Jaromir Jagr leads a new Devils attack.
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Monday, the Devils finally set their 23-man roster. While it looks like Jaromir Jagr is ready for the season, star forward Patrik Elias has been placed on the injured list with an undisclosed injury. The franchise all-time scoring leader is arguably the most important player on the roster. With many question marks surrounding the Devils offense, Elias is the one guy they can rely on. He led them with 36 points last season.

New Jersey is banking on Jagr and Michael Ryder to supply offense. The big question is how will Number 68 hold up during a hectic Olympic season? Still a big presence with strength and skill, it’ll be fun to watch him. He should help improve the power play along with Ryder, who supplies a big righty shot that should be good for 20 or more goals. Along with newcomer Ryane Clowe and smart addition Damien Brunner, they’ll be asked to pick up the scoring slack. In particular, Brunner is a creative player with speed which can help.

Travis Zajac and Adam Henrique are expected to bounce back. Much depends on how both centers perform. Each begins new contracts with added pressure. Henrique is the younger player with more potential while Zajac is a reliable two-way pivot who’s crucial to the Devil forecheck. Andrei Loktionov is someone to watch. The former King showed flashes last year. A very shifty skater with nice touch, he’s a wildcard. Rotislav Olesz gets a chance to play for Pete DeBoer again. Given a tryout in preseason, the ex-Panther made the most of it. If the club is to have secondary scoring, it’ll have to come from Loktionov, Olesz and injured forward Mattias Tedenby. That could determine whether the club makes the playoffs.

DeBoer can count on checkers Ryan Carter, Steve Bernier and Stephen Gionta for energy. Carter and Bernier have solid chemistry while Gionta is a classic overachiever. He can also move steady vet Dainius Zubrus around. Zubrus has been a solid player who’s carved a nice niche. A line with Clowe and Jacob Josefson is possible. Josefson is another young player who must improve. The 22-year old center has had trouble staying healthy. He showed progress on face offs.

On defense, the Devils are led by Andy Greene, Marek Zidlicky and captain Bryce Salvador. Greene is the steady two-way D while Zidlicky is the club’s best offensive defenseman. Salvador brings physicality. Much depends on Adam Larsson, who enters his third year. Inconsistent his first two seasons, the 20-year old Swede has looked more confident. He’s used his big shot more and looked steadier during preseason. If he can take the next step, the Devil blueline should be fine. Fellow Swede Alex Urbom made the roster beating out Eric Gelinas and Jon Merrill, who’ll start with Albany. With incumbents Mark Fayne and Anton Volchenkov rounding it out along with decent extra Peter Harrold, the Devils have plenty of depth.

The biggest aspect of the club is the dynamic goalie duo of Marty Brodeur and Cory Schneider. The 41-year old Brodeur is a legend who’s done it all. The all-time winningest goalie (669 wins) who doubles in shutouts (121) might be entering his last season. He hasn’t indicated anything leaving the possibility of one more year open. Brodeur is in the final year of his contract. It’ll be emotional for Devil fans every time they see number 30 in net. He’ll start Thursday’s season opener in Pittsburgh. The Devils host the Islanders Friday. It could be Schneider who gets the nod. An oddity for hockey fans. Lou Lamoriello’s biggest offseason move was trading a number one pick (Bo Horvat) to Vancouver for the 27-year old backstop. So far, it looks brilliant. Schneider was terrific during exhibition. No stranger to goalie controversies, he’ll be Brodeur’s successor. With the club having a league high 22 back-to-backs, that should allow DeBoer to balance it out. It’ll be an interesting storyline.

Here’s how the Devils roster shakes out:

GOALIES: Marty Brodeur, Cory Schneider

DEFENSEMEN: Mark Fayne, Andy Greene, Peter Harrold, Adam Larsson, Bryce Salvador, Alex Urbom, Anton Volchenkov, Marek Zidlicky

FORWARDS: Steve Bernier, Damien Brunner, Ryan Carter, Ryane Clowe, *Patrik Elias, Stephen Gionta, Adam Henrique, Jaromir Jagr, Jacob Josefson, Andrei Loktionov, Rotislav Olesz, Michael Ryder, Travis Zajac, Dainius Zubrus

*Injured Reserve