The 2025-26 Devils season is right around the corner. Rookies report to training camp Sept. 10, while veterans report shortly after. Puck drops on the first preseason game on Sept. 21.

Opening night is Oct. 9 at Carolina. With that in mind, let’s check out the seven biggest storylines entering the season.

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7. Who fills injured defenseman Jonathan Kovecevic’s spot?

The third pair defenseman spot is sort of a fake position battle — which is why it’s at the bottom of our list. Simon Nemec is most likely going to win it while Jonathan Kovacevic is out with an injury. Nevertheless, we’re going to monitor it anyway. Former second-round pick Seamus Casey, who’s fighting for it, too, made the opening night roster last season, after all. General manager Tom Fitzgerald put the pressure on Nemec to beat him out at his end-of-season press conference:

“Nemec has to work harder than he’s ever had in training camp,” Fitzgerald said. “We love where he ended, where his game was, and he looked like the player we thought we were drafting, so I’m really excited about his growth. Seamus, same thing. He’s still a young player in this league. You look at the experience Nemec has … Seamus will get that experience again. It’s always nice to have depth, especially a right shot.”

6. How quickly will Arseni Gritsyuk adjust to the NHL?

The Devils think prized Russian forward Arseni Gritsyuk can provide an instant boost. Asked about Grisyuk in an interview with NJ Advance Media in 2023, assistant general manager Dan MacKinnon invoked Kirill Kaprizov’s name: “We’ve seen (immediate NHL success) with guys like Kirill Kaprizov and Andrei Kuzmenkov. For that type of player, sometimes it’s better for them to mature, then step right into your NHL roster.”

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Let’s see how good he can be right away. Given the current state of the roster, coach Sheldon Keefe will need him to adapt quickly. Gritsyuk posted 44 points (17 goals, 27 assists) in 49 KHL games last year, a career high in points and assists.

5. Who won’t be in the lineup by Game 82?

Will New Jersey move on from any of its big contracts — like Dougie Hamilton at $9 million average annual value or Ondrej Palat at $6 million AAV? And what will the context of those deals be (i.e., will it be a pure salary dump or for a star)? Hamilton, two seasons removed from a career-best year, still has value. Palat has largely been a disappointment since he signed his $30 million deal three years ago. Those are two names to watch this season.

4. How badly will they regret not trading for a top-six winger/third-line center?

The Devils desperately need a new top-six winger. They actually kind of need two, but let’s focus on getting one first. They also need a new third-line center. We’ll cut Fitzgerald some slack because of how bad the free agency crop was, but he can’t leave these questions hanging for too long.

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Once he figures out the Hughes extension, Fitzgerald must start working the phones to address these needs. Some options: superstar winger Jason Robertson, a rock-solid vet like Rickard Rakell or a current free agent Jack Roslovic (for the 3C void). Just get something done. The current lineup isn’t going to cut it.

3. What will Luke Hughes’ extension look like (when it’s finally signed)?

The biggest offseason storyline deserves its own blurb here. Just how long will the Luke Hughes contract saga go on? As we reported last week, both sides have exchanged offers and are constantly communicating to find a framework that makes sense for both. We think the length is holding things up — with Luke’s side wanting his deal to expire at the same time as his brother Jack’s in 2030, and the Devils wanting either a short bridge deal or a long-term extension. The Luke deal is eventually going to get done, but it’s worth monitoring how long this standoff continues.

2. Can Jack Hughes stay healthy?

This storyline has the potential to make or break every Devils season for the next 10-plus years. Jack Hughes is undoubtedly a superstar, but let’s face it: He hasn’t proven he can stay healthy. As mentioned, the Devils don’t have much room for error given their current roster makeup. They need their superstars to carry them and then some. New Jersey is a fringe wild-card team at best if Hughes misses significant time.

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1. Can they finally go on a run?

The Devils should be Stanley Cup contenders at this juncture. There’s really no excuse. They have goaltending, a decent blueline and a core four group of forwards who are all entering their primes and locked up to value deals. Do they have glaring needs? No doubt.

So the question is, how far can they go? Will they fizzle out in Round 1 again? Or can they somehow become an Eastern Conference force that rivals Florida? At the time of publication, the answer is a firm no. There are simply too many gaps to be patched. Fitzgerald must do some early-season tinkering to change our minds.

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Ryan Novozinsky may be reached at rnovozinsky@njadvancemedia.com. You can follow him on X @ryannovoNHL