Today marks the halfway point between last season and the puck drop for the New Jersey Devils.
The offseason has been busy, but it's far from over.
As we reach the midpoint of summer, let’s recap what’s already been done and what still needs to happen before the puck drops in October.
The last time the Devils hit the ice was on April 19, when they lost in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs to the Carolina Hurricanes. That was 89 days ago.
There are 64 days until their first preseason game, which will be on September 21 against the New York Rangers. There are 82 days until the regular season begins. However, the main event is in 89 days: the puck will drop for the Devils’ 2025–26 home opener at the Prudential Center.
The home opener, announced last week, will be on October 16 against the defending Stanley Cup Champions, the Florida Panthers.
Last Season
The Devils’ 2024–25 season ended earlier than expected. The team made it to the first round of the playoffs but lost the series 4–1 to Carolina.
They started the season strong but began to struggle with injuries. They finished the year 42-33-7, totaling 91 points. While that was good enough for the third playoff spot in the Metropolitan Division, it didn’t compare to the previous season. In 2022–23, they earned 112 points, a franchise record, and advanced to the second round.
Offseason
This offseason, the Devils made several key moves. They opened free agency with three major signings.
First, they re-signed Cody Glass to a two-year, $5 million contract. Then they signed goaltender Jake Allen to a five-year deal with an average annual value of $1.8 million, solidifying their plans in net for the coming season.
Next, they added right winger Connor Brown on a four-year, $12 million contract. Brown is a fast, defensively responsible forward who will bring depth to the Devils’ bottom six.
Finally, the team signed veteran Evgenii Dadonov to a one-year, $1 million deal. A proven scorer with five 20+ goal seasons, Dadonov adds experience and leadership to the lineup.
Before Puck Drop
Despite these moves, the Devils still have one major task left: signing restricted free agent Luke Hughes.
Hughes, the fourth overall pick in 2021, recently completed his three-year entry-level contract. He has expressed enthusiasm about remaining with the organization, and negotiations were expected to begin after the July 4th holiday.
There’s little doubt Hughes will receive a long-term deal; it’s just a matter of working out the numbers.
“My number one priority is Luke Hughes,” said General Manager Tom Fitzgerald.
The question isn’t if Hughes will be signed, but how much the Devils can offer given their salary cap constraints.
Next Season The 2025–26 regular season begins on October 9. The Devils have a strong lineup, and staying healthy will be the most important factor in achieving success.
They have the tools to win; it’s just a matter of finalizing the offseason moves and staying off the injury list.
Photo Credit: © James Guillory-Imagn Images