42-33-7 91 points (3rd Metro, 7th conference, 15th overall)
2.93 GF/GP, 20th; 2.68 GA/GP, 5th
28.2 PP%, 3rd; 82.7 PK%, 2nd
Key losses: F Tomas Tatar, F Erik Haula
Key additions: F Arseniy Gritsyuk, F Connor Brown, F Evgenii Dadonov, F Thomas Bordeleau
Expected lineup:
Ondrej Palat – Jack Hughes – Jesper Bratt
Stefan Noesen– Nico Hischier - Timo Meier
Arseniy Gritsyuk - Dawson Mercer - Connor Brown
Paul Cotter -Cody Glass –Evgenii Dadonov
Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce
Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton
Brenden Dillon – Simon Nemec
Jacob Markstrom
Jake Allen
Nico Daws
PP1: Bratt – Hischier - Meier – J Hughes -Hamilton
PP2: Noesen – Mercer – Gritsyuk – L Hughes – Nemec
5x5:
New Jersey’s offense declined from 2024-25 (3.22 GF/GP) to 2.93 in 2025/26. That decline though was offset by an improvement defensively, as they reduced their goals against from 3.43 (26th) to 2.68, fifth best in the league. Much of the drop offensively occurred at even-strength, which was an area targeted in free agency.
Defensively, the improvement was partially due to a re-focus on that aspect of the game, aided by the system put in by new coach Sheldon Keefe. The acquisition of a few new blueliners and incorporation of a few young d-men aided as well. Last, the importing of a true #1 goalie in Jacob Markstrom, resulted in better play between the pipes.
New Jersey can mix-and-match lines, moving some wingers to centers and vice versa. Fairly set in stone is the 1-2 combo of Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. Hughes, if there is a weakness, it’s that he is unable to stay healthy. He has had only one season where he played more than 62 games. Hischier misses a handful games almost annually, but when in the lineup, he is good for 60+ points a season along with solid two-way work. The third member of the elite forward triumvirate is Jesper Bratt, who has become a dynamic point producer. Oddly enough, his goal-scoring has gone from 32 to 27 to 21 goals as his overall output rose.
Beyond the big three, the Devils have several “interesting” forwards. Timo Meier has settled in as a nice secondary option while Dawson Mercer has regressed but should be able to produce as he did his first two seasons in the league. Stefan Noesen got off to a hot start before regressing as expected yet still scored 22 goals.
Arseniy Gritsyuk, a fifth-round pick of the Devils in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, came over from the KHL on a one-year deal. He has a shot to fill a middle six role. Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov will be counted on to bolster the bottom-six, especially at even-strength. Brown scored 12 of his 13 goals last season at even strength while Dadonov lit the lamp when the lineups were even 15 times out of his 20 markers.
When on the ice, Hamilton is a #1 blueliner. Unfortunately, he’s missed significant time in four of the last six seasons. Luke Hughes had a similar sophomore campaign scoring to his freshman season. His large gains came in his own zone, where showed some improvement. The remainder of the blueline is either a defensive d-man (Brett Pesce, Jonas Siegenthaler and Brenden Dillon) or a neophyte (Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey). Johnny Kovacevic (knee) won't be available for Opening Night, opening the door for Nemec.
PP:
The power play improved from 80.7 (13th ) to 82.7 per cent (2nd ), which was a franchise best mark. The net difference in goals, though, was just a plus-six, so while the percentage was better, the impact was minimal. New Jersey benefits from the talent on the man-advantage, especially when Hamilton is on the ice. That also bleeds into the second unit, quarterbacked by Luke Hughes. The question for that grouping is if the team will go with two d-men at the point.
All stats courtesy of naturalstattrick.com, moneypuck.com, hockeyviz.com, allthreezones.com, hockey-reference.com, eliteprospects.com unless otherwise noted.