Last Word on Hockey’s Puck Drop Previews are back for the 2025-26 season! As the regular season approaches, us here at Last Word will preview each team’s current outlook and stories to watch for the upcoming year. We’ll also do our best to project how things will go for each team throughout the campaign. Today, we’re previewing the 2025-26 New Jersey Devils.
New Jersey Devils
2024-25 Season Recap
The 2024-25 campaign was a tough one for the Devils. The expectation was for this young team to take another step and make a playoff run. The team qualified for the playoffs in the 2022-23 season and won a round, but missed out on the postseason in the 2023-24 season. With a solid young core of Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier, amongst others, the playoffs seemed like a foregone conclusion. The team was safely in playoff contention during midseason play before tragedy struck. Star forward Jack Hughes suffered a season-ending shoulder injury that would require surgery. The team had also been without top defenceman Dougie Hamilton for some time. Although Hamilton did return to the playoffs, he likely wasn’t operating at full capacity. Without Jack Hughes, however, the Devils limped into the postseason and were easily ousted in five games by the Carolina Hurricanes.
2025 Offseason
It was a fairly quiet offseason in New Jersey, but the Devils did make a few notable offseason additions in 2025. The big addition is that of young Russian forward Arseni Gritsyuk. Gritsyuk, 24, was drafted by the Devils back in 2019 and has spent the last five seasons playing overseas in the KHL. This past year, he was almost a point-per-game with 44 points in 49 games. The Devils hope he can bring some offence to their middle-six.
The team also signed forwards Evgenii Dadonov and Connor Brown on July 1st, which adds depth to their bottom-six group. They also traded Shane Bowers to San Jose in exchange for Thomas Bordeleau. Most recently, the Devils signed both Luke Glendening and Kevin Rooney to professional tryout agreements. It’s also worth noting that the Devils re-signed goaltender Jake Allen to a five-year deal.
Lineup Projections
Forwards
Ondrej Palat-Jack Hughes-Jesper Bratt
Timo Meier-Nico Hischier-Stefan Noesen
Arseni Gritsyuk-Dawson Mercer-Evgenii Dadonov
Paul Cotter–Cody Glass-Connor Brown
Thomas Bordeleau, Luke Glendening, Kevin Rooney
Top Six
New Jersey’s top-six group is loaded with elite talent. Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier are as good as any one-two punch down the middle in the NHL. They each are paired with an elite winger in Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt. 32-year-old Stefan Noesen quietly put up a forty-point season playing in the team’s top-six. Moreover, Ondrej Palat doesn’t bring the same offensive punch that he did during his days with the Lightning. On the other hand, his defensive presence and strong details allow for Hughes and Bratt to flow freely offensively. New Jersey’s top six have the talent to match up with anyone in the league. The only potential concern is how Jack Hughes looks to begin the season after coming off a major injury. However, the young superstar should find his stride fairly quickly.
Bottom Six and Extra Forwards
New Jersey’s bottom-six group has a new look and is much improved from last season. Dawson Mercer has struggled at times offensively the past two seasons. However, he will be getting a boost this season with new linemates in Gritsyuk and Dadonov. Adding Connor Brown gives the fourth line a real boost. Having him alongside Cody Glass and Paul Cotter, it should make for an effective fourth line.
As for the extra forwards, recently acquired Thomas Bordeleau has spent time in the NHL over the last few seasons, but hasn’t had a significant impact. He should be a solid bet for an extra forward spot, however. The final spot will come down to veterans Glendening and Rooney. The two forwards who are both on professional tryouts and are likely battling each other for a spot on the team. Glendening brings more experience, but Rooney is familiar with the Devils organization from his early days in the league, which could give him a slight edge.
Defence
Brenden Dillon-Dougie Hamilton
Luke Hughes-Brett Pesce
Jonas Siegenthaler–Simon Nemec
Seamus Casey, Jonathan Kovacevic
Top Four
The Devils’ top four is among the best in the NHL. Each duo features an offensive dynamo paired with a solid shutdown defenceman. Dougie Hamilton has been a solid point producer from the backend throughout his career, and Luke Hughes broke out with over forty points in each of his last two seasons. Having them paired with Brenden Dillon and Brett Pesce allows for their offence to shine and makes for two well-balanced pairings.
Bottom Pair and Extra Players
The final few defencemen on the roster are a bit more interesting. Veteran Jonas Siegenthaler brings a steady presence and is a lock to make the team. Meanwhile, former second-overall pick Simon Nemec is getting the biggest opportunity of his career playing alongside Siegenthaler. Nemec hasn’t been able to stay in the NHL despite playing over eighty games since being drafted in 2022. Trade rumours have long swirled about him as a result. This will likely be Nemec’s final opportunity with the team. Youngster Seamus Casey is also knocking at the door. Meanwhile, Johnathan Kovacevic, who was injured in the postseason, is expected to miss the beginning of the regular season. However, expect him to step back into the lineup when healthy if Nemec falters.
Goalies
Jake Allen
Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen have given the Devils the best goaltending tandem that they have had in years. Markstrom is heading into the final year of his deal while Allen begins his new five-year contract. Markstrom should get the bulk of the starts, but Allen is as reliable a backup as any in the league. When healthy, there shouldn’t be any goaltending concerns for this team.
Players to Watch
Two players to watch for the New Jersey Devils are Dawson Mercer and Simon Nemec. Mercer is looking to get back to the offensive production that he achieved in his rookie and sophomore campaigns. He has two years remaining on his deal, and with improved linemates, he is hoping to see his offence and his next contract spike. As for Nemec, he is in the final year of his entry-level contract. If he doesn’t play a full season in New Jersey, it’s likely we’ll see the Devils look to move on from him, or he requests a trade. However, it’s on the 21-year-old to prove he belongs in the lineup as the team has other viable options in Casey and Kovacevic.
Prediction for the 2025-26 New Jersey Devils
The Devils are a deep team in every area. They had a solid offseason rounding out their bottom-six and bringing back Allen as their backup. New Jersey was one of the top teams in the Eastern Conference before being riddled with injuries and were poised to make a playoff run. It will now be up to head coach Sheldon Keefe to get the most out of this group. With a healthy, improved roster, there is no reason they shouldn’t be a top team in the Metropolitan once more in 2025-26.
Prediction: 2nd in the Metropolitan
Main Photo: Isaiah J. Downing-Imagn Images
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