Who is Tyler Toffoli? The New Jersey Devils Newest Forward

New Jersey Devils, Featured, Ice Hockey, Professional

July 5, 2023

Tyler Toffoli is the New Jersey Devils biggest addition this summer. Toffoli has been in the league since 2010 and has made quite the name for himself.

He was drafted by the Los Angeles Kings in 2010 in the second round. Toffoli continued to play with the Kings until the 2019-2020 season when he was traded to the Vancouver Canucks. From 2020-2022, he played with the Montreal Canadiens until he got traded to the Calgary Flames in the 2021-2022 and continued to play with them for another season. He finished his second, and final, season with the Flames with a career high in points at 73.

Toffoli has played 733 career games, putting up a total of 466 points. He has played 88 playoff games, scoring 44 total points and adding a Stanley Cup championship to his resume.

The 31-year old is exactly what the Devils needed to add to their top six to be a legitimate contender. Toffoli has proven to be a player who can score goals, produce assists and bring a new sense of leadership.

“Obviously I want to come in and score goals and get points and do all those things. But at the same time I really take pride in playing the 200ft game and all those little things,” Toffoli said in his press conference after signing with the Devils.

As the Devils are looking to be playoff locks each year, playoff experience is important now more than ever. With a young team, most of the players had their first true playoff experience this past season. Adding Toffoli into the mix will help the Devils almost immediately in the playoffs, especially with him knowing what it takes to win a cup.

“I’ve been on a few playoff runs here, being able to see what it takes to win… To see it hard it took and what it takes from everybody, it goes a long way and I definitely want to have that experience again. I want to win,” Toffoli said.

Toffoli will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, but is hoping to get an extension done.

The Toffoli family seem excited for this new opportunity as Tyler posted a video of him packing up his daughter in his new NJ Devils bag on social media. Toffoli’s wife also posted a video on TikTok showing off all of their new Devils merchandise.

He might be known for his success in his rookie year - winning the Stanley Cup and putting up impressive numbers for a rookie in the postseason - but that is not the only part of NHL history he has his name written on.

In 2020, Toffoli was playing with the Kings in a Stadium Series game against the Colorado Avalanche. He scored the first ever hat trick during an outdoor NHL game, making history. Since the Devils are playing in the Stadium Series this upcoming season, we might have an opportunity to see him do it again.

Toffoli will get his first taste working with the Devils at training camp later this year. Until then, he will continue to train on his own.

Will Toffoli be the missing piece in Jersey’s quest for the cup?