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[New Jersey Devils]

New Jersey Devils 2025-26 Season Preview Part 4: Special Teams

Studs.

Howdy gang! We are so so close to another season of Devils hockey. I’m pumped, I do think we have a real squad here, and are due for some things to fall the right way. The air is getting crisp, all my other favorite teams stink, so please for the love of god be good, Devils. I know a lot of you are in the same fandom boat, so let Uncle Timmy welcome you to our All About The Jersey special teams preview, where we get to bask in some greatness.

Both the power play and penalty kill units have been major bright spots the past few seasons. 24-25 was no different as we were the best combined special teams in the league last season at over 110%, finishing 3rd on the PP at 28.2% (just .1% short of 2nd) and 2nd on the PK at 82.7% (.9% short of 1st). For context, the President’s Trophy winning Winnipeg Jets were second at 108% and The Islanders were last at 85% (LOL).

I don’t see any reason why a successful repeat won’t happen in 25-26, so let’s get into it.

2024-25 Special Teams Overall Performance​

As mentioned above, both sides of special teams were flat out elite. Aside from a bit of swoon pre-4 Nations on the PP, both special teams units were a warm blanky, particularly when the 5 on 5 play was iffy all season and collapsed after Christmas.

Not once did our boys drop below 100% combined all season, and when the PP dipped in December and March, our PK picked up the slack.

I mentioned this in my Power Play blog a few weeks ago, but the Devils were one of the most dangerous units in recent history, one of only three teams to generate double digit xG/60 in the past two decades (or as far back as moneypuck data goes). What’s even crazier is we actually shot UNDER expected for the year by about 4 goals, so there was room for improvement over the 28% finish. For comparison, the two teams ahead of us, Winnipeg and Vegas, were 10 goals above expected and 3 goals above expected, respectively.

The PK was middle of the pack in terms of chance generation against, ranking 20th in xGA/60, and I think you can safely call the previous PK philosophy as “bend but don’t break.” They tended to stay in a tight box/diamond and collapse low, minimizing bumper and cross slot/royal road chances against, while allowing perimeter passing and shots. Going the other way, they were 2nd in generating 1.13 xG/60 offensively, and I think we should count on some good counter attacking with the addition of Brown and another year of Nico, Jack, and Bratt on the kill.

Now, I wouldn’t be a fair and balanced, handsome and tenacious “journalist” if I didn’t bring up the absolute tire fire that the PP was in the playoffs against the Canes. The combination of personnel dropping like flies and facing the #1 PK tanked any chance we had, posting a Blutarsky-esque 0.0% – the only team in the playoffs to not score a PP goal. I did notice some structural changes that probably didn’t help, with Timo on the left flank and Bratt on the right flank, but it didn’t matter since we could not generate even a modicum of pressure. If you factor in short-handed goals against, the PP was a net negative, -6.7%. It was bad is what I’m trying to say, if you didn’t pick up on that.

Similarly, the PK was godawful in the playoffs, finishing at 68.4%. One of the only significant advantages we had going in to the series (our elite PK vs. their middling PP) , turned out to be our Achilles heel and fittingly, the series ended with a Devil in the box. Losing our #1 and #2 minute munchers here in Dillon and Kovacevic, and Siegenthaler returning from injury and getting thrown immediately into the fire didn’t help.

You cannot convince me otherwise that if they buried a couple of opportunistic goals on the PP, and maintained an 80ish% PK we could’ve eked that series out in 7. Argue with a wall.

24-25 PP Leaders and Projected Units​

Ok, so I got my doomer rant out of the way, back to more fun stuff. I wrote a lot about systems/structure, and a bit about the slingshot zone entries here, and since you all read that and took notes I won’t bore you with being repetitive since I’ve now linked the blog twice.

Below is a everyone who got PP time that is on the 25-26 roster, sorted by TOI (mostly). Gritsyuk had 3 PP goals according to the KHL site. All numbers from Natural Stat Trick:

This is what the number 1 unit looked like for most of past season:

The news about Stefan Noesen’s groin injury has opened the door to interesting options, but it would be surprising to see any new guys supplant returning players on the first unit. My guess is Mercer takes that Noesen netfront/bumper spot to keep the handedness consistent and we will see what happens when Noesen returns. I do not think Timo will move up to PP1 as so many have wishcasted – in my opinion it is too lefty heavy and eliminates a lot of the optionality that makes it so dangerous (did you read the other blog yet?). I can also see the newly very rich Luke Hughes taking the D spot at any point this season, but still feel like this is Dougie’s role to lose. I do want to note that in last night’s pre-season game with the Rangers they ran out a 5 forward PP1 unit and Dougie was on PP2 so this may in fact happen.

Where we will likely see some upgrades are on the second unit as we say goodbye to Erik Haula, Tomas Tatar, and Ondrej Palat. (Sorry, one second, my producer just handed me a note – Palat is still here I am being told). In Tatar and Haula’s stead, we will likely see Evgeni Dadonov and Arseni Gritsyuk adding some much needed skill and scoring pop to PP2.

Admittedly, I tried to whip up a fun little graphic for the second unit where I expect some combination of Luke/Dougie, Timo, Dadonov, Gritsyuk, Glass/Palat. They might even sneak in a 2nd D in there between Nemec and/or Casey. I had a hard time sorting who goes where, and we haven’t heard much about the look from practice reports nor have we seen any extended time in a game together in pre-season. So, no graphic for you. Both Gritsyuk and Timo love to shoot from the right flank so it will be interesting to see how that plays out. Dadonov seems like a Jack proxy on the left flank but is such a smart player he can go anywhere. Glass/Palat will probably be the netfront/bumper with whomever is not the right flank guy between Timo and Gritsyuk. See what I mean – why I didn’t make a graphic, it would’ve looked like a Jackson Pollock. What I would like to see is this unit get some more time, as the second unit got about 20% of the time in 24-25 (25-30 seconds), compared to 25-30+% across the league.

24-25 PK Leaders and Projected Units​

As for the PK, it was largely anchored by Dillon, Kovacevic, Pesce and Siegs (and Dumoulin, enjoy LA buddy). Up front Mercer and Nico were unit 1, with a mix of guys no longer here taking up the second unit time. Jack and Bratt saw increased usage as the season went on, and Glass got some solid minutes after he was acquired. Below is a basic and fancy number rundown for our current roster, care of Natural Stat Trick:

We will see some of new additions rotate up front as Connor Brown is an absolute stud and either Lammikko or Glendening (or Rooney) should replace Haula’s minutes. They will work in rotation with the aforementioned mainstays Nico Hischier, Dawson Mercer, and the dynamic pairing of Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes. Defensively, we are without mainstay Johnny Kovacevic until the new year at least, so expect to see those minutes spread between Simon Nemec and Dougie Hamilton until one gains the trust of the staff.

That last part is a concern of mine going into the season. In his limited minutes Dougie was surprisingly effective having the lowest xGA/60 on the team, while Nemec was right in between Kovacevic and Pesce. I think it’s important to heavily emphasize their limited time as the longer you kill penalties the likelier something bad will happen, and neither Nemec or Dougie are known for their defensive acumen. A lesser concern is burnout for Nico – as Keefe has repeatedly mentioned there are no easy minutes for Nico, and hopefully Lammikko/Glendending can earn enough trust to defray some of his time as we get deeper into the season.

We should see a more aggressive PK unit from Brad Shaw as his philosophy is predicated on hunting pucks and turning them into opportunities, not just sitting back and allowing the play to come to us. If I was a gambling man (oh wait, I am!) I may look at some shorthanded goal props for Jack, Bratt, and Brown.

Final Thoughts​

We should expect nothing short of more excellent special teams play. Frankly, we need it. I want to be greedy and see both units finish 1st in the league with the power play flirting with 30% all year, and the kill close to 85%. This would go a long way in quelling my concerns about 5v5 scoring carrying over from last season.

As I mentioned before, I am a major enthusiast of sexy power play goals, so I will leave you with this filthy PP goal from last weekend that took all of 7 seconds:

View Link

Let me know what you think about the special teams, any concerns or things you want to see? Sound off below!

LGD

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2...s-2025-26-season-preview-part-4-special-teams

 

[New Jersey Devils]

The 2025 All About the Jersey Top Five Under 25: The Top Five

Here it is: the end of this list means the start of a new regular season. Let us get to it.

5. Arseny Gritsyuk (W) — Last Rank: 5 — Age: 24 — 2024-25 Team: SKA St. Petersburg (KHL — 49 games)

Since breaking out for Avangard Omsk in the 2021-22 season, Arseny Gritsyuk has captivated Devils fans as a potential boon to the team’s group of skilled forwards. Gritsyuk never took a step backwards in the KHL after that first big year, in which he had 16 goals and 28 points in 39 games. Since then, he had 15 goals and 40 points in 66 games, followed by 19 goals and 38 points in 50 games, and finishing with 17 goals and 44 points in 49 games in the 2024-25 season. Of course, Gritsyuk signed with SKA St. Petersburg after his contract with Omsk expired in 2023, so he even took a back-seat to big-name veterans on the roster over the last two seasons, especially as it came to power play usage.

He might have to play again on the second power play in New Jersey, but there should not be any worries about his ability to function in an NHL offense after skating with the team in the preseason. Gritsyuk played all six possible games, leading the team with five points (two goals and three primary assists). Beyond those five points, Gritsyuk had 14 individual scoring chances with 15 shots on goal, also throwing nine hits and drawing a penalty. While most people will not miss Gritsyuk’s skill, they might forget that he’s not an average rookie: he’s coming off of four seasons in the second-best professional league in the world, in which he was one of the best young players. With SKA last season, Gritsyuk was second to just Evgeni Kuznetsov in points per game, though Kuznetsov had nearly twice as much power play ice time per game. At even strength, Gritsyuk scored roughly 1.2 goals per 60 minutes, which would be a near-elite clip if it translated to the NHL.

Gritsyuk is starting this season on the fourth line, but that may shift around based on how he plays. I like that Gritsyuk seems to have good chemistry with Paul Cotter so far, but Gritsyuk could really elevate the scoring potential of a middle six line if he got an opportunity there. On the other hand, the fourth line may be the best place for Gritsyuk to get going on his off-wing, where he can fire one-timers off effectively. Once Stefan Noesen returns to the lineup, I think it might be hard to find Gritsyuk a line to play right wing on, though Gritsyuk’s tenacity, intelligence, and skill should allow him to have success anywhere in the lineup.

4. Simon Nemec (RD) — Last Rank: 4 — Age: 21 — 2024-25 Teams: Utica Comets (AHL — 24 games) New Jersey Devils (27 games)

Drafted out of Slovakian professional hockey, Simon Nemec was the beneficiary of European draftee rules that allowed him to immediately play in the AHL after being drafted by the Devils in 2022. After playing with Slovakian professionals from the age of 15, Nemec immediately became a solid AHL defenseman at 18 and earned a call-up in 2023 when Dougie Hamilton tore his pectoral muscle. With a promising rookie season that saw him score three goals and 19 points with some of the best defensive results on a rather poor Devils team, things were looking great for Nemec.

A shoulder injury in Olympic qualifiers last season really hurt Nemec’s ability to continue growing, and it hurt his image among fans and talking heads. Only playing 27 games with the Devils in the regular season last year thanks to the signing of Brett Pesce and the emergence of Johnny Kovacevic, Nemec had a paltry four points and some of the worst defensive results on a much better Devils team than the prior season. Nemec also played quite a bit in the AHL to regain his confidence, showing that he still did not have much to learn from playing in Utica — but he did regain his confidence over time. In the playoffs, the Devils had to turn to Nemec to try to salvage the first-round series against the Carolina Hurricanes. In Game 4, facing elimination, Nemec played one of the biggest games of his career next to Jonas Siegenthaler, keeping the Devils alive with a game-winning goal in overtime.

With Johnny Kovacevic out until after New Year’s, Nemec will have the opportunity to play regularly for at least half of the season. His goal for this season should be to pick up where he left off in the playoffs, showing he can produce offensively while being responsible in Sheldon Keefe’s defensive system. With a new assistant coach in Brad Shaw to help him, Nemec needs to play at a level even higher than he showed in his rookie season. If Nemec proves to be a quality third-pairing defenseman, that would be fine for this year. But if Nemec shows more, it can open up the door to more roster questions for the Devils. Nemec was drafted to be a franchise defenseman, and he can get back on the path with a good season.

3. Dawson Mercer (RW/C) — Last Rank: 3 — Age: 24 — 2024-25 Team: New Jersey Devils (82 games)

Ready for his fifth season in the National Hockey League after not missing a single game in each of his first four years, Dawson Mercer will look to return his productivity to 2022-23 levels. Since scoring 27 goals and 29 assists in that season, Mercer has 39 goals and 30 assists in 164 regular season games. The decline in goal scoring has not been terrible, finishing 2024-25 just one shy of a third straight 20-goal season. Mercer’s playmaking, however, has not been there.

While his playmaking has been disappointing over the last two seasons, Mercer is still one of the most accomplished and one of the most skilled players in this list, putting him in third place again in his final year on the list. Early lineup projections for the Devils this year place Mercer on Nico Hischier’s right, and this would be great for Mercer getting more scoring opportunities. Last season, when Timo Meier, Nico Hischier, and Dawson Mercer skated together, the Devils outscored opponents 9-4. In all minutes where Meier played with Mercer, the Devils outscored opponents 24-9. With all of the rebounds that Meier creates with his high volume of shots on goal, Mercer is generally a good fit on the same line as one of the most effective netfront scorers on the Devils.

If Mercer stays in a top six wing role this year, there will be no excuses for a repeat of the last two years of offensive production. He does not have to carry his line, he just needs to be the offensive playmaker he showed he was capable of being as a rookie and a second-year player under Lindy Ruff. With his tenacity around the crease and propensity for deflections and batting pucks out of the air, as well, Mercer needs to get back to setting himself on a 30-goal path.

2. Luke Hughes (LD) — Last Rank: 2 — Age: 22 — 2024-25 Team: New Jersey Devils (71 games)

It took long enough, but Luke Hughes did sign with the New Jersey Devils last week. Set to be with the Devils until July 2032, Luke’s next step as a professional needs to be playing as a number one defenseman. I asked if he was capable of that back in July, but the true test will be the games in the coming weeks. For now, it seems that Hughes is slated to start on the first pairing with Brett Pesce. One reason to have hope there: Hughes did a very good job of creating offense when playing with top six teammates last season. By playing on the top pairing, he should play most of his minutes with his brother Jack and Nico Hischier.

I would lean towards saying that Luke was unlucky last season. When Luke was playing with Hischier, the Devils were outscored 15-14 despite outshooting opponents 193-148. When the brothers played together, the Devils fared better, outscoring opponents 17-12 with good underlying metrics to back it up. It was when Luke played with bottom six centers that things went wrong. In those minutes, the Devils were outscored 21-13 while being outshot, carrying a rather poor 5.22 team shooting percentage. I would hope that those numbers improve with the Devils’ well-tweaked bottom six, but it remains clear that the Devils will be most productive by having the Hughes brothers on the ice together.

Of course, as a defenseman, Luke Hughes has some things in his own end that he needs to work on. By being more effective around the net, the Devils can spend less time playing defense and more time rushing up the ice — which is the thing Luke is best at. Still, his tools as a defenseman stand out around the league. In NHL EDGE’s tracking data, Luke was in the 97th percentile or better in:

• Top Speed (23.58 MPH — 97th)
• 22 MPH bursts (16 — 99th)
• 20-22 MPH bursts (109 — 97th)
• 18-20 MPH bursts (496 — 98th)

Had Luke reached the 24.19 MPH mark he set in 2023-24, he would have been tied for second with Jaccob Slavin among defensemen last year, just behind Quinn Hughes’s 24.56 MPH record. In addition to his skating ability, though, I am looking forward to seeing what his shot looks like after undergoing shoulder surgery following his Game 1 injury against the Hurricanes. NHL EDGE’s shot tracking data noted a dip in average and top shot speed for Hughes last year, and getting a few ticks back on his shots would help him be the goal-scoring defenseman he came into the league to be. I don’t think we have to be worried, though. He’s been working hard:

My body feels great, and my shoulders are strong. I’ve been skating five days a week, bag skating, and I just got to acclimate myself to the team and to playing real hockey. I don’t think it should be long. It’s just good to be back to work.

And back to work he’ll go.

1. Jack Hughes (C) — Last Rank: 1 — Age: 24 — 2024-25 Team: New Jersey Devils (62 games)

Jack Hughes has been fixed upon the top spot of the All About the Jersey Top 25 Under 25 since the 2021 list. But today will be the last time he is posted on these lists. So where has he gotten since starting in the second spot in 2019? He has 141 goals and 351 points in 368 regular season games along with six goals and 11 points in 12 playoff games. Since the 2022-23 season, Jack has averaged 40 goals and 58 assists per 82 games played, doing this while largely delaying treatment for some nagging shoulder issues that came to a head when he was sent flying into the end boards by Jack Eichel last year.

Some will ask, “can he stay healthy?” I am not as concerned. All things considered, Hughes only missed 40 games over the last two regular seasons and needed some bad luck to make him miss the 20 games he missed at the end of last season. I think the question should be: will he be even better after getting shoulder surgery? Jack Hughes turned 24 less than two weeks after getting surgery: he isn’t a 38 year old dealing with repetitive, nagging injuries. The numbers themselves show that he recovers well even when he doesn’t go as far with treatment as he could. But with a surgically-repaired shoulder, there shouldn’t be any limits for him this season.

Hockey players are generally “in their prime” between the ages of 24 and 27. Elite players like Jack tend to enter their “prime” early and often leave it later than most. This is just the beginning for Jack. What is the ceiling for a guy who had 99 points at 21 years old? If Jack plays this whole season, you could see him blow past that mark. And as he departs this list and goes firmly into the realm of “veteran” hockey players, there wouldn’t be anything better for him or Devils fans than a 110 or 120-point season.

The Rankings​

As expected, the rankings look quite a bit more uniform this time around. James, the community, and I all matched the ultimate top five.

Of course, we had one final tie between Mercer and Nemec. With James and the community voting Mercer third, he got the advantage to take that spot. And a fun fact? This was the exact same top five as last year. It was close: just over half a point of average vote separated Gritsyuk from Seamus Casey, but Gritsyuk (I’d say rightfully) retained his spot in the top five.

Well, that concludes this year’s Top 25 Under 25. I hope you all enjoyed it, and feel free to share your ballots and your thoughts in the comments.

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/n...out-the-jersey-top-five-under-25-the-top-five

 

[New Jersey Devils]

New Jersey Devils 2025-26 Season Preview Part 5: The Coaching and Management

Ownership and Management​

Owners: Josh Harris and David Blitzer (Harris-Blitzer Sports & Entertainment)​

Since taking ownership in 2013, HBSE took ownership of a New Jersey Devils team that was falling off a cliff from their dominant playoff seasons. They oversaw the rebuild with the hirings of Ray Shero and Tom Fitzgerald, who worked to overhaul the team’s prospect pool after years of win-now mentality under Lou Lamoriello. Still, HBSE has rarely gotten involved in hockey operations, only visibly stepping in after the collapse of the Taylor Hall-led Devils to make the decision to part ways with Shero and elevate Fitzgerald to the general manager position. It at least indicated that, after a few years of rebuilding and then a playoff appearance, the ownership group was trying to bring the team back to its winning ways.

A couple years ago, John wrote at length about the then 10 years of HBSE ownership. In said article, John mentions the many sports ownership ventures Harris and Blitzer have gotten into. In addition to the 76ers and Devils, Harris now owns the Washington Commanders, while Blitzer has a chunk of the Cleveland Guardians. Both have invested in soccer, as well, while they have even gotten into niche sports of late such as SlamBall. And in the future, they will be owners of the Philadelphia WNBA team.

This may lead fans to wonder how much they really get involved with the Devils, but there are pros and cons to a hands-off approach, and even to being a part of a large group of sports team holdings. First, the Devils do not have to worry about being huge profit-turners, though having the Hughes brothers and a playoff hockey team puts them in a good position in that regard. The Washington Commanders and Philadelphia 76ers are lucrative franchises in their own right, and the Cleveland Guardians’ low-expense approach to AL Central baseball makes them generally turn profits year over year (I would expect them to spend more money if Blitzer takes majority control in 2028, though). The point is: HBSE can focus on team success more than they have to focus on pure revenue and profits, at least in theory.

There is another component there that may make fans sore, though. The Prudential Center, owned by HBSE since their acquisition of the team, has seen some rough years of late. Once among the top NHL arenas, age and overuse has led to the Prudential Center usually being ranked in the middle of the pack among NHL arenas. The food has gotten worse, the overuse (as one of the busiest, if not the most, in the world) has led to worsened ice quality at times, and fans have become bitter about it. The Prudential Center has attempted to shift gears in their concessions contracts over the last couple years, but there is still a long way to go before they return to the level of quality the arena had until about the Covid pandemic.

The Front Office​

Tom Fitzgerald, General Management and President of Hockey Operations​

Even more important than the in-arena fan experience, though, is the work of the general manager. Tom Fitzgerald has been at the helm of the team since Ray Shero and the Devils parted ways in 2020, and he has been with the organization since 2015. Since taking control of the front office in 2020, though, Fitzgerald has overseen:

• The extensions of Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt
• The signings of Dougie Hamilton, Brett Pesce, and Brenden Dillon
• The signing of Ondrej Palat
• The trades for Jonas Siegenthaler, Timo Meier, Jacob Markstrom, Jake Allen, Johnny Kovacevic, and Cody Glass
• The trade for John Marino and his eventual trade to Utah
• The trade for Ryan Graves and the decisions to let Damon Severson and Graves walk in free agency
• The trade of Yegor Sharangovich for Tyler Toffoli
• The signings of Stefan Noesen, Connor Brown, and Evgenii Dadonov
• The hiring and firing of Lindy Ruff
• The hiring of Sheldon Keefe

In the draft, Fitzgerald has had some hits and picks that are trending to be hits:

• Dawson Mercer (2020 18th overall)
• Nico Daws (2020 84th overall)
• Ethan Edwards (2020 120th overall)
• Luke Hughes (2021 4th overall)
• Jakub Malek (2021 100th overall)
• Simon Nemec (2022 2nd overall)
• Seamus Casey (2022 46th overall)
• Daniil Orlov (2022 110th overall)
• Lenni Hameenaho (2023 58th overall)
• Cam Squires (2023 122nd overall)
• Anton Silayev (2024 10th overall)
• Mikhail Yegorov (2024 49th overall)

And some misses:

• Alex Holtz (2020 7th overall)
• Chase Stillman (2021 29th overall)
• (Most of his 2020 draftees after the 4th round)
• (Most other draftees in other years still too fresh to call misses)

Fitzgerald has traded some of his draft picks during previous seasons, as well. He traded 2020 first rounder (20th overall) Shakir Mukhamadullin to San Jose in the Timo Meier deal. He sent 2021 seventh rounder (203rd overall) Zakhar Bardakov to Colorado in the Kurtis MacDermid deal (a throw-in that has proven to be an unwise move). He included Chase Stillman in the Cody Glass trade. He traded 2024 third rounder (91st overall) Herman Traff to Anaheim in the Brian Dumoulin deal last season.

In all, as Tom Fitzgerald approaches the end of his fifth calendar year with the New Jersey Devils, the team has taken more steps forward than steps backwards. Still, Fitzgerald has not been without his frustrating moments. His delayed approach to addressing the goaltending situations in 2022 and 2024 led to a lot of fan discontent, and it can sometimes seem like his patience can wade into the realm of slight negligence. But with two playoff appearances in three seasons following a rebuild, the Devils appear to be on the right track.

Dave MacKinnon and Kate Madigan, Assistant General Managers​

I would not be the first to say that the New Jersey Devils might have a few too many people in their front office (which is far more extensive than even detailed here). But in Dave MacKinnon and Kate Madigan, the Devils have rewarded two hires with internal promotions, putting them in a great spot as professionals. Ray Shero hired Dave MacKinnon in 2016 as the Director of Player Personnel, elevating him to the Assistant General Manager position in 2019-20. After Tom Fitzgerald became General Manager in 2020, MacKinnon also became the General Manager of the Utica Comets in 2021, and he has been interviewed for GM positions around the NHL over the last few summers.

Kate Madigan has an even more impressive journey within the organization. Hired by Shero as an analyst in 2017, Madigan was promoted to being Director of Professional Scouting in 2019 and then to being Director of Hockey Operations in 2020. In 2022, Fitzgerald elevated her to the Assistant General Manager position. As an Assistant General Manager, Madigan has sway in roster construction and amateur scouting, and she has been visibly dedicated to the team over the years.

Martin Brodeur, Executive VP of Hockey Operations​

Aside from his contributions to the “Jersey Jersey” alternate, Martin Brodeur has had a largely under-the-radar tenure as a New Jersey Devils executive. After retiring from the St. Louis Blues organization, he gained experience as an Assistant General Manager before returning to the Devils on the business side of the front office in 2018. However, this did not last forever, as he was named an Executive Vice President of Hockey Operations in 2019, fully returning to hockey operations in 2021. Brodeur has set himself up as a future general manager, having experience on both sides of the front office duties. But for now, it seems Brodeur is happy with managing the goaltending from top-to-bottom in the organization.

Andy Greene and Chuck Fletcher, Advisors to Hockey Operations​

Chuck Fletcher, the Senior Advisor to General Manager Tom Fitzgerald, has been with the Devils before. Prior to being hired as General Manager of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2018, he was an advisor to Ray Shero for what seemed like days. But after he was fired by the Flyers in 2023, Fitzgerald brought him back for another stint with the Devils organization. The move was not entirely well-received among fans, as Fletcher had a reputation of poor decision making with his previous franchises. Still, Fitzgerald has a long history with Fletcher, so he is a trusted and well-liked voice.

Andy Greene, on the other hand, has no suspicion directed towards him. The former Devils captain retired on a one-day contract with the team in 2022 before returning as an advisor prior to last season after occasionally taking part in Devils practices. Per the Devils’ announcement at the time, Greene now works with player personnel, scouting, and coaching, which is not very far off from what he was doing with the team between 2022 and 2024. He just has a title now, and no Devils fan would be unhappy to see him around.

The Coaching Staff​

Sheldon Keefe, Head Coach​

Sheldon Keefe had a promising first season with the New Jersey Devils last year after parting ways with the Toronto Maple Leafs. When he signed a contract to be the Devils’ head coach, it was lauded as a move to bring structure back to a Devils team that had gotten rather loose and run-and-gun-happy under former head coach Lindy Ruff. For Keefe, however, last year was a step back in the grand scheme of his career’s success. With the Toronto Maple Leafs, Keefe had never seen his team earn under 62% of possible standings points, and the Devils only earned 55.5% of possible points last season. This was disappointing for a team that had a rather hot start, going 24-11-3 through their first 38 games (which came out to 63.2% of possible standings points through that point).

There were some massive improvements under Keefe, though. The Devils again had a top-five defense, only allowing 220 goals against with the second-ranked penalty kill in the league at 82.67% efficiency. With the league’s 20th-ranked offense, though, Keefe has some work to do with their play in that end. When he was in Toronto, stars such as Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares had no issues producing, driving the Maple Leafs to consistently have one of the league’s best offenses, though Toronto had better depth during his tenure than the Devils did last season.

After an offseason that saw the additions of Connor Brown, Evgenii Dadonov, and Arseny Gritsyuk to the NHL roster, Keefe will have a much better roster that should be able to break into the top-10 offenses once more. Keefe has also been able to continue adding to the coaching staff as the former staff under Ruff continues to trickle away. Last year, Keefe hired Jeremy Colliton to be an assistant coach and the director of the power play. This year, Keefe hired Brad Shaw to replace former defensive assistant Ryan McGill. With now both of his top assistants being his hires, Keefe should not have any issues fully implementing his systems.

Keefe is one of the most fiery coaches in the National Hockey League. A man of prodigiously intense reputation, Keefe was fined last season for his conduct towards Wes McCauley, with whom Keefe has a questionable past, after McCauley did not assign a penalty on the play that led to Jack Hughes’s season-ending injury. But Keefe has gotten into heated arguments with many other officials around the league, and he has been doing so since his time in Toronto. My take on that is that Keefe cares deeply about winning, and he is not afraid to let officials know when their decisions tip the scales.

Brad Shaw, Defensive Assistant Coach​

After the team parted ways with defensive assistant Ryan McGill, Sheldon Keefe set out to find a suitable replacement. Brad Shaw, a long-time assistant in the National Hockey League, fit that bill perfectly. As detailed when he was hired by the Devils, Shaw led the St. Louis Blues defense when they were one of the best in the league from 2011 to 2016 (after being hired in 2006) before transforming the Columbus Blue Jackets defense into a rather stingy one from 2016 to 2021. With the Philadelphia Flyers, Shaw worked with John Tortorella to give Philadelphia fans an over-achieving team in three seasons before Tortorella grew tired of their front office’s direction. Shaw had hoped to take the head coaching job from there, but Daniel Briere passed him over to hire Rick Tocchet.

With the Devils, Shaw will look to take the defense to the next level. Working with Luke Hughes (his second Hughes brother defenseman after coaching the Canucks for one season in 2021-22) and Simon Nemec, Shaw is also responsible for overseeing the growth of the two defensemen Tom Fitzgerald hopes to see lead the franchise over the next decade. Carrying a great track record of success with him, Shaw should excite Devils fans who enjoy a good defensive team.

Jeremy Colliton, Offensive Assistant Coach​

Jeremy Colliton made waves in the NHL when he became the youngest active head coach in the league when he replaced Joel Quenneville behind the bench in Chicago in 2018. Now 40 years old, Colliton is in his second year with the Devils after manning the helm of the Abbotsford Canucks from 2022 to 2024, following his firing from Chicago in 2022. For a young head coach in Chicago, Colliton was not dealt an easy hand with a questionable, aging veteran group that was used to success, and things went south after three mediocre seasons.

As the offensive assistant, Colliton has a lot of work to do to improve the team. The Devils were not their best at five-on-five last season, but they were outstanding on the power play. As noted above, the Devils do have much better depth to play with this season, but Colliton needs to rally his forwards to create more goals and become the dominant team that they know they can be.

Sergei Brylin, Assistant Coach​

Another man who needs no introduction to Devils fans is Sergei Brylin. A career Devil, Brylin has continued that loyalty through his coaching career. He first joined the Albany Devils as a consultant in 2012 before being an assistant for the Devils’ AHL affiliates from 2013 to 2022. Since then, he has been an assistant at the NHL level, finally getting to the bench last year. When Brad Shaw was hired this year, Sheldon Keefe noted that Brylin would take Chris Taylor’s previous role behind the bench, working most with younger players. Players such as Yegor Sharangovich have sung Brylin’s praises in the past, and Brylin will surely be working with Arseny Gritsyuk on his transition to the NHL game this year.

Dave Rogalski, Goaltending Coach​

One of the more notorious members of the coaching staff to Devils fans, Dave Rogalski has been the Devils’ goaltending coach since 2020. In that time frame, the Devils have seen some horrific stretches of goaltending in the 2021-22 and 2023-24 seasons, leading to many fan-led calls for a new goaltending coach. However, last year was the first time Rogalski had a healthy true starter in Jacob Markstrom, while Jake Allen had an excellent season as the backup. With the Devils looking better in net, Rogalski’s continuation in his role became much more palatable as well.

Meghan Duggan, Director of Player Development​

Formerly the captain of the women’s Team USA hockey team, Meghan Duggan has been the Director of Player Development since 2022 after being hired in 2021. For her work with the Devils, Tom Fitzgerald has sung Duggan’s praises to the media. She works with players in Utica and New Jersey, doing video work while organizing development and practice plans for each player. Having an accomplished player and a Team USA leader like Duggan seems like a massive benefit for the players, and she already has a good working relationship with the young defensemen of the future.

Eric Weinrich, Player Development Coach​

Working with Duggan in player development, Eric Weinrich has been with the New Jersey Devils in that department since 2015. Of course, as a 1985 second round draft pick of the Devils, he had played 173 games with the organization before being sent away as part of the Bobby Holik trade. Weinrich did have to step over to Utica as an interim assistant last season due to the firing of Kevin Dineen, but he is back in his role as a player development coach. With players like Shane LaChance, Lenni Hameenaho, Cam Squires, Seamus Casey, and Ethan Edwards likely working out of Utica for most of this season, Weinrich’s cooperation with Duggan in working with them will have implications for the team’s success later this year and for years into the future.

Final Thoughts and Your Thoughts​

With no shortage of recognizable names on the coaching staff and in the front office, the New Jersey Devils have assembled quite a group to guide their players to contention. Assuming the wheels do not fall off the bus this season, though, and assuming the Devils actually have a bit of a playoff run in 2026, I imagine that some of these people might have opportunities to take higher positions elsewhere in the near future. If the Devils run a great offense, Jeremy Colliton could end up taking a head coaching gig elsewhere. The Devils had three in the organization interview for the Penguins’ general manager position a couple years ago. But everyone in the organization, from Tom Fitzgerald and down, will have to do the hard work this year to get those looks again.

With that said, what do you think of the front office and coaching staff this year? It does not look much different from previous years, but feel free to leave your thoughts in the comments below.

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/2...on-preview-part-5-the-coaching-and-management

 

[New Jersey Devils]

Connor McDavid, Winning Now, and Why the Devils Need to Be More Aggressive

If you haven’t been paying attention to the happenings around the league, you might be surprised to know that Edmonton Oilers superstar Connor McDavid was scheduled to enter the final season of his contract before reaching unrestricted free agency next summer.

You might also be well aware that after months of speculation about his future, he ultimately put pen to paper on a 2-year, $12.5M AAV contract that is simultaneously “team friendly” and “team we damn well better win sometime in the next few years or I’m gone”.

McDavid is an interesting case in that he is clearly the best player in the world. He could have commanded a new deal that far exceeds the one that Kirill Kaprizov signed with the Minnesota Wild and nobody would’ve blinked an eye because he’s Connor McDavid. But this is also a player who has come agonizingly close to winning a Stanley Cup the last two seasons without actually doing it. This is a player who has dealt with the pressures of being the franchise savior for a decade now (one of his nicknames is literally “McJesus”) in a market that is dying for a winner. He knows that he could have taken every last penny from the Oilers, as is his right. But he also knows that in doing so, it makes it tougher to build a team that can win the Stanley Cup, which is the ultimate goal. He’s also smart enough to look at the landscape across from the NHL, and in the next few years, is there a more realistic destination for him to go to to achieve this goal, or is his best chance of winning in Edmonton? For now, it’s the latter, and McDavid being willing to take less may have allowed the Oilers enough space to sign Jake Walman to a 7-year, $7M AAV deal as well.

The purpose of this article isn’t to try to wish cast Connor McDavid onto the Devils roster once his newly signed deal is up. But I do want to talk about how players will position themselves where they think they have the best chance to win, and I do think there are lessons the Devils can learn from the mistakes that Edmonton has made along the way when it comes to their star players.

The Oilers Mistakes Have Led to Them Failing to Maximize Having McDavid and Draisaitl on Their Roster​

Between 2016-2023, McDavid and Leon Draisaitl have combined to win four of the seven available Hart Trophies for league MVP. In addition to that, McDavid has had three other seasons where he finished either 2nd or 3rd for the Hart, while Draisaitl was the runner up this past season. The Oilers have had two of, at worst, the five best players in the world on their roster for the better part of a decade.

What do they have to show for it? Not a whole lot.

In that aforementioned timeframe from 2016-23, they made the conference final once, made it to the second round twice, lost in the first round twice, and missed the playoffs altogether twice. They’ve churned through GMs, coaches, goaltenders, and supporting casts to find the right pieces to put around their two star players.

Plenty of personnel mistakes have been made along the way as the Oilers chased wins at the expense of the long-term. And while it might be debatable whether or not trading another future MVP in Taylor Hall for Adam Larsson was a mistake when the Oilers desperately needed a top pairing RHD, there’s little debate whether or not the Milan Lucic contract was a mistake. Or the Andrej Sekera contract. Or the Mikko Koskinen contract. Or turning Jordan Eberle into Ryan Strome, only to then turn Strome into Ryan Spooner. Or the Griffin Reinhart trade. Heck, those are just mistakes made by Peter Chiarelli and don’t include more modern mistakes like the contracts handed out to Jack Campbell or Darnell Nurse that are still on the Oilers books in some capacity today.

The Oilers are a team that has been on the cusp of a championship for two seasons now, but previous mistakes with bad contracts and trading draft picks for futures led to an offseason where the Oilers lost key role players like Connor Brown and Corey Perry. This is an offseason where they had to trade Evander Kane and Viktor Arvidsson in cap dump trades just so they could have the space to pay Evan Bouchard and Trent Frederic. This is a team that is going into another season with Stuart Skinner, Calvin Pickard, and the newly acquired Connor Ingram in net. And none of this is mentioning them being in a position with the salary cap where they lost key RFAs Dylan Holloway and Phillip Broberg to the Blues via offer sheet one year ago.

Yes, the Oilers added Isaac Howard via trade, they added the aforementioned Connor Ingram via trade, and they did sign Andrew Mangiapane as a UFA, but does this sound like a team maximizing their contention window? Especially when you compare that to what Florida did at the deadline last year adding Brad Marchand and Seth Jones? Or what Vegas seemingly does every year adding whoever the big superstar player available? Or what Dallas did acquiring Mikko Rantanen at the deadline? Or even what a Carolina is doing adding Nik Ehlers and making it known they’re continuing to look to add a big piece to go over the top?

Now, even with all that, McDavid clearly looked at the landscape around the league, saw the relatively modest moves that the Oilers have made, and decided that for at least the short-term, the best chance he has of winning a Stanley Cup is by staying Edmonton. And it’s tough not to see why. After all, Draisaitl and Bouchard are still elite-level players, this is a team that has a relatively clean path to a Cup Final that they’ve already reached the last two years, their draft pick situation gets better after 2026 where they can trade more futures, and the cap ceiling continuing to increase may make mistakes like the Nurse deal sting less (it also buys them time to perhaps convince someone to bail them out of said mistake). But just because McDavid decided to stay for now doesn’t mean the Oilers put themselves in the best position to retain his services. The Oilers haven’t exactly earned the benefit of the doubt when it comes to doing whatever it takes to convince McDavid to stay, and they don’t deserve credit just because McDavid was willing to take a short-term deal for now and essentially put the franchise on notice. If anything, it only raises the stakes that they need to show that they’re serious about going all-in and not squandering this gift that they’ve been blessed to have.

What Can the Devils Learn From This?​

A competitor like McDavid isn’t unique in that he wants to win. He hates losing, and he gets pissed off when they lose. There’s a level of expectation from players like him that everybody around him, from management to the coaching staff to the other players on the team are doing everything they can to win. They demand greatness, not just from themselves, but those around them. And if there’s any question, any hesitation, any reason to be concerned that the organization isn’t doing that and isn’t positioned to continue being contenders going forward, its tough to blame the players for considering all of their options. Yes, its one thing if a player like McDavid continually says he wants to be in Edmonton, only to leave. This is why Islanders fans had as much vitriol for John Tavares when he did decide to leave. But on the other hand, if the player is out of contract, they don’t owe the organization anything either at that point.

After he plays out this contract, McDavid will have given the Oilers 13 years to figure out how to build a championship roster around him. Thirteen years! If they still haven’t done that by then with a player who is a no-doubt future first-ballot Hall of Famer, is that on the player, or is that on management? The answer is the latter.

I think all of this is worth keeping in mind when you remember that Nico Hischier is entering his walk year next year. We talked about this a few months ago when I wrote about what Nico’s next deal might wind up looking like and I brought this topic up then. I think its also worth keeping in mind as the years go by and we inch closer to Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt reaching UFA. It’s not a concern for right now, but it won’t be long before we have to start having those conversations about those players when they are approaching UFA. The Devils should be doing more to maximize the team-friendly deals that Hughes and Bratt have both signed.

Nobody is suggesting that Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, or Jack Hughes are Connor McDavid, but one thing they all have in common is their level of competitiveness. None of these players likes losing. What McDavid has over the Devils players though is that his teams have had more success than the Devils have had. I’m not going to pretend to be a mind reader but if McDavid is as annoyed about his situation as we think he might be, it would stand to reason that the Devils players may be just as frustrated that the Devils haven’t elevated to the point where they can beat Carolina in a playoff series, never mind compete for a championship. I don’t say all this to hit the panic button that Hischier or Bratt or the Hughes brothers will leave New Jersey the first chance they get, but by the time Hischier hits UFA, he’ll have been in the league for a decade. By the time Jack hits UFA, he’ll have been in the league for 11 years. If the Devils have failed to build a winner around their best players by then, is it on the players, or is it on management? Again, I say the answer is the latter.

All of this brings us to Tom Fitzgerald and his aggressiveness, or lack thereof at times. I’m not going to say that Fitzgerald, and by extension, Devils ownership, hasn’t put resources into the team. They have identified and committed to their core players, with Luke Hughes being the latest example. They’ve spent big on Dougie Hamilton, Ondrej Palat, Brett Pesce, Brenden Dillon, Connor Brown, and Stefan Noesen in UFA. They made the trade for Timo Meier and paid him. They made the trades for two goaltenders in Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen.

But there’s also been mistakes along the way. Their inability to draft and develop a goaltender led them to making those deals for Markstrom and Allen. The Devils had to pay UFA prices for veteran defensemen, in part, because of their inability to draft and develop them. The Palat deal needed to be off the books this summer but its still there. A tightening cap situation and whiffing on notable high draft picks like Alexander Holtz has necessitated the need for them to take a big swing, and while I can’t kill the Devils for not making said move in a summer where hardly any “big swing” type of moves were made, it still goes noted.

It’s not that the Devils haven’t made moves, but they have yet to swing that deal for a difference-making, “this player is going to help us win the Cup” type of move that organizations like Florida, Tampa Bay, Vegas, and Dallas almost seemingly routinely make, futures be damned. Cap space be damned. Draft picks be damned. Prospects be damned. It’s part of the reason why those teams remain on that truly elite level tier and why the Devils are on that next tier.

Maybe that “big swing” move comes next summer if/when Quinn Hughes effectively asks out of Vancouver and the Devils finally unite the Hughes brothers like Thanos collecting the Infinity Stones. Maybe its something else. But I do look at the teams that I just mentioned and it goes noted that they’re destinations for a reason. It’s not just because of the weather or the tax situation. Franchises like Florida and Tampa weren’t really destinations prior to them being perennial Cup contenders. It’s that those franchises have shown time and again that they’re willing to do whatever it takes to win. They’ll go above and beyond and push the limits. Is that something the Devils have done? Not really. Not to that extent.

The Devils aren’t a “destination franchise” except in very unique circumstances such as whether or not one of the best defensemen in the league might want to join them because his brothers also play for the team. They’re not an Original Six franchise that can sell history and nostalgia, nor are they located in a warm weather, tax-friendly city where players can play golf year-round on their off days. That’s not to say they can’t convince free agents to go to New Jersey. They paid what was then market value to convince guys like Hamilton, Palat, Pesce, Dillon, and others to come to New Jersey. Tom Fitzgerald, and the Devils in general, have done a good job of creating an environment and culture where they can sell the positives that playing in New Jersey has to offer and convince players to sign there. That’s all well and good. But you need as many good-great players as you can get to win in this league, and the Devils could use a few more of them.

Final Thoughts​

At some point, the Devils will need to be more aggressive in their pursuit of taking the next step and competing for a championship. While patience is normally prudent, the Devils have been plenty patient in the last few years when it comes to building the roster. Contract terms are a thing, the Devils best players are in their primes and in place on the NHL roster, and the time is coming where they have to push the rest of their chips in if they’re going to be serious about trying to win a title while they have the players they do have in place. Failure to do so opens up the risk of the Devils alienating their best players as they continue to spin their wheels in the mud and not being able to take that next step as an organization. Failure to do so put the Devils at risk of losing said players when the time comes, and I don’t think the players will be to blame if that were to happen.

There’s no shame in a team bringing in more help to get over the top. Sasha Barkov and Aaron Ekblad ultimately needed the Panthers to get a Matthew Tkachuk to take that final step. Vegas needed to bring in guys like Alex Pietrangelo, Mark Stone and Jack Eichel to get the Vegas Misfits over the hump. This isn’t necessarily limited to superstar level players either….Tampa didn’t get over the hump until they brought in Blake Coleman and Barclay Goodrow to be fixtures on their third line and give them a different dynamic.

If Connor McDavid and Leon Draisaitl need more help around them to take that final step, it shouldn’t be an indictment on them as hockey players. It also shouldn’t be a surprise that the Devils core needs more help as well. And ideally, Devils management will be more aggressive providing the players with said help and not hiding behind excuses like the salary cap or how trading is hard. If they don’t, don’t be surprised if the Devils players sound wishy-washy when they’re getting asked questions about why they haven’t re-signed long-term when that time comes.

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/n...and-why-the-devils-need-to-be-more-aggressive

 

[New Jersey Devils]

2025-26 Gamethread #1: New Jersey Devils at Carolina Hurricanes

The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils at the Carolina Hurricanes. Canes blog: Canes Country.

The Time: 7:30 PM ET

The Broadcast: TV — ESPN+. Radio — Devils Hockey Network

The Game Preview: I posted this in the morning.

The Song of the Day: The song for the day hails from my favorite band led by a guy who was born in North Carolina and made music out of New Jersey. I’ll take any excuse to listen to Supergroovalisticprosifunkstication by Parliament, and we can just be thankful that George Clinton grew up in New Jersey, and not North Carolina. I cannot imagine a world without Parliament-Funkadelic. Now give the people what they want, Devils.

The Rules: If you have been a reader here, you already know the rules. But for the rest, a reminder: please do not swear in the comment section, and keep comments relevant to the hockey game going on. Beyond that, do not attack any other commenters, and do not ask for or pass along illegal streams on this board.

LGD!

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...ad-1-new-jersey-devils-at-carolina-hurricanes

 

[New Jersey Devils]

The Noesen Question

Bald and Goated

We made it! Game 1 in the books – I hope you left milk and cookies out for Scott Gomez on Wednesday night!

Jackson covered off on what the lineup will look like to start and it looks like the magic of LTIR is being used to put us right at the cap for opening night. It was a bit of a surprise when surprise on day 1 of camp when we learned about Stefan Noesen’s injured groin. It sounds like this hampered him during the back half of last season, and may have been responsible for his dramatic fall off in play after the New Year. He originally opted for rehab over surgery early in the offseason, but a re-aggravation led to him eventually getting said surgery. There was some stank in Fitz’s tone when talking about it during his training camp press conference, but here we are, one day before the season and he will miss some time.

One think I have been saying all summer on the Uncle Puckers is that we have both too many forwards and not enough at the same time, leading to some of the wings being potentially mis-slotted (It makes sense in my head). Our depth is far better than last season, but Mercer is a question mark with Nico and Timo but could succeed there, Gritsyuk is on the 4th line but can he carry over his pre-season success, and Dadonov is getting first crack with Jack and Bratt and seems like he has the footspeed and hockey IQ to hang with them. Lotta buts and hopes there. The only line that feels right to me is the 3rd line in Palat-Glass-Brown.

Anyway, Back to Stef​

How long will our netfront GOAT be out? Well, we have no idea because the CIA seems to lead injury communication for the Devils and NHL in general. The groin can be an iffy muscle, is important for skating, and if not properly healed it can severely impact a player’s performance (see: Noesen, Stefan). He has been skating but according to Keefe and co. he isn’t close to playing games just yet and this feels like at minimum a month or two and he is starting on the injured/non-roster list (meaning his cap hit counts, but his roster spot doesn’t).

He was a pleasant surprise for 3 months last year, scoring at a 30+ goal pace, largely because of his absolute dominance netfront, particularly on PP1.

However, as noted above, his play fell off a cliff and he was eventually replaced by Mercer on PP1 and had a pretty rough playoff. He went from 16g and 21p in 40 games through Christmas to 6g and 15p in 36 games the second half of the season.. and only 1g 2p in the playoffs.

File this under getting waaaay ahead of myself, but where does Stef slot in once he’s back? Reunion with Nico and Timo? Then where does Mercer go? 3C and Glass down to 4C? Palat salary dumped? What if he and Brown are playing well? Cotter or Gritsyuk become the 13th forward? Does he resume PP1 duties? A lot of questions, and I would think the team has some if->then scenarios built out. Or at least I hope they do.

Potential Scenarios​

First, I would like to note that these things tend to work themselves out, and let’s face it, the Devils haven’t been a beacon of health the past few years. Second, this is a GOOD THING. We actually have some capable organizational depth instead of things called “bastian” and “dowling” clogging the pipes. Fitz got flamed for his “creating competition” remark after last season’s trade deadline, and while I understand the frustration, he was actually correct. Iron sharpens iron, and competing for a starting role elevates everyone involved and the best will play. I can see a similar situation play out if everyone is healthy and having a 3, 4, even 7 man rotation for the 6 wing spots not filled by Timo and Bratt.

1. If I were to venture a guess… Mercer is on a bit of short leash in the top 6 and is currently occupying Noesen’s original spot from last season. I don’t see him coming out of the lineup (as we all know he has yet to miss a game) and the 3C rumors won’t die as much as Mercer continues to say he prefers the wing. I can see him bumping Glass to 4C and Glendening out of the lineup. I also wouldn’t sleep on a scenario where Palat-Glass-Brown is playing great, so Mercer goes straight to the 4C spot between Gritsyuk and Cotter, bumping Glendening to the press box. This Mercer question also applies to PP1, as he is getting first crack on that unit.
2. The leash may be shorter for Palat and he could get moved out after continuing to show he is washed. As Chris mentioned in his Carolina preview, he may have until Noesen’s return to prove he’s still got some juice before tumbling down the lineup. Moving him still seems like a simple solution to solve the salary cap crunch we find ourselves in, giving Fitz more flexibility to accrue cap and add some real impact at the deadline. That being said, he wears and ’A’ and I do believe the team has a far different view of him than the fanbase generally does. He also has some tight trade protection, and don’t discount his kids just starting school and Fitz leaning into the humanity of team building – for better or worse.
3. Dadanov might finally show signs of age and/or not work with Jack and Bratt. Noesen could slot in with Jack and Bratt, or preferably join Nico and Timo and move Mercer to Jack’s wing. There could be some down the lineup ripple effects from this if they give Dadonov one of the lower wing spots. With a bonus heavy contract based on GP and production, this isn’t a crazy option the team takes a hard look at. He also has trade protection for half the season – he is easily movable if it’s not working.
4. We see a three man rotation on the 4th line between Gritsyuk, Cotter, and Noesen. One of the rubs on Cotter has been consistency – he has an incredible toolkit but disappeared for long stretches last season. He’d pull out a preposterous individual effort and look like a top line guy, then just go back to being a plug for 5 games. A couple of days in the press box could help encourage some additional focus. Gritsyuk looked great in pre-season and has developed great chemistry with Cotter, but it is still his first season in the NHL. While he has played in a professional league, the KHL has less games and is a bit more spread out, so some breathers may be in order for him as well.

Final Thoughts​

We have some options but we also have some time. Health is the number 1 priority and most important wildcard here, and some rest up and down the lineup could certainly help keep the group fresh for the playoffs. Generally, I am optimistic we have a good mix here to start the season. Is it perfect? No, but no one in the league is and the East is wide open for the taking.

Let me know what you think! How do you see this playing out?

LGD

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/devils-issues-views-and-ge/61576/the-noesen-question

 

[New Jersey Devils]

How to make sure All About The Jersey shows up in your Google search

As many of you are likely aware, Google searches are … different these days.

The good news is Google is offering a solution for folks who like to get their news from specific sources. If you want to help All About The Jersey — while also streamlining all your Google searches — there is now a way.

Simply click on this link and add All About The Jersey as one of your “Source preferences.” That’s all there is to it!

Back in August, the tech giant debuted a feature called “Preferred Sources.” It’s a way for Google to prominently feature the results from websites you trust, like All About The Jersey:

“With the launch of Preferred Sources in the U.S. and India, you can select your favorite sources and stay up to date on the latest content from the sites you follow and subscribe to — whether that’s your favorite sports blog or a local news outlet. …

“When you select your preferred sources, you’ll start to see more of their articles prominently displayed within Top Stories, when those sources have published fresh and relevant content for your search.”

As some of you might know, AI searches are hurting outlets around the world and in all spaces. We’ve worked hard at All About The Jersey to build a brand you can trust and rely on for New Jersey Devils coverage. Our goal is to serve you, the fans.

If you’re a fan of our work and want to get the best New Jersey Devils coverage possible, this is an excellent win-win to improve your Google searches while helping All About The Jersey out.

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...preferred-sources-search-results-instructions

 

[New Jersey Devils]

2025-26 Gamethread #2: New Jersey Devils at Tampa Bay Lightning

The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils (0-1-0) at the Tampa Bay Lightning (0-1-0)

The Time: 7:00 PM ET

The Broadcast: TV — MSGSN 2; Radio — Devils Hockey Network

The Game Preview: Matt took care of the preview today.

The Song of the Day: In my quest to find a good local band from Tampa, Florida, I tried listening to a few, but nobody was as good as Bangarang. A pretty good lift-me-up song? Nooner or Sooner. If you want a little more intensity in it, they seem to have it in their live version.

The Rules: If you have been a reader here, you already know the rules. But for the rest, a reminder: please do not swear in the comment section, and keep comments relevant to the hockey game going on. Beyond that, do not attack any other commenters, and do not ask for or pass along illegal streams on this board.

LGD!

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...ad-2-new-jersey-devils-at-tampa-bay-lightning

 

[New Jersey Devils]

Devils Went Down to Florida

All looking up at what Nico did. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement Neitzel-Imagn Images

The boys continued on the road for game 2, visiting the hometown Lightning. Tampa emerged as a preseason favorite in the Atlantic and serious cup contender with the injuries to the Panthers, and this presented yet another early measuring stick for the Devils.

Our boys answered the bell, pulling out a big victory 5-3 after a disappointing season opening loss to Carolina and getting the young season back on track. We iced some newer look lines with Dadonov out, as Gritsyuk moved up with Brown and Glass and Palat found himself back with Jack and Bratt. Tonight also featured the debut of new play by play man Don LaGeca as well as Zach MacEwan, acquired in a trade for Kurtis MacDermid.

One of our biggest bugaboos for the past 2 seasons has been starting on time and getting an early lead (see: 1-0, them). But not tonight as the Devils put up an absolute masterclass of a 1st period. They had the gas pedal down from the start: they were breaking the puck out cleanly, not taking any.. stuff… from these Florida man meatsticks, and burying their chances. We came in waves, drove the net hard, blocked shots and shut down a potent offense.

The tone was set early as Crozier took a little run at Nico that he brushed off. Timo gave Crozier a little love tap (crosscheck to the back) and we had ourselves a frisky start. At 8:30 of the 1st we broke through, as Nemec intercepted a clearing attempt at center ice, turned it right back up where, after a bit of a broken play right inside the Lightning zone, Nico picked up the puck off a Mercer pick and made a power move to the front pulling Vasilevskiy out of position. Timo swooped in to clean up some trash for our first of the night.

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A few minutes later at 10:17, Luke hit Gritsyuk streaking up the left wing boards uncontested, who made a nice shimmy shake to get some space wide and fed Brown who was driving the center lane to the net. Showing some nice touch, Brown turned his blade up and re-directed the pass top shelf. 2-0, us.

Really not sure what all this is, but I like it.

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I would’ve taken 2-0 to the room, but against Tampa you need to keep pouring it on, and Nico did just that. After he made a strong move for the zone entry, he dropped it to Luke who let go a wrister that Timo deflected behind. Nico’s momentum carried him below the goal line, where he corralled the puck, came back out front, spun and shot, where it deflected off Crozier (karma) and squeaked past Vasy.

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During the 1st, Jonas an Dillon both made play-killing slides on cross slot passes, and Jack got just enough of Guenztel to make his breakaway non-threatening (and put him in a bodybag afterwards for good measure). Just an absolutely perfect period as the boys finished with a shot advantage of 16-2 (2!!!), scoring chance margin of 8-5, and generating 5 times the xG. No notes, chef’s kiss.

Surely, We Are Just Going to Cruise to an Easy W, Right?​

As good as the 1st period was, the 2nd was a different story. Tampa is an elite team and weren’t going to be held down forever. they clawed back into the game potting the first goal against at 7:31 off a broken neutral zone play, a misguided step up by Nemec on Point resulting in a Gourde snipe from the slot. This disappointment in Dan LaGreca’s voice was palpable.

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After some back and forth in a sloppier period all around, Tampa struck a second time to make it a one goal game. The Devils got caught after a long PP shift as some guys were out for 1:20+ and to make it worse, Timo broke his stick. It was basically a shooting gallery until McDonough finally converted on a screened bomb from the point. While the score was tilted in the 2nd, the play was pretty even as we were outshot 8-6, but scoring chances, high danger scoring chances, and xG were all pretty even during the period.

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FINISH THEM​

So, on to the 3rd in what would be a defining period for this squad early int he season. “Funny thing about pressure. Some people focus, some people fold.” – Al Pacino, Devils Advocate. What was it gonna be for our boys? Not going to lie, the doomer in me was apoplectic when Siegs got his tripping call, assuring myself the collapse was coming. But what’s this? A bright shining hero intercepts a lazy D-to-D pass and is off to the races. Jesper Bratt take a bow. I think we should keep an eye on this kid, he may be a thing. (Also, love Don LeGrelca’s call here).

This was a defining moment, my friends:

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Less than two minutes later, a clean outlet pass up to Gritsyuk who executed a picture perfect 2 on 2 with Brown who fooled Vasy with a quick, low, shot – far post. (for all you kids and hockey parents out there, seriously this is a perfect 2 on 2. 2nd player crosses behind, drop pass, 1st player creates space driving the net, 2nd player gets a clean shot).

Gorgeous, that should be it right guys? Right?

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Well not so fast, as Tampa does make things interesting adding a 3rd off a screened wrister with about 4 minutes left from Raddysh. If I were to complain about ANYTHING in this game, is that was two goals where Markstrom completely takes himself off his angle giving up a massive part of the net.

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Additional Notes​

One of the more unheralded stories of the game was blocked shots. 24 in total, and probably a few more, but the boys were selling out tonight and not losing this game.

When I wrote about us needing more 5 on 5 scoring, I didn’t mean don’t score on the power play at all guys. It looks very chaotic right now.

After a shaky debut in Carolina, Gritsyuk showed he belongs. Not just the points, but its his awareness, passing, speed and easy chemistry with both Cotter and Brown.

I liked MacEwan’s game – he skates well and will be a solid fill in on the 4th line. Dare I say I liked these line combos better than the first game.

Dawson Mercer had a strange game – virtually nonexistent except for the defensive blue line where he made several excellent plays, especially on the PK, where he was fantastic.

Luke had another 2 assists, it seems missing camp wasn’t a big deal.

And yes, I misspelled Don’s name on purpose since its Saturday night and we can have a little fun around here, as he works out the names of our guys. He’s got great energy, so far so good (except for the names).

On to Columbus, I’m feeling much better about this team now.

What’d you like tonight? Dislike? Concerns?

LGD

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/devils-game-recaps/61727/devils-went-down-to-florida

 

[New Jersey Devils]

New Jersey Devils Goal Breakdown: Connor Brown Redirects Arseny Gritsyuk’s Feed — Devils Place Dadonov on IR, Recall Halonen

Late-night double-parter.

After playing just one game on the fourth line, Arseny Gritsyuk was bumped up to the third in last night’s game against the Tampa Bay Lightning due to a fractured hand for Evgenii Dadonov. Moving from right wing to left, fans got a first look of what Gritsyuk would look like on that side. For a player who came in with a reputation for his shot, some may have worried that Gritsyuk would not be able to create as efficiently from the left.

Well, Gritsyuk washed those fears away the matter of minutes. Let’s get into this goal breakdown, which was Gritsyuk’s first NHL point.

The Situation​

Playing with Cody Glass and Connor Brown, Gritsyuk was flying up the left side of the ice for the New Jersey Devils, earning his first multi-point game with a two-assist night. Connor Brown, who last scored 20 goals in the 2020-21 season (before his torn ACL in 2022), finished both plays. While the injury to Dadonov is troubling for multiple reasons, the Devils seemingly do not have to worry about Gritsyuk being able to play a bit higher in the lineup. Is he ready for top six time? I am not sure, but Gritsyuk did not need a ton of minutes to be productive in the KHL, producing most of his 44 points (in 49 games) last season at even strength, and this is a great first step for him.

At the specific moment Brown scored last night, this was the situation:

• The teams were playing at five-on-five with just under 10 minutes to play in the first period.
• The Devils were winning 1-0, outshooting Tampa Bay 5-1 before the goal.
• The Devils on the ice: #81 Arseny Gritsyuk, #12 Cody Glass, #16 Connor Brown, #5 Brenden Dillon, and #17 Simon Nemec (Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce change off for Dillon and Nemec at the beginning of the sequence)
• The Lightning on the ice: #14 Connor Geekie, #37 Yanni Gourde, #22 Oliver Bjorkstrand, #43 Darren Raddysh, and #78 Emil Lilleberg

Tim recapped the game in full last night.

The Video​

The Breakdown​

Taking the puck from Markstrom behind the net, Luke Hughes turns away from Yanni Gourde and hits Arseny Gritsyuk in stride. The Devils did not get any chances to break out of their own zone with this kind of speed against Carolina, and you can see why teams try to nail them down with the forecheck. Tampa Bay is not pressuring them here after going for a change, and it gives Gritsyuk all kinds of time and space to work with. This is what the ice looked like when Gritsyuk was about to get the puck.

You can see Yanni Gourde (37) going towards the boards on the far side from Gritsyuk, sort of skating towards where Connor Brown is working from. But right here, you can also see Oliver Bjorkstrand turning to backcheck up the middle of the ice, but he does not have the speed to make a play. Let’s see that in motion.

I have always been very high on Gritsyuk since he first showed signs of being more when he was with Avangard in the KHL, but translating to the NHL is always a bit of a question mark with the smaller ice surface and faster opponents. Here, Gritsyuk showed his speed off, and it’s enough to put defenders on their heels. Per NHL EDGE, Gritsyuk has already hit a high of 21.73 MPH while skating, which puts him in the 75th percentile of forwards through the first few games of the season.

As Gritsyuk goes to enter the offensive zone, still using that speed while carrying the puck, he finds himself in a two-on-three with Connor Brown, who is also one of the fastest skaters in the league. Brown’s 23.23 MPH top skating speed lands him in the 99th percentile for the league’s first weekend.

Cody Glass, standing at the blueline, is going to wait to be the third forward in. Nearest Gritsyuk is Darren Raddysh, while Emil Lilleberg is turned towards him in the middle of the ice. On the far side is Connor Geekie. Let’s see this half in motion.

Once Gritsyuk and Brown both have their defenders beat about three seconds into this video, it’s all over for them. Now, considering that the Lightning have four skaters in the defensive zone to the Devils’ three (Glass is just coming in from the point below), the quickness with which Gritsyuk took this puck up the ice matters a lot more. Bjorkstrand is resigned to covering the pass back to the point, and Geekie is in no-man’s land a bit to Bjorkstrand’s right, both covering the pass back to Glass.

So, that passing lane is clear as day for Gritsyuk. Raddysh has reached one foot on the dot here, but Brown has completely blown by Lilleberg, whose left skate is still ion the back hash of the faceoff circle. Brown now has the advantage of not just getting to the pass cleanly, but he sets himself up a bit towards Vasilevskiy’s stick side so he just needs to focus on getting the puck up rather than chipping it back in the other direction. Look where Brown is when this pass gets to him:

From here, the puck jumps off Brown’s stick over Vasilevskiy’s pad and glove and beats him up high, just inside the far post. Since Gritsyuk had Raddysh beat by the dot, Vasilevskiy is unable to even think about poking that pass away, and Brown put it in the toughest spot for him to save. Connor Brown could not have drawn that shot up any better, with no time for the goalie to react and no chance for Lilleberg to even hook him out of the goal. With the speed of Brown, Gritsyuk only needed to put it in that spot just beyond the crease for the Devils to go up two.

It’s a good sign for Connor Brown, who has been steadily getting better since his knee injury, as he was capable of putting up upwards of 50 points when he was a bit younger in Ottawa. Between this and his later goal, Sheldon Keefe has to be hoping for a resurgence from him. As for Arseny Gritsyuk, he may just keep showing defenses that they need to defend him with the same respect they give some of the other Devils skaters.

Onto the other news, which is less pleasant.

Evgenii Dadonov To Injured Reserve​

Well, it did not take long for some of the worst fears of Devils fans to come true this year.

#NEWS: We have placed F Evgenii Dadonov (hand) on injured reserve.
We have recalled F Brian Halonen from Utica (AHL). pic.twitter.com/Y7BFpDbOsm

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) October 12, 2025

As Amanda Stein recently detailed, the Devils had Evgenii Dadonov get an x-ray after he left the game in Carolina with a hand injury. As reported then, Dadonov could not grip his stick after taking a shot to the hand. While that first x-ray was negative, a second round of imaging indicated a fracture. Thus, Zack MacEwen played on the fourth line against Tampa Bay, with Gritsyuk sliding up to the third line and Palat rejoining Hughes and Bratt.

While the Devils did not reveal a timeline for the injury when placing Dadonov on IR, a 2020 NYU study showed that NHL players miss an average of just over 14 games, with considerable variation. At the very least, a month out of the lineup is likely in order for Dadonov, though, and the condensed nature of the NHL schedule this season due to the Olympics may mean that he ends up missing a few games above average.

If Dadonov missed six weeks from the time of his injury, he would have missed 18 games with the chance to return on the six-week mark against the Florida Panthers on November 20. That means that Brian Halonen — the man called up to replace him — will get a big chance to make an impression that lets him stick around in the NHL.

To date, Brian Halonen has only played four games in the NHL, putting four shots on net out of 10 attempts in fourth line minutes. He has not had any luck on a line yet, with a 88.5 PDO through those games. But Halonen has never even been allowed a week in the NHL.

The Devils may still hold him out of the lineup a bit too much while they have Zack MacEwen. MacEwen might be a serviceable hockey player and a better fighter than Halonen, but it would be nice for the Devils to figure out by the end of the month whether Halonen is ready for the league. There are other players, like Shane LaChance, Angus Crookshank, and Thomas Bordeleau, who might be worth taking a look at if Halonen does not show anything in his games (I would like for him to actually get at least five or six, though).

Eventually, Dadonov will return and the lineup will get a little better in the top six (assuming Gritsyuk doesn’t force his way up there by then). But until that happens, Sheldon Keefe and Tom Fitzgerald have a chance to tinker with the extra skater line of succession. Can Halonen play in the NHL and still score the same goal-scorer goals? Is Shane LaChance ready for the NHL? Does Angus Crookshank have a future as a bottom six center? Can any of these players be relied upon as depth in the playoffs? Those questions can start getting answered, and I hope the Devils don’t limit themselves from trying different things out while they have the freedom to.

Your Thoughts​

What did you think of Arseny Gritsyuk’s first point? How are you feeling about him and Brown on the third line? How did you react to the news on Dadonov? How many games do you think Halonen will get to prove himself? Do you think he will? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...eed-devils-place-dadonov-on-ir-recall-halonen

 

[New Jersey Devils]

2025-26 Gamethread #3: New Jersey Devils at Columbus Blue Jackets

The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils (1-1-0) at the Columbus Blue Jackets (1-1-0). Jackets blog: The Cannon

The Broadcast: TV — MSGSN, Radio — Devils Hockey Network

The Time: 7:00 PM ET

The Song of the Day: I found myself enjoying local Columbus band A-Go-Go in my search of what their local music scene sounds like. They don’t have much on YouTube, but they do have a couple live performances on there. I found myself liking one of their newer songs, Burnt Sky, on their Soundcloud page (also on Spotify, but I imagine it’s more accessible on the former). The vibe of this one is pretty laid back — they certainly go for the more classic guitar sounds, with almost a bit of a Stones-y approach to the vocals too.

The Rules: If you have been a reader here, you already know the rules. But for the rest, a reminder: please do not swear in the comment section, and keep comments relevant to the hockey game going on. Beyond that, do not attack any other commenters, and do not ask for or pass along illegal streams on this board.

LGD!

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...-3-new-jersey-devils-at-columbus-blue-jackets

 

[New Jersey Devils]

New Jersey Devils Prospect Update: Kevan leads Sun Devils in Ice Breaker Tournament

Ben Kevan has started strong with his first two collegiate goals. This post covers his effort and other promising news as the NCAA and AHL drop puck on their seasons

Kevan Starts Strong​

The NCAA season is upon us and with it some encouraging starts from Devils collegiate prospects. 2025 draftee forward Ben Kevan scored two goals in a 5-3 win over Notre Dame on Friday night. His Sun Devils hosted the annual Ice Breaker tournament to kick off the Division I season of men’s hockey. Here is a look at his goals and other highlights from the victory.

HIGHLIGHTS: Ben Kevan's first 2 career goals help @SunDevilHockey skate past Notre Dame, 5-3, in Ice Breaker Tournament

: FOX 10 // https://t.co/ZyUdpPaF0J#theNational // #BeTheTradition pic.twitter.com/VOmoAwKJlv

— The NCHC (@TheNCHC) October 11, 2025

Around the Pool:​

• The NCAA kicked off with every Devils collegiate prospect other than Cole Brown finding the scoresheet early. This includes Boston University Center Conrad Fondrk, who recorded an assist after missing the opener and returning from injury. Oddly, other than Kevan, the point leaders out of the gate amongst the Devils NCAA prospect pool are defensemen Charlie Leddy and Chase Cheslock, both with two assists.
• After a slow start winger David Rozsival is starting to find the scoresheet with a goal and two assists this past week and now sits at 3 points in 8 games for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL.
• The Utica Comets dropped their first two games in a home and home with the Cleveland Monsters, 1-0 and 3-2. The second loss was in OT leading to the Comets first point of the season. Nico Daws was fantastic in the opener stopping 26 of 27. In the second game, goaltender Jakub Malek made his Comets debut, earning the OT loss. Veterans Xavier Parent and Brian Halonen scored for the Comets. Prospect center Matyas Melovsky scored his first professional point assisting on Parent’s goal. Parent also earned an assist along with defenseman Ethan Edwards on Halonen’s tally.
• Center Gustav Hillstrom has been recalled to Brynas IF of the SHL after dominating the U20 Nationell with 13 points in 7 games. While the promotion is encouraging, Hillstrom has been platooning in and out of the lineup on the main club and, according to Flashscore, only skated 6:56 in his last SHL game.
• Promising forward prospect Cam Squires has been assigned to the Adirondack Thunder in the ECHL. The move is a bit of a baffling one as Squires excelled in limited action in Utica at the end of last season. Hopefully, it is a temporary measure.
• Goaltender Trenten Bennett has continued his hot start platooning the net for the Owen Sound Attack in the OHL and is now 3-0 with a 1.99 GAA and .943 SV%. Not to be outdone, phenom Mikhail Yegorov continues to impress for Boston University in the NCAA with a 2-0-1 record, 1.95 GAA and .933 SV%.

Your Take​

Tell us what you think below.

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/p...an-leads-sun-devils-in-ice-breaker-tournament

 

[New Jersey Devils]

Devils Recall Nico Daws — Jacob Markstrom Week-to-Week, Zack MacEwen to Injured Reserve

Monday’s 3-2 win over the Columbus Blue Jackets was a doozy. Jake Allen played the first two periods in net for the New Jersey Devils, ceding the crease while up 2-1 due to cramping. Jacob Markstrom thus played the third period, and everything was going well for the first 19 minutes and 30 seconds he played. Then, with the Columbus net empty, there was some scrambling around the net, and Markstrom ended up hurt on a play where the Blue Jackets scored to pull back within one goal.

It was not entirely clear what happened. Markstrom threw his glove and blocker off, rolling around the crease in obvious pain. He stayed in for the final seconds of the game, but gingerly rushed off the ice once the final horn blew. To this point, there is no update on Jacob Markstrom, as the Devils are practicing. Sheldon Keefe may shed some light on what happened later, though.

For the time being, we know one thing: Nico Daws has been recalled from the Utica Comets for tomorrow’s home opener. Will he start? That much is unclear. Jake Allen is present at practice today, and he could very well get the nod.

#NJDevils Nico Daws and Jake Allen are on the ice along with an EBUG. pic.twitter.com/6Yjqm4BZKM

— Kristy Flannery (@InStilettos_NHL) October 15, 2025

To make room for Daws on the active roster, the Devils have placed forward Zack MacEwen on injured reserve. The exact details of MacEwen’s injury have not been revealed, but Keefe recently indicated his injury would require him to miss time. It is listed as an upper-body issue on the Devils’ website. This is rather unfortunate for MacEwen, who intrigued onlookers with his decent skating and hard shot in his season debut.

While MacEwen is now known to be out for at least seven days from the time of the injury (from Saturday), Markstrom is still technically able to play. If he were placed on injured reserve, he would have to stay out of the lineup until the Devils play the Maple Leafs in Toronto on Tuesday, October 21. Keeping Markstrom off of injured reserve really just preserves him as an option for the Saturday contest against the Oilers, though the extent of his injury has not yet been revealed.

I think the Devils should play this safe by giving Nico Daws the home opener start. Will they? With Jake Allen back at practice, I am a little doubtful. But after Allen had to leave his first game with cramping, giving fans fears of a worse issue, I would rather he stay off the ice until Saturday. Florida, while still a very good team, has been missing two of their best offensive forces. Edmonton, meanwhile, still has all their elite scorers.

Nico Daws is a capable goaltender. He stopped 27 of 28 in a 1-0 loss in his only game for the Comets this season. He had a .939 save percentage in his six appearances (four starts) for the Devils last season. He had an up-and-down 2023-24 season with an .894 save percentage, though he was likely not at his best because of overuse in February and March of that season due to the Devils’ numerous issues in goal that year. In that season:

• First 12 games: 6-6-0, .912 SV%
• Next 9 games: 3-5-0, .859 SV% (.750 SV% in two games directly after his 45-save Stadium Series game)

With Markstrom out of the lineup, Keefe should resist the temptation to load up games for Allen. By continuing to work in the rotation, he can avoid overworking Daws, who has not quite shown an ability to handle a full starter’s workload (his career high in total games was 46 in the 2021-22 season, coming closest with 40 in 2024-25 after getting hip surgery in 2023). Allen, meanwhile, has not played over 40 games since 2022-23, when he had an .891 save percentage for Montreal. Keefe needs to continue rotating his goalies with the health of his veterans over the 82-game schedule in mind.

This post will be updated if more is reported on Jacob Markstrom.

1:00 PM Update:

Jacob Markstrom will be out a couple weeks, then likely week-to-week, with a lower-body injury.

Lower-body injury for Markstrom. #NJDevils https://t.co/MrI6JxH2KV

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) October 15, 2025

Your Thoughts​

What did you think of Markstrom’s injury on Monday? Do you think Allen or Daws should start tomorrow? What expectations are you setting for Daws if he has to play for an extended period? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...strom-injured-zack-macewen-to-injured-reserve

 

[New Jersey Devils]

Arseny Gritsyuk is Doing Just Fine Where He is Right Now

Three games into the 2025-26 season, one of the more pleasant developments for the New Jersey Devils has been the play of Arseny Gritsyuk.

Gritsyuk has followed up a strong preseason with three assists in three games despite relatively limited ice time. Perhaps none of those helpers has been more impressive than the one from Monday’s win over Columbus in the closing seconds of a power play, where Gritsyuk and Dawson Mercer caught Blue Jackets defenseman Denton Mateychuk in a 2-on-1 situation. Gritsyuk made a cross-ice pass that Mateychuk actually did a good job to get a stick on, but there was enough sauce on that pass for Mercer to make an equally impressive play and rifle a bouncing puck past Columbus netminder Jet Greaves for a 2-1 lead, giving Gritsyuk a well-deserved primary assist.

Aside from his playmaking ability though, where Gritsyuk has really impressed me in a short time is with his decision making with the puck. Even though his NHL experience is rather limited, you can tell that he has played a lot of hockey and has plenty of experience at a professional level. He knows where he needs to be on the ice. He’s done a good job knowing what to do with the puck and knowing where to put it on the ice if he isn’t in a position to make a play. That particular skill set is a much-welcomed addition to a Devils bottom six that lacked that type of player one year ago. It might just be little flashes that Gritsyuk has shown here and there in a relatively small sample size of three NHL games, but you can tell from watching the games that there’s something there.

Of course, it’s easy to see all that and be tempted. It’s tempting to want to pencil Gritsyuk into that LW1 spot once occupied by Evgenii Dadonov, currently occupied by Ondrej Palat and put him alongside Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt. And I’m sure the longer we go where Gritsyuk looks promising while Palat simultaneously is just kind of there, those calls will get louder.

I suspect there will be a time where putting Gritsyuk in that spot is the right play and the Devils will be a better team because of it. For the time being though? The Devils are better suited leaving the Top Nine as is and not messing around with the lineup.

As promising as Gritsyuk’s good start is, at the end of the day, its still three games. There’s still an adjustment period after coming over from the KHL, and he probably hasn’t had his “Welcome to the NHL” moment yet that he’d sooner rather forget. I don’t write this to be negative or pour cold water on the hype train, but its something that happens to every player and I doubt Gritsyuk will be exempt from a rough stretch of play once there is more tape on him and word gets out around the league.

As easy as it would be to yell “move Gritsyuk up the lineup”, I credit Sheldon Keefe for finding a way to protect him during the three game road trip. The Devils had three tough matchups on the road against three playoff-caliber teams. If there’s an obvious forward to pick on in the Devils lineup in terms of trying to exploit matchups when you have last change, its probably the 24 year old “rookie” in Gritsyuk. Gritsyuk has played well in a limited role, and is already in the process of gaining the trust of the coaching staff with more and more ice time with each subsequent game. I think Keefe has been smart not to put too much on his plate out of the gate and to rely on his more experienced forwards who have more experience in his system to play the tougher minutes. Perhaps that changes as Gritsyuk gets more experience. Perhaps that changes once the Devils start playing home games and they can dictate the matchups that they want via last change. Perhaps that changes once the schedule flips to November and the schedule is easier to navigate in general.

For now though? The Devils don’t need to force it. And a big part of the reason why they don’t need to force it is because through three games, scoring goals hasn’t been a problem. They have 11 goals in three games. Seven of those goals have come at 5-on-5, two on the power play, one shorthanded, and one in an empty net situation.

The one “yeah, but” to that is that the Jack Hughes line hasn’t really gotten going yet, and with Palat’s reinsertion onto the top line, I get why some might think that putting Gritsyuk in that spot would be the spark they could use. But it’s also easy to forget that the Palat-Hughes-Bratt trio was one of the best lines in the NHL last season. Of all lines that played 500+ minutes together, they were Top 7 in xGoals%, xGoals For, xGoals per 60, Goals for per 60, and CF% (according to MoneyPuck). They were tied-9th in goals.

It would stand to reason that Hughes and Bratt are the straws that stir the proverbial drink on that line and Palat was just along for the ride, so there’s room for growth. I would agree with that assessment. But it would also stand to reason that that trio knows how to play together and knows how to play off of each other. Jack and Bratt are going to figure this out….they’re too talented not to…..and once they do, they’ll put up points in bunches and the Devils will win hockey games as a result. I don’t mean this as a slight, but they don’t need an Arseny Gritsyuk to “get going”. They’re more than capable of figuring it out.

With no other obvious spot to try to shoehorn Gritsyuk into in the Top Six, the best spot for him in this Devils lineup is the one he currently occupies on their third line with Connor Brown and Cody Glass.

Brown has been as advertised when it comes to 5-on-5 offense, and he’s also impressed me in the early portion of the season with the little things with his game. His skating ability, his decision making, his hockey IQ. All of that. You can see why he played a prominent role on a team that went t0 back-to-back Stanley Cup Finals. I think its fair to question whether or not Cody Glass is productive enough offensively to be a 3C on a team with playoff aspirations, but that’s a Cody Glass problem more than it is a Gritsyuk problem. But we’re also talking about a Gritsyuk-Glass-Brown line that’s played a grand total of just under 16 minutes together over two games. The jury is still very much out on whether they’re a long-term fit, but if we like what the players bring to the table from an individual standpoint, it’s worth giving it some time to see if they can form a functional third line. And that last part to me is key.

The Devils did not have a functional third line last year. They did not have a functional fourth line either, for that matter. It’s the reason why they revamped their bottom six this summer in the first place.

What if the Devils have a good third line and Gritsyuk being slotted where he is is a big part of the reason why? What if Gritsyuk can be the offensive catalyst behind that line and elevate his linemates in the process?

It’s too early to say with certainty that he is going to be that or do that, or that the Devils will definitely have a good third line. But its one of those things where if they do, all of a sudden this team looks so much better than it did coming into the season. Having a third line that can push the pace of play and is capable of scoring makes the Devils all that much more dangerous.

Look no further than Florida who just won a Cup with a third line of Eetu Luostarinen, Anton Lundell, and Brad Marchand. On most teams, that would be a first or second line. But on a team like Florida that is insanely deep, that’s a third line. I’m not saying the Brown-Glass-Grisyuk line will be what Florida’s third line was, but when you have that type of depth where anyone on your top three lines can score at any given time, you can get away with having an Evan Rodrigues and the 32 points he provided during the regular season last year as your top line winger. It makes you that much tougher to play against when the opposition can’t focus on just stopping one line, or even two lines.

Only time will tell what Arseny Gritsyuk winds up becoming in terms of his NHL career. I don’t doubt that he has a Top Six skill set, or that he will be a fixture on the Devils top line at some point. But for now, he’s doing just fine in the role he’s being asked to play by Sheldon Keefe and the coaching staff. Rather than rushing to toss him into the deep end of the pool and seeing if he can indeed swim, the Devils are probably better suited letting him continue to get his feet wet in the shallow end as he learns the NHL. The top six is still deep enough where they shouldn’t have issues scoring goals, and if they’re patient by playing the long-game with Gritsyuk, him being a potential catalyst on a really good third line would all of a sudden make the Devils all that much more of a threat.

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...syuk-is-doing-just-fine-where-he-is-right-now

 

[New Jersey Devils]

Injuries Are Increasing the Early Season Adversity for the New Jersey Devils

Three games in to 2025-26 and there is a lot going right for the New Jersey Devils. They’re 2-1-0 and despite some imperfections in their games, there’s a good number of positives to highlight. Timo Meier has chipped in a couple early goals. Jesper Bratt has picked up roughly from where he left off last season. The defense as a whole has looked pretty good. Newcomers Connor Brown and Arseny Gritsyuk have chipped in and helped produce offense. There’s definitely a few other performances and highlights that you could point out, but today we’re here to talk about a prominent lowlight instead: injuries.

Injuries are a part of the game, we all know that. Missing Johnny Kovacevic was known, since he was projected to miss this much time when his injury occurred during the playoffs. However the Devils have already lost a number of other players. Throughout summer training and the preseason, Stefan Noesen and Seamus Casey both suffered injuries, as did depth forward Marc McLaughlin. With a bit less to work with before even playing a game, the Devils still entered the season with a competitive roster that looked mostly like what was predicted prior to the season starting. One of the articles that I wrote late in the summer was how the Devils would need to play well in October to have a successful season. There’s still a lot of difficult October games to come, and the first three games have increased the difficulty.

Game one saw Evgenii Dadonov go down with what would later be diagnosed as a fractured hand. This led to Ondrej Palat being moved back up to the top line reuniting Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt with Tom Fitzgerald’s favorite boat anchor. Zack MacEwen, acquired during the preseason for Kurtis MacDermid, entered the lineup after Dadonov was hurt, and against Tampa Bay would get injured himself. The upper body injury for him means we won’t be seeing him anytime soon according to Sheldon Keefe. Jake Allen then decided to give us a scare in game three when he didn’t return for the third period against Columbus. The team would announce that he was just cramping, but as Jacob Markstrom came in to relieve him, he would suffer an injury in the final minute that now has him slated to miss a couple of weeks.

While the Jake Allen news is a good sign (he looked fantastic in the two periods he played in Columbus) the Devils are also sadly averaging one injury per game right now. Obviously that pace isn’t going to continue, but missing a goalie, a Top 6 forward and a grit guy (who actually looked decent in his team debut) is going to affect the team’s performance. Markstrom was not good in his first two games, but Nico Daws has had some struggles in his time with Utica. The team can ride Allen when he’s not cramping, but this team right now is one potential goaltending injury away from being in the 2023-24 boat again. Dadonov and MacEwen going down is a bit less impactful, but if another forward or two suffers an injury prior to Noesen being ready to return, the Devils might have to be calling up guys who are not yet NHL ready, and there’s the possibility they drop a few key October games as a result.

Let’s not end on a down note though. Like I said, the injuries can’t keep up at this pace, and right now the team is playing well, even with the forwards they’re missing. More encouraging still is the performance they put in against Columbus (minus the final 30 seconds or so) along with Jake Allen rocking a .958 save percentage while stopping 23 of 24 shots though two periods. If the Devils can keep playing the way they are and Allen drinks a ton of extra water to keep from cramping, there’s a great chance they still come out of October with a good record and in good position in the Metropolitan Division.

Now I’d like to hear your thoughts on the injuries and the impact they may have on the remainder of October. Are you worried how about how many players have gone down? Are you more concerned about it affecting the team’s performance and record? Can the Devils continue to play well even if another guy or two goes down? Do you think the team should be placing Jake Allen in bubble wrap between games? Leave any and all comments below and thanks as always for reading!

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...ly-season-adversity-for-the-new-jersey-devils

 

[New Jersey Devils]

Gritty Devils Outlast Florida 3-1 in Home Opener as Stars Shine

This one had all the makings of a trap game.

The New Jersey Devils were coming home for the first time this season after winning two of three on the road.

The opponent – the back-to-back defending Stanley Cup Champion Florida Panthers – was shorthanded, short on rest, and starting a back-up goalie with an .850 save percentage. But despite falling behind early in the first, New Jersey kept its composure, wore down the Panthers, and sent the sellout crowd of 16,514 home happy with a 3-1 win on Thursday night at Prudential Center.

Timo Meier, not known for his October heroics since joining the Devils, continued to look good in the season’s first week with an assist on Jack Hughes’ tying goal early in the second, before scoring the winner at 6 minutes, 23 seconds of the third.

Nico Hischier added an insurance goal midway through the final period to round out the scoring.

The Good​

The big names continued to produce for the Devils. Meier had a goal for the third straight game, tipping Simon Nemec’s point shot past Panthers’ goalie Daniil Tarasov from the bottom of the right wing circle to give the Devils a 2-1 lead. Earlier in the night, he started the play that lead to Jack Hughes breaking his three-game goal drought and notching his first of the year.

Hughes took a pass from his brother, Luke, cut in from the left wing circle, and beat Tarasov from a sharp angle by snapping a shot off Tarasov’s shoulder up and under the crossbar. Until that point, Tarasov, who was making his second start for Florida after coming over from Columbus this summer, had looked near unbeatable.

Tarasov stopped a Luke Hughes’ slap shot on a breakaway, Meier down low, and Jack Hughes on a 2-0n-1 break in the first. Luke Glendening also just missed on a short break after a nifty little saucer pass from Brian Halonen early in the second.

Meanwhile, the Panthers were holding a 1-0 lead, scoring less than two minutes into the game when Evan Rodrigues chipped the rebound of a Brad Marchand past Jake Allen, who got the start despite leaving Monday’s games with cramps.

Another positive: for the first time this season, New Jersey didn’t lose anyone to injury. Or, it didn’t look that way, anyway.

The Bad (was there any?)​

Nothing to really complain about tonight, except maybe the officiating. There were some pretty questionable calls including a holding against Luke Hughes and an interference on Jesper Bratt. But the Devils penalty kill was strong, killing off all five Panthers power plays.

And the officials did get the biggest call of the game right, waiving off Sam Reinhart’s goal with 1:17 to go because Anton Lundell made contact with Allen in the crease. Paul Maurice challenged the call and lost on review.

Overall​

This is the kind of game the Devils would have lost in previous years: a home game after a long road trip. The Panthers were missing Sasha Barkov, Matt Tkachuk, and Dmitry Kulikov to injury. Florida had lost Wednesday night in Detroit with Sergei Bobrovsky in net and started their backup.

The Panthers came out hard and carried play through most of the first, but New Jersey never panicked, let them wear themselves down, and then counterpunched in the second and third and took advantage of fresher legs to hold on late to get the win.

The Highlights​

Please see the full highlights below:

The Game Stats: The NHL.com Game Summary | The NHL.com Event Summary | The NHL.com Play by Play Log | The NHL.com Shot Summary | The Natural Stat Trick Game Stats

Up Next​

The Devils are back home Saturday afternoon for a 3:30 pm game with the two-time Stanley Cup runners-up, the Edmonton Oilers. It’ll be interesting to see if Sheldon Keefe sticks with Allen a third straight game. He’s been light’s out so far with a 1.20 goals against average and .957 save percentage in five periods of play.

Your Take​

What did you make of tonight’s game? Who stood out to you the most? Who are you concerned about? What do you expect against the Oilers this weekend? Hard not to be enjoying these games. Season is off to a promising start.

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...ast-florida-3-1-in-home-opener-as-stars-shine

 

[New Jersey Devils]

Devils in the Details – 10/17/25: Home Opener Edition

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links​

Against the defending champs on Thursday night, the Devils came back from a 1-0 deficit to take a 3-1 win. Jack Hughes, Timo Meier and Nico Hischier scored for the Devils. [Devils NHL]

Home opener!

Let me just make this statement loud and clear – Jersey’s here. #NJDevils | @PruCenter | @BMWUSA pic.twitter.com/fVbaVbbeY0

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) October 16, 2025

Best-dressed team in the league, don’t @ us.#NJDevils | @BMWUSA pic.twitter.com/mFxA5E8PpG

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) October 16, 2025

A couple additions to the broadcast:

Industry sources tell me that Mike Rupp and Cory Schneider are joining the #NJDevils broadcast on MSG Network.

They'll be on the pre and postgame shows.https://t.co/i8KFNUc5VC

— Ryan Novozinsky (@ryannovoNHL) October 16, 2025

*large sigh*

Per Sheldon Keefe, Jacob Markstrom will miss a couple of weeks.

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) October 15, 2025

On a contract extension with Jacob Markstrom: “They’ve had recent discussions on what an extension might look like. I’m told that the talks have been healthy and they’ll resume negotiations in the very near future. There is a mutual interest between the veteran goaltender and the New Jersey Devils to get something done. I’m told the Devils absolutely love Jacob Markstrom, he’s great in the room. But there is a negotiation that still has to take place here and with everything there’s always a gap. So until that gap closes, the deal isn’t done.” [TSN]

“While he hasn’t scored a goal yet, that will come in time. But Gritsyuk has done plenty of the little things coaches want to see from young players in the NHL. His hockey sense is much better than I thought it would be, and he looks like one of the team’s better skaters.” [Devils on the Rush ($)]

“Dawson Mercer has gotten a bad rap over the last couple of seasons, but is rebounding nicely to begin the 2025-26 season.” [Devils’ Advocates]

Hockey Links​

Carter Hart signs in Vegas:

Official statement from the Vegas Golden Knights on Carter Hart.

More: https://t.co/7jWN6i0tzr#VegasBorn pic.twitter.com/kzvbA2uSlv

— Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights) October 16, 2025

A look at red flags around the league in the early going of this season: “This year’s schedule is even more condensed than usual due to the fact the NHL will take a two-week hiatus when players are competing at the Winter Olympics in Italy in February. The flurry of games doesn’t pair well with slumping teams, or goal scorers who lose their puck touch for an extended period of time. The results can turn into teams chasing playoff spots from the back of the pack and uneven efforts from struggling playmakers, defenders, and goaltenders alike. The ‘red flags’ I’m about to present range from teams lacking execution and detail, to singular players who flat out have to play better hockey given their elevated role on their team.” [Sportsnet]

“NHL commissioner Gary Bettman expressed concern Wednesday over delays in the construction of the Milano Santagiulia arena, the intended main hockey site for the Milan Olympics. Speaking after the NHL Board of Governors meeting, Bettman was reacting to a report earlier that day from the Associated Press that a test event that was scheduled for December at the 16,000-seat main Olympic hockey arena will no longer be held there amid construction delays.” [The Athletic ($)]

“Schools are also trying to balance how much of their pot they give to highly recruited freshmen and how much they assign for returning players, as well as how it’s rolled out (for most, in monthly payments which started in July and August to discourage players from spending it all at once and encourage them to save for their tax obligations at the end of the year).” A look at how college hockey is handling the new world of NIL and revenue sharing: [The Athletic ($)]

Feel free to discuss these and any other hockey-related stories in the comments below.

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...s-in-the-details-10-17-25-home-opener-edition

 

[New Jersey Devils]

2025-26 Gamethread #4: New Jersey Devils vs. Florida Panthers

The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils (2-1-0) versus the Florida Panthers (3-2-0)

The Time: 7:00 PM ET

The Broadcast: TV — MSGSN, Radio — Devils Hockey Network

The Game Preview: Matt wrote one for this morning.

The Song of the Day: Today is the day of the New Jersey Devils home opener. So I had to think of who to put on as the song of the day. I don’t want to be cliche and throw a Springsteen song on here. Devils fans are already well acquainted with The Gaslight Anthem. And I’m not a pop punker, so you probably won’t see me putting those usual suspects here very often (more likely newer acts in that genre). I’ll turn to something more devilish in Overkill’s Scorched, off their recent album of the same name. I like the blend of sounds on this song, as it takes a little while for Overkill to settle into their usual thrash. But for a new season and a new chance for the Devils to prove themselves, this one goes well today.

A Note: Since today is the home opener, I am opening up the gamethread extra early. With the fan activities starting around The Rock at 4:00 PM today, I want to give everyone a chance to check into the gamethread early in case they are enjoying the game in person. Have fun if you’re there!

The Rules: If you have been a reader here, you already know the rules. But for the rest, a reminder: please do not swear in the comment section, and keep comments relevant to the hockey game going on. Beyond that, do not attack any other commenters, and do not ask for or pass along illegal streams on this board.

LGD!

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...hread-4-new-jersey-devils-vs-florida-panthers

 

[New Jersey Devils]

2025-26 Gamethread #5: New Jersey Devils vs. Edmonton Oilers

The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils (3-1-0) versus the Edmonton Oilers (2-1-1).

The Time: 3:30 PM ET

The Broadcast: TV – MSGSN, Radio – Devils Hockey Network

The Game Preview: Check out Jackson’s preview before the game today.

The Song of the Day: I am not entirely sure why, but I always find myself listening to jazz most in the autumn and early winter. That said, the New Jersey Devils have gotten themselves into a bit of a roll over their last three games, so I am going to turn to Ella Fitzgerald for the Jersey Bounce. Keep the good times coming.

The Rules: If you have been a reader here, you already know the rules. But for the rest, a reminder: please do not swear in the comment section, and keep comments relevant to the hockey game going on. Beyond that, do not attack any other commenters, and do not ask for or pass along illegal streams on this board.

LGD!

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...thread-5-new-jersey-devils-vs-edmonton-oilers

 

[New Jersey Devils]

The Next Alternate Jersey Should Be a Road One, and Thoughts on the Fourth Line

Happy Sunday, Devils fans.

In the final year of the “Jersey Jersey,” the New Jersey Devils are slated to wear their alternate 11 times. The Devils just returned from their season-opening road trip back on Thursday, and I already cannot imagine them wearing anything other than their red jerseys. With a 4-1-0 record on the season, a 2-0-0 record at home, and their first four-game winning streak in nearly three years, I wish the Devils could keep their red identity a little more consistent throughout the season.

NHL teams only get 41 regular season home games, though they’ll soon get 42 when the schedule expands. Having an alternate home jersey means that there’s only a three in four chance that a randomly-selected home game will feature the team’s permanent jersey. After the Devils go on Christmas break on December 23, the Devils will wear their Jersey Jersey in five out of nine games between their return to play and the pause for the Olympic Games, including the final two home games before that break.

Do I really want to see a stretch like that at any point of the season? No, not really. I understand that today’s NHL wants teams to push these jerseys so their fans can buy them and make the league and Fanatics lots of money, but I think most people are just happy to get their hands on one jersey that is well-made and will last them for years. And when I go to see the New Jersey Devils, I like to see them wear something that really identifies them as the New Jersey Devils — not whatever this is:

The Kings will face New Jersey's black "Jersey" jersey for the 2nd consecutive year. It will be the final meeting between these uniforms.#GoKingsGo https://t.co/atUDHUWggF pic.twitter.com/qka6xZYi9P

— LAKingsUniformHistory (@KingsUniHistory) September 22, 2025

So I have considered this workaround to the pitfall of overusing alternate jerseys: a white-based, road-wearable alternate. The Devils have not had such a jersey since they had their Kansas City Scouts and Colorado Rockies-inspired Reverse Retro in 2022-23. So, it’s been a few years! The Devils have had their Jersey Jersey, they have had their Stadium Series alternate. They should think about a way to spruce up their road look with an alternate jersey. Just look below at what the Edmonton Oilers did for this season:

Built to work. Built to win.

Presenting the new #Oilers alternate jersey, now available for pre-order at https://t.co/HvU1K1KYly! pic.twitter.com/L5Ta1gO0Aq

— Edmonton Oilers (@EdmontonOilers) September 20, 2025

The current Devils road jersey is still not really my favorite. The absence of the black stripe still bothers me, as it looks too boring as it is now. There’s just a little more gravitas to the old look. The post-2017 look is too clean and too simple: the torso of the jersey looks far too long in white, and there’s nothing to take the eye away from the empty space beneath the logo. I, for one, think Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Jack Hughes, and Timo Meier would look a lot better on the road scoring goals while wearing a road jersey like this:

But this is about alternate jerseys. The Devils may yet make a good decision by bringing those classic roads back, similar to how the Minnesota Wild brought their classic home jerseys back into the rotation, as they will be wearing their old white-based home jerseys four time during this season. Wouldn’t something like that be great for a well-designed road alternate? The great thing about making a white alternate jersey is that it could be worn on the road and at home. Many hockey fans still remember the days of white home jerseys, and many Devils fans still wear white jerseys that were home jerseys when they bought them. A good road alternate will not stop fans from buying it. On top of that, the alternate jersey would not have to eat up a whole quarter or more of the home game schedule. Eleven non-red home games can turn to four or five while they wear their alternate as much as they want to on the road.

What do you think the next alternate jersey should look like?

Other Thoughts: The Return of Noesen​

One guy who plays the game like many Devils forwards did when they were good in those classic white jerseys is Stefan Noesen. I am rather looking forward to him getting back into game action over the next week. Since Evgenii Dadonov and Zack MacEwen went down with injuries, Brian Halonen has not shown very much in his three games on the fourth line. He is now pointless in seven career NHL games, and he only has one shot on goal this season. To be fair to Halonen, the fourth line is not amazing as currently constructed. Paul Cotter has great wheels and hands, but he runs into a lot of trouble from his decisions with the puck, and Luke Glendening is here to play defense, win faceoffs, and kill penalties. There is no driving force to that fourth line as it is right now.

So Halonen might have fared better in more of a third-line situation. He does, after all, play a goal-scorer’s game in Utica. But with Arseny Gritsyuk and Connor Brown clicking with Cody Glass, there is no spot for him there. And now that Jack Hughes is producing with Ondrej Palat on his wing, Halonen would not even be able to catch a break from Palat being used on the fourth line.

Stefan Noesen, by comparison, is more familiar with that level of play. I do not think that the fourth line is the best place for him, but I imagine he will start there with the other lines clicking. Last year, Noesen played a career-high average of 15:56 per game, scoring 22 goals. Most importantly, Noesen played his best hockey away from the fourth line, and the team had no success trying to pair him and Paul Cotter. In the regular season, this is how they split:

• Cotter with Noesen: 284:55 TOI, 48.10 CF%, 9 GF-12 GA (42.86 GF%), 44.91 xGF%
• Cotter without Noesen: 682:18 TOI, 50.92 CF%, 18 GF-31 GA (36.73 GF%), 50.30 xGF%
• Noesen without Cotter: 693:52 TOI, 54.30 CF%, 30 GF-28 GA (51.72 GF%), 56.25 xGF%

In the playoffs, the quality and quantity of possession worsened with Cotter on the ice.

• Cotter with Noesen: 39:28 TOI, 33.33 CF%, 1 GF-1 GA (50 GF%), 27.22 xGF%
• Cotter without Noesen: 30:39 TOI, 33.33 CF%, 0 GF-1 GA (0 GF%), 26.00 xGF%
• Noesen without Cotter: 20:04 TOI, 56.10 CF%, 1 GF-0 GA (100 GF%), 49.99 xGF%

The importance of bottom six forwards during the season and playoffs is very real, so I think this is something to keep an eye on when Noesen does return to the lineup. Does the fourth line finally start producing, or do Paul Cotter and company continue to have problems with defensive breakdowns and missed opportunities? What happens when the fourth line is on the ice when the Devils ice the puck against teams like the Oilers, allowing players like Connor McDavid to have offensive zone faceoffs against them? I was holding my breath when this happened yesterday afternoon. Thankfully, the fourth line only allowed three shots to the top Edmonton line before Jake Allen froze the puck after the Devils were unable to make good of Luke Glendening’s defensive zone faceoff win (and what was Paul Cotter doing throwing late hits at the blueline instead of helping out down low with Edmonton in possession?).

I will not say anything about Glendening’s performance yet, as the penalty kill is running at 95% efficiency through five games, and he was not on the ice for that goal against. He did inadvertently set up Connor Brown’s breakaway goal on the penalty kill yesterday. As far as I am concerned, he is doing his job there, and he is on track for over 200 penalty killing minutes at the rate he is currently playing.

Paul Cotter needs to be better, though. His last regular season assist was 50 games ago. He has plenty of skill in his hands, so I would like to see the 16-goal scoring version of Paul Cotter diversify a little bit and become a serious threat on the fourth line. He needs to be able to do more than hit and shoot, as teams know to just close down on him since he does not make passing plays. When Juho Lammikko is back from injury, is Cotter’s lineup spot guaranteed? He is going to need to play better defense and make plays with the puck with more consistency. Glendening brings something on the penalty kill and in the dot. Noesen will be improving the netfront work on the power play. Cotter needs to bring something big or round out his game.

The top six looks fantastic right now. The third line is promising. But the fourth line currently looks like it’s going to leave a lot of the burden on them, and I am not sure if Stefan Noesen can drag both of Paul Cotter and Luke Glendening to even strength adequacy.

Your Thoughts​

What do you think the next Devils alternate jersey should be? What would you think of a road alternate? How do you feel about the fourth line so far this season? How do you think Stefan Noesen’s return will impact the team? Leave your thoughts in the comments below and thanks for reading.

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...be-a-road-one-and-thoughts-on-the-fourth-line