2026 Season Preview: New Jersey Devils
The Devils made some improvements to build a deeper roster, but still have loads of uncertainty in net. Was it enough to get them back in the playoffs?
The New Jersey Devils haven’t won a playoff round since beating the New York Rangers in the 2003 Eastern Conference Quarterfinal, and have only made it to the postseason once since. Often plagued by injuries and other inconsistencies, the Devils could be running out of chances to prove themselves.
2025-26 Outcome
Regular Season Results: 42-37-3
Jack Hughes may have cemented himself in hockey history this year by scoring the golden goal for Team USA at the 2026 Milan Olympics, but his season in New Jersey lack the same luster. Despite leading the team with 77 points, he missed 21 games of the season as a result of a freak accident involving a knife and or broken glass at a team dinner. It was one of the stranger stories to come from this past season, and it’s needless to say the Devils did not have tons of luck on their side. They struggled in the goal scoring department and could not get the consistent goaltending they needed.
Who’s In and Who’s Out
The Devils were another team high on Dom Luszczyshyn of The Athletic’s list of most improved teams around the league. Frankly, I don’t see it. I know coming from a Rangers website this is going to sound biased, but I really don’t see how this team is much better off this season compared to last.
I do like each of the additions they made this summer, but when you compare them to who they let go, I just don’t see it. Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist are great depth additions, but I would argue that Paul Cotter is in that same category of player. Maxim Tsyplakov hasn’t really panned out the way anyone was expecting, and Anthony Mantha is an obvious upgrade. But then trading your incumbent starting goaltender is the part of the equation I keep coming back to. The Devils have a strong enough core in the Hughes brothers, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, plus a few others, but without strong goaltending and with more questions now on defense, I’m going to have some doubts.
