New Jersey had a solid regular season, but once again, they were unable to advance far in the playoffs. This time, the Devils were eliminated in five games by the Hurricanes. Injuries, once again, adversely impacted the team, as Jack Hughes missed the final quarter of the regular season and playoff series due to shoulder surgery while Luke Hughes missed the last four games versus Carolina.
The Devils filled in around the edges, improving their bottom-six depth. In addition, Arseniy Gritsyuk joined the team from the KHL on a one-year deal. On the blueline, Johnny Kovacevic (knee) will miss the start of the season, opening the door for either Simon Nemec or Seamus Casey to open the year on the third pairing.
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New Jersey is set down the middle on the top-two lines as well as at wing on the first line. Beyond that, the top-six can be a mishmash of players, as the team has several players that can slide up and down the lineup. Jack Hughes had a season that mirrored his 2023-24 campaign, finishing last season with 27 goals and 70 points in 62 appearances after posting 27 markers and 74 points in the same number of contests. Injuries have wreaked havoc almost annually, which has adversely impacted him and the team.
Joining Hughes on the top line is Jesper Bratt, who was sixth-round pick in 2016. Bratt reached a new career high in the 2024-25 campaign with 88 points, but he’s also been consistent, supplying over 20 goals and 70 points in each of the past four years. The third member of that trio could be Ondrej Palat, though he is best suited for a middle-six road, or Dawson Mercer, who might center the third line and is always on the trading block.
Nico Hischier is the perfect second center, who can slot up when needed. He is annual 65-70-point producer, though he had an unsustainable 18.7 per cent shooting percentage last season. Hischier’s wings might be Stefan Noesen, ho tallied 22 goals last season, but slumped after a monster start, and Timo Meier, who production has failed to reach the heights when he was in San Jose, but should post 25 goals and 50 points.
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The bottom six forwards will partially depend on who skates in the top six. If Mercer is not in the top six, he will center the third line. Gritsyuk is expected to fill one wing. He notched 17 goals and 44 points in 49 regular-season games for SKA St. Petersburg in 2024-25 before adding one goal and four helpers in six playoff outings. The other wing might be Connor Brown, who notched 12 of his 13 goals at even-strength. If not, Evgenii Dadonov, fresh off 20 goals, 15 at even-strength in Dallas, may get a shot.
Cody Glass, acquired from Nashville last season at the deadline, re-upped for two years with New Jersey. Paul Cotter, who dished out 245 hits, should skate to the left of Glass unless Mercer is moved to the top-six. Then Glass centers the third line. On the right will either be Dadonov or Brown with Thomas Bordeleau as the 4C if Glass moves up. New Jersey has several other bottom-six options including Kurtis MacDermid, Marc McLaughlin, Luke Glendening, Kevin Rooney etc.
The blueline certainly has talent, but after a strong start, several tailed off. Hughes, looking for a big contract, remains unsigned. He probably is the team’s best offensive talent, even though he cedes first PP duty to Dougie Hamilton. Hughes pairs with Brett Pesce, who is solid defensively but no threat offensively.
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Hamilton still is an offensive force. His production has settled in the solid not elite range. With Kovacevic out, Hamilton skates with Jonas Siegenthaler, who is a shutdown blueliner. If this is the second duo, Brenden Dillon, whose D metrics left a little to be desired, skates on the third unit. His opposite remains to be seen, as either Simon Nemec or Seamus Casey will fill that role. Nemec likely has the edge, although he will need to be sheltered a bit. The same can be said for Casey.
Jacob Markstrom came over from Calgary and was everything New Jersey desired. He filled the role of #1 netminder, going 26-16-6 with a 2.50 goals-against average and a .900 save percentage over 49 regular-season appearances. The only negative was that he missed a month with injury. He is in a contract year and 35, so New Jersey has a decision to make. Jake Allen re-signed for five years at $1.8 million, lowering the cap hit to stay. He is 34 and not the future, nor is Nico Daws, even though he just 24 years old. The team is in good shape in net this season.
Prediction:
New Jersey has most of the pieces to make a run at a top-three finish again in the division. Injuries to key personnel likely will once again derail the Devils, as that has become an annual occurrence. Look for management to be aggressive again at the deadline.
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Jack Hughes has another big offensive season, as does the big-three. Luke Hughes signs a long-term deal and takes over as the point on the PP. Mercer gets moved for a more playoff ready wing whole Markstrom excels and inks a two-year extension.
The Devils get past the first round but fall to the Panthers in round two.
All stats courtesy of naturalstattrick.com, moneypuck.com, hockeyviz.com, allthreezones.com, hockey-reference.com, eliteprospects.com unless otherwise noted.