TEAM EDITORIAL

The New Jersey Devils have opened the 2026–27 season with a 1–0–0 record and an encouraging 3–2 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers. The result offered an immediate glimpse of a potentially more balanced attack: Dougie Hamilton and Luke Hughes scored in regulation, while Jack Hughes delivered the overtime winner. Jack Hughes’s return to full health is particularly significant after an injury-disrupted previous campaign, and his connection with Luke Hughes remains central to New Jersey’s ambitions.

The Devils also spent the offseason reshaping their roster under new general manager Sunny Mehta. The additions of Anthony Mantha and Luke Evangelista supplied size, experience, and offensive depth, while the trade that brought in Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, and Ben Steeves reflected a broader effort to improve the team’s supporting cast. Still, the early optimism is tempered by defensive absences. Seamus Casey underwent knee surgery and is expected to miss eight to 10 weeks, while Johnathan Kovacevic is also unavailable. Connor Brown and Nick Bjugstad are sidelined as well.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe therefore faces an early test of depth and deployment. New Jersey’s next challenge is its first road game, against the New York Islanders on October 3. The Islanders lost their opener 2–1 to Toronto, but they have dominated the recent series, making this an important early measure of whether the Devils’ improved health and revamped lineup can translate beyond opening night.