The New Jersey Devils face a familiar offseason question: what to do with restricted free agent Paul Cotter? After two seasons in the Garden State, the 25-year-old forward has shown both flashes of brilliance and stretches of ineffectiveness. Let's break down his case and decide if he deserves to stick around.
Born on November 16, 1999, in Michigan, Cotter was a fourth-round pick by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2018 NHL Draft. His path to the NHL was anything but linear—after a brief stint at Western Michigan University (just eight games), he turned pro with the Chicago Wolves and later the Henderson Silver Knights, Vegas's AHL affiliates at the time.
Cotter got his first taste of NHL action during the 2021-22 season, then became a full-time player starting in 2022-23. After two-plus seasons in Vegas, he was traded to New Jersey during the 2024 NHL Draft—held fittingly at the Sphere in Las Vegas. He's been a Devils mainstay ever since.
In both 2024-25 and 2025-26, Cotter played 79 games each season, plus all five playoff games in April 2025—his first postseason experience. His first year in New Jersey was a breakout: 16 goals and six assists in the regular season, plus one assist in the playoffs. That 16-goal output was especially impressive for a player mostly deployed on the fourth line. He followed up with nine goals and six assists in 2025-26, showing consistency if not the same scoring touch.
But Cotter's game isn't just about goals. He's built a reputation as a physical force, setting a franchise single-season record with 245 hits in 2024-25 and adding another 192 last season. That kind of grit is invaluable on any team's bottom six.
However, the dip in goal-scoring from 16 to nine raises a red flag. While his physicality keeps him in the lineup, the Devils need to decide if his offensive ceiling is high enough to justify a new contract. For a fourth-liner, 16 goals is a fantastic season—but can he replicate it, or was that a one-year wonder?
As restricted free agency looms, the Devils have a decision to make. Cotter's blend of toughness and occasional scoring makes him a valuable piece, but the team must weigh his contributions against the salary cap and roster flexibility. Whether he stays or goes, Paul Cotter has made his mark in New Jersey—and the answer might come down to how much the Devils value that hard-nosed style.