New Jersey Devils: where things stand

The New Jersey Devils enter October 5 with a 1-1-0 record, an uneven opening that has already exposed both promise and vulnerability. After winning their season opener, New Jersey suffered a damaging 6-0 defeat to the New York Islanders on October 3, their first road game of the season. The result was especially troubling because the Devils generated five power-play opportunities without converting once, while their penalty kill surrendered a goal. Nico Daws made his first start, but the larger concern was a teamwide offensive shutdown: New Jersey could not solve the Islanders and fell behind steadily after a scoreless opening period.

Still, the loss represents only one game in an 84-game schedule, and the Devils have an immediate opportunity to reset at home. Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier remain central to a forward group expected to provide far more attacking quality than it showed in the defeat. The defense, built around Dougie Hamilton, Luke Hughes, Brett Pesce, and Brenden Dillon, must also help restore structure after allowing six goals. The coaching staff faces an early test in correcting special-teams execution and sharpening the club’s response after adversity. New Jersey’s next game is October 6 at home against the Utah Mammoth, who arrive after a 4-2 loss to the New York Rangers. For the Devils, the matchup offers a chance to turn an alarming performance into a brief early-season setback rather than a defining pattern.

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.

The New Jersey Devils opened the 2026–27 season with a 3–2 overtime victory over the Philadelphia Flyers, giving them an immediate two points and an encouraging start after last season’s seventh-place finish in the Metropolitan Division. The result was more convincing than the narrow score suggested: New Jersey generated 44 shots, repeatedly tested Philadelphia goaltender Joseph Woll, and controlled much of the night despite needing overtime to settle it.

The Devils’ established core made the decisive contributions. Dougie Hamilton opened the scoring with a shot through an Anthony Mantha screen, while Luke Hughes tied the game late in regulation. Jack Hughes then completed the comeback 3:23 into overtime, reinforcing how central his health and creativity are to New Jersey’s ambitions. He missed 21 games last season because of a hand injury, and the Devils struggled badly without him, going 8–13–0. His return to the lineup—and his immediate game-winning goal—provides an especially positive early signal.

Jake Allen stopped 23 shots in net, and Sheldon Keefe emphasized resilience after the win. The opening performance also highlighted a defense capable of driving offense when scoring chances become difficult to convert. New Jersey’s next test is its only currently scheduled upcoming game: a regular-season road matchup with the New York Islanders on October 3.

The New Jersey Devils begin the 2026–27 season with a clean slate and a clear need to improve after finishing last season 42–37–3 with 87 points and missing the playoffs. Their preseason offered encouraging momentum: New Jersey went 3–0–1, closing with a 4–1 victory over the Islanders. The Devils now open their 44th season at home against the Philadelphia Flyers on October 1, with the early emphasis on converting that preparation into a stronger regular-season identity.

The lineup combines established leadership with an intriguing newcomer. Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier remain central to the club’s attacking ambitions, while Dougie Hamilton and Luke Hughes anchor a defense that must help reverse last season’s negative goal differential. Amadeus Lombardi will make his NHL debut after earning a roster spot through training camp and preseason, adding energy and uncertainty to the forward group. Stefan Noesen is expected to replace Connor Brown, who is unavailable after suffering a lower-body injury in practice. Brown, who produced 43 points last season, is expected to miss at least the opening games but not an extended period.

Other health concerns include Nick Bjugstad’s recovery from a torn pectoral muscle and Johnathan Kovacevic’s rehabilitation from offseason knee surgery. With Sheldon Keefe beginning another campaign behind the bench, the Devils’ immediate challenge is balancing patience with urgency. Their first test comes at Prudential Center, where stability, health, and improved defensive structure will shape the opening impression.

The Devils enter the 2026-27 season with expectations higher than a simple bounce-back team, but also with pressure to prove they can turn talent into results after a frustrating run in recent years. The preseason suggested a club that looks deeper and more balanced than before, with the offense still built around Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier, while added support from Anthony Mantha, Luke Evangelista, Cody Glass, Evgenii Dadonov, and Evan Rodrigues has given the forward group more scoring options. The team also appears to have more roster flexibility, with several newcomers and young players pushing for roles and creating competition throughout camp.

On the back end, the Devils are still defined by a strong top pairing and puck-moving talent, but their outlook is tied to health and consistency. Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Jonas Siegenthaler, Luke Hughes, and Johnathan Kovacevic give the blue line real structure when available, and the group’s ability to stay intact has been a recurring storyline. In goal, Jake Allen and David Rittich provide veteran stability, while Nico Daws remains part of the organization’s depth picture. After a strong preseason finish, the Devils head into their October 1 home game against the Philadelphia Flyers with optimism, but the larger question is whether this version of the team can finally sustain its promise once the games count.

The Devils are deep into camp trimming decisions, with several prospects already assigned out and the NHL group settling into the shape that may carry into opening night. Friday’s cuts sent multiple young defensemen and forwards to the AHL side, while the remaining camp focus has shifted to the bottom six, the seventh defenseman role, and how much of a look youngsters like Amadeus Lombardi, Lenni Hameenaho, Matyas Melovsky, and Arseny Gritsyuk can force before the roster is finalized.

The biggest immediate concern is on defense after Seamus Casey left Thursday’s preseason game with an injury and is expected to miss time. That opens the door for others still in camp to seize minutes, including Declan Chisholm and the remaining depth defenders, while the top end of the blue line still centers on Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Jonas Siegenthaler, Johnathan Kovacevic, Brenden Dillon, and Anton Silayev. In goal, Jake Allen is expected to get the start against the Islanders, with Nico Daws easing back after a busy preseason workload and David Rittich also in the mix.

Up front, the competition remains lively around the third and fourth lines, where veterans and younger players are being tried in different combinations alongside the core of Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, and Dawson Mercer. Sheldon Keefe’s camp has emphasized chemistry and versatility rather than final answers, with the Islanders matchup serving as the last exhibition look before the roster decisions harden.

The Devils are in the middle of a lively preseason evaluation under Sheldon Keefe, with camp focused less on results than on sorting out the back half of the roster and testing different combinations. Recent reporting shows younger players and depth candidates getting long looks, including Amadeus Lombardi, Ethan Edwards, Seamus Casey, Anton Silayev, and Arseny Gritsyuk, while veterans such as Stefan Noesen, Jesper Boqvist, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Daws have been part of the mix as the staff experiments with fit and usage.

The most recent exhibition against the Rangers underscored how open some of these battles remain. Nico Daws was sharp in goal, while line combinations leaned heavily on tryout-style looks and developmental pairings, with players like Lombardi and Cody Glass helping drive attention toward center depth and offensive support. On the blue line, the Devils have been giving real minutes to prospects and fringe defenders, including Chisholm, Casey, Edwards, and Silayev, as they sort out who can handle NHL pace. Johnathan Kovacevic’s absence is also part of the picture, keeping one defensive lane temporarily open. With the next preseason game set for September 26 against the Islanders, the tone remains clear: this is a camp about earning jobs, not protecting a finished roster.

The Devils enter September 24 in the middle of a true camp evaluation, with preseason exhibitions serving as auditions rather than meaningful results. They have been practicing in split groups, and the coaching staff is still sorting through depth roles while the top-end core remains the team’s clear foundation.

The most telling storyline is the forward group, where the club is trying to balance established stars with newcomers and hungry depth pieces. Jesper Boqvist has been getting a longer look in an elevated role, while Arseny Gritsyuk, Amadeus Lombardi, Evan Rodrigues, Stefan Noesen, Anthony Mantha, and Luke Evangelista have all been part of the conversation as the staff tests different combinations. The Devils’ camp has also highlighted how much they want more support around Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier, so the surrounding lines can drive play instead of relying too heavily on the top names.

On defense, the main intrigue is who claims the last openings behind the established group of Luke Hughes, Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, Jonas Siegenthaler, Brenden Dillon, and Johnathan Kovacevic. Seamus Casey, Ethan Edwards, and Anton Silayev have been among the younger defenders getting a serious look, which fits a camp that is still deciding which prospects are ready now.

In goal, Jake Allen and Nico Daws are the clearest preseason focal points, with David Rittich and Jakub Malek also in the mix as the Devils sort out depth and insurance. Kovacevic and Nick Bjugstad are working through injuries, and that has only added to the sense that camp is still open-ended as the Devils head to New York for their next exhibition against the Rangers.

The Devils are in the thick of training camp with a mostly NHL-looking group already being tested in preseason, and the focus is squarely on sorting out roles rather than worrying about results. Sheldon Keefe has been mixing veterans with younger players, trying different line combinations and giving several depth forwards and defensemen a real look as the roster gets sharpened for opening night.

Up front, the camp picture centers on how players such as Anthony Mantha, Luke Evangelista, Arseny Gritsyuk, Cody Glass, Evan Rodrigues, and Dawson Mercer fit around the established core of Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier. The club has also kept lower-cost competition alive with players like Amadeus Lombardi, Matyas Melovsky, Xavier Parent, and Shane Lachance still working to earn notice. On the blue line, there is meaningful attention on how Anton Silayev is adapting, while Seamus Casey, Ethan Edwards, Declan Chisholm, and Johnathan Kovacevic are among the defenders being evaluated alongside the veteran group.

Luke Hughes appears healthy and active after his offseason procedure, and Brett Pesce is part of the club’s fuller NHL lineup as camp intensity rises. Keefe has said Silayev will get at least one more preseason look, underscoring that this is still a sorting-out period. The Devils meet the Rangers on the road next in another exhibition, offering one more chance to refine the picture before camp decisions tighten.

The Devils enter this preseason with a new-look roster, a shortened camp, and little time to settle opening-night decisions. Their first exhibition win over the Islanders offered an early glimpse of the competition, with David Rittich handling the crease well and Connor Brown finishing the game-winning play, while the club prepared immediately for its next preseason test at home against the Rangers. The broader story is still about evaluation: veterans are being mixed with younger players, line combinations are being tried quickly, and the staff is trying to determine which depth forwards and defensemen can hold up in a fast-moving camp.

New faces such as Luke Evangelista and Anthony Mantha add intrigue to the forward group, while players like Arseny Gritsyuk, Amadeus Lombardi, Lenni Hameenaho, and Shane Lachance are among the prospects getting a look. On the blue line, the Devils are also sorting out how their established core fits with younger options such as Anton Silayev, Ethan Edwards, Seamus Casey, and Topias Vilen. Injuries and returns remain part of the background, but the tone of camp is competitive and compressed: every preseason shift matters because the roster is still taking shape.

The New Jersey Devils open preseason with a camp that looks less like a finished roster and more like a live audition, with Sheldon Keefe using exhibition games to sort out the last few jobs and test chemistry across several lines. The most interesting early look has been a blend of established players and newcomers, with Connor Brown and Cody Glass flanking Amadeus Lombardi, whose strong camp has put him squarely in the conversation for a spot. Behind them, the Devils are also giving extended looks to Lenni Hameenaho, Shane Lachance, Matyas Melovsky, Cam Squires, Riley Tufte, Colin White and Ben Steeves, while veteran pieces like Brenden Dillon help steady a defense group that includes Anton Silayev, Seamus Casey, Ethan Edwards, Declan Chisholm and Vladislav Kolyachonok.

The blue line and goaltending picture are similarly being sorted out in real time, with David Rittich and Jakub Malek set to dress for the opener against the Islanders. In camp, the Devils have experimented with pairings featuring Jonas Siegenthaler and Dougie Hamilton, Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce, and younger defenders alongside them, while the forward groups have also mixed in Anthony Mantha, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Timo Meier, Evan Rodrigues, Dawson Mercer, Jesper Boqvist and Stefan Noesen in different combinations. The overall feel is of a team with a strong core, but still enough open space for prospects and fringe players to force their way into the final preseason decisions.

The Devils enter preseason with a noticeably deeper, more competitive camp than they had a year ago. Sunny Mehta’s first offseason has pushed genuine battles into every part of the lineup, with veterans and younger players mixed together in practice groups and top-line combinations already being tested, including Anthony Mantha with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, and Luke Evangelista with Nico Hischier and Timo Meier. The new forward depth has also changed the tone of camp, with players such as Evan Rodrigues, Jesper Boqvist, Amadeus Lombardi, and Declan Chisholm adding to the pressure on bubble spots and giving Sheldon Keefe more ways to shape the roster.

Injuries have created another layer of intrigue. Nick Bjugstad is out after offseason pectoral surgery, opening a chance for other forwards to seize a place, while Johnathan Kovacevic is only a limited participant as he works back from knee issues. In goal, Jake Allen appears to be the anchor, while Nico Daws and David Rittich are competing for the other netminding role. That gives the Devils a very real preseason storyline: how quickly the depth additions settle in, which prospects force their way into the conversation, and which line looks most ready for the opener against the New York Islanders on Sept. 20.