Let's start with the goaltenders as we already know who they are...
Goaltenders: It they can stay healthy, it looks like the Devils will have a great 1-2 punch in goal with Schneider and Blackwood. If the Devils are to make the playoff this season, these two goaltenders will have played a key role.
Defensemen: We know that Subban will be the leader of the Devils' defensemen. The Devils have not had a defenseman this good since the days of Stevens and Niedermayer, and that was a long time ago. Questions that Hynes needs to answer... Who plays on the left side of P.K., it is Vatanen or Butcher? Severson will likely play 2nd pair on the right side. Who will play on his right side, will it be Butcher, Greene or maybe Mueller?. Ideally, I would like to see Greene be on the 3rd defensive line to keep him fresh for the P.K. and to help or to mentor the Smith or Carrick.
Perhaps the biggest question that Devils organization needs to answer is what to do the Ty Smith. Smith did not impressed in the Prospects Challenge and he has yet to impressed in the preseason games he has played. Do the Devils send him back to Juniors to play every game, to play in all situations, to kill penalties, to quarterback the power play, be a leader; or do they keep him in New Jersey, training with the team and sitting in the press box during games? Young players need to play to develop. Keeping Smith in New Jersey may not be the best move to develop him as a player.
Forwards: It looks like the New Jersey Devils will have two great lines with the combination of Hall, Hischier, Hughes, Gusev, Palmieri and whoever fills the 2nd line. Will the additional top six forward be Bratt, Simmonds, Boqvist or maybe someone else? The 3rd line should be solid with Zajac centering Coleman. Who else will play on this line? Personally, I would like to see Boqvist on this line. On the 4th line, unless he proves that he can be a good match on the 2nd or 3rd line, I would like to see Simmonds playing RW on the 4th line. Let McLeod and Ronney show that they deserved to be 4th line center. Bastian, Haynes, Woods have one or two preseason games to earn a spot on the opening day roster. Woods, Haynes, and Rooney, having one-way contracts, likely have the advantage making the opening day roster.
Unless Zacha returns early this week to join the Devils, it would not bother me one bit if we see Zacha start the season in Binghamton getting into game shape. Call it a rehap assignment.