a move to the third line could open up more scoring opportunity for Mercer next to Brown and Rodrigues.The fourth line features Lenni Hämeenaho moving down alongside Cody Glass and Jesper Boqvist. They should provide pace and energy late in games. Stefan Noesen gives the team a reliable extra forward who understands the system and can fill in anywhere. Overall, the forwards have layers of talent, but consistency over 84 games and through the grind of a playoff race remains the big challenge.AdvertisementAdvertisementAdvertisementDepth: Declan Chisholm, Vladislav Kolyachonok, Seamus Casey, Ethan EdwardsThe back end remains the same, combining rising stars with battle-tested veterans. Luke Hughes is poised t