RSS Devils Team Notes

[New Jersey Devils]

What I Want To See From Each New Jersey Devil The Rest Of The Season

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 07: Jack Hughes #86 of the New Jersey Devils celebrates with teammates after scoring a goal for a hat trick during the third period against the New York Rangers at Prudential Center on March 07, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. The Devils won 6-3. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images

After last night’s loss to the Detroit Red Wings snapped New Jersey’s four-game winning streak, the season isn’t OVER, but it’s over. The Devils technically have some wiggle room to make the playoffs, but it would take a borderline undefeated run coupled with an epic collapse or two by Eastern Conference teams to get them into the dance. Needless to say, this has been a monumentally disappointing season that will end upon the final horn of game 82.

But while all that might seem very negative (and it is), I really still do hold out hope for the future of this team. There needs to be some significant change up and down the organizational chain, but I believe in this core, as well as some of the supporting cast. As such, today I want to take a look at each player on the roster and go through what I want to see from them the rest of the way. I figure it would be constructive to analyze some ways that each player can give us optimism heading into next season, and perhaps many more seasons to come. Not all of these will be directly on-ice performance, as you’ll see down below.

Let’s begin.

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The Players I Won’t Even Bother With​

Ok, one more bit of pessimism. There are of course some players on the roster that I really have no faith in to be contributors moving forward. Those players would include Paul Cotter, Evgenii Dadonov, Maxim Tsyplakov, and Stefan Noesen. I think Cotter, Dadonov, and Tsyplakov are obvious, considering two of the three of them were recently put on waivers. The inclusion of Noesen might seem harsh. He’s found ways to contribute during his time in New Jersey, but I see him as worth more to the Devils as an option to jettison for more cap space than for his on-ice contributions. Noesen holds a very workable no-trade clause (10-team no-trade list this year, 7-team no-trade list once the new league year begins), which should make it relatively easy to find a trade partner. I would hope all these players are gone by the time the next season begins.

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Jack Hughes: Stay Healthy

Pretty tongue in cheek, I know, but Hughes has not been able to finish a season healthy since 2022-23. Heck, even in that season he played through a significant injury during the second round of the playoffs, with rumors that even if the Devils advanced past that point, he wouldn’t be able to play in the Conference Final. He’s already dealt with even more injuries this season, but if he can actually enter an offseason without needing surgery of some kind, then first of all I’m sure that would be a big mental/emotional boost for him, and second of all he can then focus on getting stronger and working on whatever areas of his game he feels he needs to work on.

Nico Hischier: Clarity on his long-term future

I told you not all of these will be directly related to on-ice performance. The captain will be entering the final season of his contract this summer. He is an invaluable member of this team, and the Devils need to find a way to get his name on a long-term extension in a hurry. They won’t actually be able to do that until the new league year begins though, so I guess what I want to see the rest of the season are credible reports that extension talks are going well.

Jesper Bratt: Shoot first, ask questions later

We all know Bratt is much more of a passer than a shooter, but he’s really taken it to another level in recent times. Believe it or not, he’s actually on pace to eclipse his shots on goal total from last season (180), but not by much. And it really does feel like he’s deferred open shots more than he ever has this season. Down the stretch, I would love to see Bratt just adopt a mindset of shooting at every opportunity. He will always be a pass-first player, which is fine, but getting him more balanced heading into next season would help a lot.

Timo Meier: Rejuvenated transition game

Aside from the obvious of wanting to see more goals from Meier, I would love to see him get back to being a monster in transition like he’s been for much of his career. Even when he wasn’t finding the back of the net, part of what made Meier so valuable was his ability to drive play, namely with his ability to transition the puck up ice, particularly on zone entries with possession. This season, that skill has waned a bit (which I blame Sheldon Keefe for in large part), so I would love to see Meier regain his form in this regard.

Dawson Mercer: Riding shotgun with Jack Hughes

Dawson Mercer just really seems to work well with Jack Hughes, but for whatever reason, Keefe refuses to put them together. According to Natural Stat Trick (stats do not include last night’s game), Mercer has spent about 77 minutes with Hughes at 5-on-5 all season long. Seven Devils have shared more ice time with Mercer than Hughes, including, inexplicably, the since-traded Ondrej Palat and Paul Cotter. When Mercer and Hughes are out there together, their numbers are stellar, with an Expected Goals For% in the mid-60’s. As we wind down the season, I would love to see more of Mercer with Hughes, ideally as a lead-in to a lot of time on the same line in 2026-27.

Cody Glass: Keep It Up

This admittedly feels like pretty simplistic, but it’s true. Cody Glass has been terrific for the Devils this season, one of only a handful of players on the team that has actually exceeded expectations. He’s struggled with a few injuries this season, but when he’s been on the ice, he’s been a good third-line center, which is something this team has sorely lacked for a while now. I don’t expect him to score goals at the rate he has this season in 2026-27, but if Glass can finish the season strong, hopefully that’s a sign that he’ll carry it over into next season and give the Devils some stability at 3C.

Connor Brown: Figure out if he works with Jack Hughes

Much like Mercer, I guess I also want to see Connor Brown play with Hughes more too. Why? Because apparently Hughes specifically requested to play with Brown. He explained his rationale in this clip here. So if the man himself is asking to play with Brown, who am I to question it? The numbers for this combo are mixed, with good 5-on-5 Corsi For% and Scoring Chances For% numbers, but mediocre to bad High Danger Corsi For% and Expected Goals For% marks. But I suppose it’s worth a shot if Hughes thinks it’s a good idea.

Arseny Gritsyuk: Getting him signed to an extension

Much like Hischier, I really want to see Arseny Gritsyuk sign a long-term extension ASAP. The difference is that while Hischier still has a year left on his deal, Gritsyuk will be an RFA at the end of the season. Gritsyuk has come over from Russia and exceeded all expectations. His shot has come as advertised, and his skating, playmaking, and overall hockey IQ has come better than advertised. Gritsyuk appears to be one of the solutions moving forward, not one of the issues, so I really need to see him signed long term.

Lenni Hameenaho: Continued Growth

Sometimes the obvious answer is the best one. Hameenaho made his NHL debut this season, looked incredible in his first couple of weeks in the league, and has since come back down to Earth. But not to the point where I would say he’s been outright struggling, just not thriving as he once did. Still, he’s shown a ton of promise, particularly on the defensive side of the puck. I have him one tier below Gritsyuk at this point, but I think if Hameenaho can finish the season strong, that would go a long way toward establishing him as a solid contributor for next season.

Nick Bjugstad: Look the part

By which I mean, just look like a competent fourth-line center. Bjugstad is signed for another season after this one, so assuming he doesn’t get shipped out this offseason, he will most likely start 2026-27 as the Devils’ 4C. He is obviously limited as a player, but I think he’s looked decent in his role with New Jersey so far. More of the same would give the Devils some much-needed depth down the middle.

Luke Hughes: Drive play

Since coming back from his injury, Luke Hughes has looked good. We all know the deal by now: Hughes has all the physical tools you could want in a player, but has struggled to put it all together into a total package. Perhaps his injury, as well as the Olympic break, was the mental reset he needed to come back even stronger. If he can finish up the season by driving play and impacting the game the way his tools make us believe he can, that would arguably be the single most important development for the New Jersey Devils’ future.

Simon Nemec: Give him all the ice time

Simon Nemec is a weird player in that the more responsibility and ice time you give him, the better he seems to play. You’d figure the cushier the deployment, the better his impact would be, but not so with Nemec. Down the stretch of the season, I say the Devils should just cut Nemec loose and see what he can do with top pair minutes. Determining whether he can be a big part of the answer going forward or if he would be better off as a trade chip will be immensely important heading into the summer.

Dougie Hamilton: Rack up points

I really hate to say it because I love Hamilton, and the offense he generates from the blue line would be severely missed if he departs, but I do think it’s time to move on. He’s performed quite well since he was healthy scratched earlier in the season when Tom Fitzgerald had his name out there. I would love to see him continue to perform quite well, rack up the points, and boost his trade value for a potential summer blockbuster. Once his signing bonus is paid out on July 1, that should make him even easier to move too. There’s still his 10-team trade list to navigate, but with a new general manager in place (hopefully!) that isn’t a complete coward like Fitzgerald is, clearing Hamilton’s $9m cap hit should be doable.

Brett Pesce: Get Healthy

Brett Pesce will always be a player who deals with a bunch of nagging injuries just based on the way he plays. This season, he has suffered some bigger injuries though, as he missed a bunch of time in the fall, and now he’s out again. Last offseason, he got surgery to help deal with an injury which prevented him starting the season on time. It’s arguable how much that impacted his 2024-25, but even if the negative effects were minimal, it would be less than ideal for him to go two straight offseasons that need to be spent recovering instead of training. Pesce is an important piece of this blue line, even if he’s not a prolific offensive-defenseman. Him entering 2026-27 as strong as possible would help this team a lot.

Jonas Siegenthaler, Johnny Kovacevic, and Brenden Dillon: Boost their trade value

New Jersey needs a complete revamping of their blue line, as they simply have far too many defensemen who contribute absolutely zero offense. Jonas Siegenthaler, Johnny Kovacevic, and Brenden Dillon are three of the main culprits here. If they can play well down the stretch and create a market for their services over the summer, that would be the best thing for the Devils’ hopes of putting together a defense corps capable of moving pucks and racking up points. Siegenthaler’s 10-team no-trade list isn’t too onerous, but Kovacevic’s mind-blowing full NMC is. And considering he’s already stated his desire is to remain in New Jersey (which I do not fault him for at all), he probably won’t be getting moved. Dillon also has a full NMC this season, but that shifts to a 10-team no-trade list this summer as well.

Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen: …Play well?

As much as I would want to move on from Markstrom, he’s not going anywhere. There are plenty of bad GM’s out there, but I don’t think any of them would be stupid enough to trade for a bad goalie that Fitzgerald inexplicably signed to an extension earlier this season. Meanwhile Allen has been good and is signed for a bunch more years anyway, so I suppose what I want to see most out of this tandem is to play well down the stretch and give me a sliver of hope that they (mostly Markstrom) can have a good 2026-27.

Your Take​

Now that you’ve seen my wishlist, what would yours be? Aside from the obvious core players, what Devils do you think are the most important heading into 2026-27? What do you agree or disagree with from the list above? As always, thanks for reading!

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...-each-new-jersey-devil-the-rest-of-the-season

 

[New Jersey Devils]

Devils Drop Crucial Game, Shut Out 3-0 by Red Wings

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 08: The Detroit Red Wings celebrate a goal scored by Moritz Seider #53 of the Detroit Red Wings during the first period against the New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on March 08, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images

First Period​

Despite the largely Devils having the better run of early play, the Detroit Red Wings took the lead when Moritz Seider beat Jacob Markstrom high with a point shot on Detroit’s third shot of the game. Markstrom may have been dealing with a poor block attempt by Nico Hischier, but it looked like he had the position to make the save and did not. To make matters worse, the Devils responded poorly and took a penalty not even two minutes later, with Luke Hughes going to the box for hooking.

The penalty kill seemed to get some life back into the team, with the Devils outshooting the Red Wings 2-0 in the two minutes. Connor Brown in particular made an excellent read, breaking off from his pursuit of Patrick Kane in the corner to nab a pass from the boards in the middle of the ice, leading the Devils off on a rush the other way. After Kovacevic got off the ice for a change, leaving Brown by himself, Brown made a nice drag move to create a shot but could not beat John Gibson.

The Devils got a power play of their own when Andrew Copp was called for slashing Nico Hischier’s stick out of his hands. The Devils attacked low in the zone during their power play, but the Red Wings were able to clear it out a couple times before the second unit came out at the start of the second minute. But the Devils would be called for too many men on the ice with 42 seconds remaining on the power play, with a bad change happening right then.

The Devils won their four-on-four draw in the defensive zone, and Cody Glass hunted for a redirection from the point after gaining the zone. The chance missed, and the Red Wings came back, with Michael Rasmussen forcing Markstrom to save and freeze the puck with just 11 seconds to go until the Devils were back on the penalty kill. The Devils again won the draw, and Nico Hischier chased into the offensive zone after Mercer dumped it in to start their abbreviated penalty kill. The Red Wings were able to take possession and gain the offensive zone before long, but Markstrom froze an easy point shot to set up a draw. Glass won this back, but the Devils could not clear. A rebound from a shot by Seider sat in the crease for a moment before Siegenthaler threw it back to the point, and the Devils finally got the puck out at the end of the kill when Dougie Hamilton fired it hard down the ice off a rebound of a long shot.

Jack Hughes was knocked down by a puck to the shin with under five minutes to play and went to the bench in pain. Hughes was clearly in a ton of pain on the bench, but did not go to the locker room as the Devils began to struggle to control the puck. The Red Wings pinned the Devils’ fourth line back, but thankfully the Red Wings’ fourth line had some trouble hitting the net. Otherwise, it may have been 2-0. Jack Hughes later came back onto the ice for his last shift of the period, which seemed to go without an issue.

Second Period​

Dawson Mercer drew a second penalty of the game from Andrew Copp, who went to the box for high-sticking 29 seconds into the second period when he hit Mercer in the face with his stick on the follow through of a hit. Dougie Hamilton controlled off the draw and passed it around the zone, but Hughes’s shot was saved from the left flank. The Devils stayed in control, playing catch from the croner and back up high before a Dougie Hamilton one-timer was gloved and knocked out of play for another faceoff in the first minute of the advantage.

Hischier won the second draw, and Jack Hughes came out to the point but slipped up a bit with the puck, forcing the Devils to retrieve it in their own end. The re-entered quickly, and the first unit stayed on to pressure the Red Wings. They stayed in the offensive zone for the remainder of the power play, firing a few more shot attempts but not beating Gibson.

Right after Connor Brown missed a golden opportunity in the slot, off a backhand feed from Luke Hughes that Brown chipped around a defender, Johnny Kovacevic was called for interfering with J.T. Compher. Just as the Devils were looking good at five-on-five again, they were sent back to the kill because a very undisciplined play. While the Devils looked good on the kill at first, another point shot from the same spot Moritz Seider scored the first goal of the night was deflected past came down on Markstrom and was deflected by James van Riemsdyk, giving Detroit a 2-0 lead.

Brenden Dillon went to the box for two minutes for interference on Copp with just over six minutes to play in the period, making a poor decision to throw a big hit at the blueline when Copp did not have the puck. The Devils had another good kill, with Detroit only getting a big chance at the very end when Justin Faulk broke in behind the defense after a weak neutral zone pass by Mercer. Faulk came in but was denied by a flashy glove save by Jacob Markstrom.

At the end of the period, Timo Meier bulldozed Lucas Raymond while driving the net, knocking Raymond into John Gibson. This caused a melee about 20 seconds later, resulting in matching roughing penalties for Ben Chariot and Timo Meier to put the game at four-on-four for the first 1:56 of the third period.

Third Period​

Cam Talbot replaced John Gibson to start the third period as a result of the collision between him, Raymond, and Meier at the end of the second period. The Red Wings had the puck right on the goal line less than half a minute into the period, but Dougie Hamilton cleared it out and allowed the Devils to get a line change in the neutral zone.

Nearly halfway through the period, Markstrom finally got a glove on a deflected point shot, keeping the Devils at least somewhat within reach. Their offense had some possession in the third, but Detroit was clogging the middle up really well and New Jersey was not taking advantage on the cycle. At least, the Devils remained in it until the Devils got too unfocused around the net and forgot to check the passing lane from van Riemsdyk on the goal line to Dominik Shine cutting down the side while Kovacevic and Siegenthaler won an ultimately unimportant battle in front of the crease. The Red Wings took a 3-0 lead with over nine minutes to play.

Nemec was called for tripping Michael Brandsegg-Nygard with just over four minutes to play in the game, adding insult to injury. The Devils only had a little bit of attack time in the final two minutes, though Markstrom stayed in the net, and the Red Wings shut them out 3-0.

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

Giving Up?​

I don’t think I could describe the response in the third period, especially after the third goal by Detroit, as anything other than giving up. Most of the time, it seemed like only Connor Brown and Jack Hughes were very interested in taking the puck up the ice, as much of the team fell back into bad habits. The worst of all, I thought, was the decision by Sheldon Keefe to swap Arseny Gritsyuk with Jesper Bratt. Bratt was a step off the entire game. His passes to Jack Hughes were almost never on the tape. He was missing pucks, overskating and relying too much on staying to the outside, above the dots, allowing the Red Wings to chase him to the blueline. When Bratt was on the ice, he made it look like a game in January.

The Devils only had one primary line do better than a 50.00 expected goals percentage: the Meier-Hischier-Mercer line, which I thought was also way below part tonight. They only managed three shots on goal, but they had a 72.41 xGF% because of the quality of their chances. Perhaps if Mercer hit the net in close more, he would be a 35-goal scorer instead of a 20-goal scorer.

I do think it was reckless to play Jacob Markstrom tonight, but he was not close to the worst Devil on the ice. He had three goals against on 2.88 expected goals against and 30 shots on goal. Meanwhile, the fourth line went from a respectable group to an unplayable one with the replacement of Tsyplakov with Dadonov, while Johnny Kovacevic looked like he did right after returning from his injury. Back to backs are clearly still a problem for Kovacevic, who was flat-footed all game and could not support the offense at all.

Keefe might not have realized it yet, but the only way he wins games like this is by loading minutes up for Luke Hughes. The Devils dominated the puck in his minutes, and it looked like they were actually threatening to score whenever he was separated from Kovacevic. Here’s how that broke down for Luke:

• With Kovacevic: 10:16, 8 CF, 8 CA (50.00 CF%), 3 SF, 3 SA, 0.29 xGF, 0.56 xGA (34.32 xGF%), 3 SCF
• Without Kovacevic: 11:42, 18 CF, 6 CA (88.89 CF%), 5 SF, 3 SA, 0.63 xGF, 0.20 xGA (82.47 xGF%), 12 SCF

It may just be that Johnny Kovacevic cannot handle an NHL workload this soon after his knee surgery, and he came back too early. But I really, really do not want to see him paired with Luke Hughes moving forward, regardless of Brett Pesce’s injury. Give me anyone else (except Dennis Cholowski). To make matters worse, Kovacevic took a potentially season-killing interference call to hand Detroit the chance they converted for their second goal of the game. He took that penalty even though Luke Hughes had the play covered. He’s not playing very good hockey.

But that’s that. The Devils’ backs are even more against the wall now, and they missed a huge opportunity to beat a Detroit team missing their top center tonight. The odds are back to being in the basement, but I would still like to see the Devils come out firing like they did in their WINS the next time they play, rather than revert to Keefe’s post-steakhouse system.

Your Thoughts​

What did you think of today’s game? What did you think of Kovacevic’s penalty and Markstrom’s point shot goals against? What did you think of the offense tonight? Leave your thoughts in the comments below, and thanks for reading.

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...s-drop-crucial-game-shut-out-3-0-by-red-wings

 

[New Jersey Devils]

New Jersey Devils Prospects Update: The Case for Vilen

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - SEPTEMBER 30: Topias Vilen #38 of the New Jersey Devils skates with the puck during the first period in a preseason game against the New York Rangers at Prudential Center on September 30, 2024 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Getty Images) | Getty Images

With the trade deadline behind us, it is time to take a look at some of the Utica Comets who may be recalled once the Devils are officially eliminated. In this article, I make the case for Topias Vilen’s NHL debut this season.

Why Vilen?​

Originally drafted in the 5th round of the 2021 NHL Entry Draft by the New Jersey Devils, Topias Vilen is a 22-year-old defenseman now in his third full season with the Utica Comets. Voted the most-improved Comet last season by the team, Vilen has been known throughout most of his career for his defensive play and puck-moving abilities.

While plus/minus has its detractors, it can have value when comparing teammates. Vilen is 2nd on the Comets with a +4 on a Utica team with a -35 goal differential and has been paired recently with former NHLer Calen Addison, a -14 on the season. Only five skaters on the Comets, who have suited up for 30 or more games, have a positive rating with defenseman Dmitry Osipov leading the team with a +5.

Vilen’s offensive never really popped as much as prospect followers had hoped after his 9 goal breakout for the Pelicans of the Liiga in 2022-23, but with his skill as a puck-mover, Vilen has been quietly picking up assists and has 19 points in 50 games this season, down from his AHL high of 29 in 54 contests. With Seamus Casey out of the lineup due to injury, Vilen has been playing an increased offensive role as of late, even taking shifts on the power play. All in all, while Vilen’s offensive numbers aren’t exactly awe-inspiring, they aren’t a black hole either, and Vilen is perfectly-capable of a more offensive role when called upon.

Overall, Vilen still has a chance to develop into a bottom-pairing defenseman in the NHL, but his time is dwindling. While that opportunity may not happen on a team so defensively-stacked as the Devils, New Jersey lacks puck-movers, and Vilen could help with that. Alternatively, a NHL showcase might be enough for another team to take a chance on Vilen should the Devils decide to move on from him this offseason. Either way, Vilen’s progress should be explored should the Devils be mathematically eliminated.

Around the Pool:​

Far from a blast, defenseman Chase Cheslock picked the perfect time for his first goal of the season.

What a snipe, lol, from Chase Cheslock ('23, 5th Rd) for his first goal of the season for St. Thomas. In overtime no less. #NJDevils pic.twitter.com/IXXf0mEgVe

— Daniel Rebain (@pvtmcbain) March 7, 2026

• Some honors for Mikhail Yegorov last week.

Mikhail Yegorov #NJDevils

Yegorov was named a Hockey East co-Goaltender of the Week on Tuesday.https://t.co/JPR8eaxUoK

— Dobber Sports News (@DobberNews) March 3, 2026

• Center Mason Moe has been heating up recently, moving to the top line for Minnesota.

Mason Moe ('25, 3rd Rd) with a goal and an assist through two periods against Michigan State.

Tonight Moe was elevated to the first line for Minnesota next to LJ Mooney and Brodie Zimmer. #NJDevils https://t.co/M329i9Azfx

— Daniel Rebain (@pvtmcbain) March 7, 2026

• Lastly, some good news for Veeti Louhivaara, who has been excellent since coming to North America.

4.25️ Veeti Louhivaara commits to @UConnMHOC – the 6'4" goaltender from Finland is currently playing in the USHL for the @ChicagoSteel pic.twitter.com/SC2x1qWVQP

— Neutral Zone (@_Neutral_Zone) February 25, 2026

Your Take​

Post your hockey-related comments below.

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/u...ey-devils-prospects-update-the-case-for-vilen

 

[New Jersey Devils]

The Devils And Their Simon Nemec Situation

NEWARK, NJ - MARCH 08: Simon Nemec #17 of the New Jersey Devils skates with the puck during a game between the Detroit Red Wings and New Jersey Devils at Prudential Center on March 8, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) | Icon Sportswire via Getty Images

One of the primary storylines to come out of the NHL Trade Deadline last week was Tom Fitzgerald not pulling the trigger on any trades. Fitzgerald was reportedly shopping every defenseman on the roster not named Luke Hughes or Brett Pesce, but he ultimately decided to hold on to all of the Devils blueliners.

That list of blueliners the Devils opted to hold on to includes the former 2nd overall pick Simon Nemec.

By now, you know what the situation is with Nemec. Nemec is finishing up his ELC this season and is due a new contract over the summer. Nemec recently switched agents. Nemec has a history of voicing his displeasure about his placement and usage on the Devils roster. According to Pierre LeBrun, Nemec reportedly is looking for a deal similar to the one Luke Hughes signed despite having less than half the counting stats and worse advanced stats. Nemec spent most of last season in Utica and has been a healthy scratch at times this season.

The Devils created a logjam at the NHL level at RHD when they traded for Johnathan Kovacevic from the Canadiens. Kovacevic beat out Nemec for the third pairing job in training camp last season. The Devils rewarded Kovacevic with a five year contract extension shortly before the trade deadline last year. With Brett Pesce and Dougie Hamilton already signed long-term, somebody had to be the odd man out. Except nobody was.

The Devils, in the aftermath of the Jack Hughes injury in the week leading up to the trade deadline last season, opted to hold on to their defensemen. With Kovacevic suffering a significant lower-body injury in the postseason, the Devils opted to hold on to their defensemen over the summer. Kovacevic is now back, and while he hasn’t played well since returning, he is playing.

Knowing that continuing to keep seven NHL defensemen on the roster is no longer sustainable, Fitzgerald has limited options when it comes to moving defensemen. He’s not moving Pesce or Hughes. If you believe what he said last week, he’s not shopping Hamilton. Maybe that changes this summer once his bonus is paid out and the actual dollars remaining on his deal are $6.25M over the final two years, but with a 10-team trade list, you still have to find a willing partner with the cap space to take him on. Kovacevic has a full NTC through next season and is playing poorly. Brenden Dillon’s NTC becomes a 10-team no-trade list on July 1. Jonas Siegenthaler already has a 10-team no-trade list. Fitzgerald, who handed out all of these contracts and no-trade clauses like Halloween candy, doesn’t have a lot of options to turn to. Except for one.

He could trade Simon Nemec, who is due for a new contract, doesn’t have trade protection, and doesn’t have arbitration rights. This might wind up being THE move, especially if he anticipates another grind of a contract negotiation over the summer.

But should he trade Nemec?

The Argument For Trading Nemec​

I’m not necessarily advocating for trading away Nemec, but I think its important to consider both sides of the argument here.

What we heard in the leadup to the deadline was that the Devils were hoping to acquire a “young, impact” top-six forward. Pierre LeBrun went as far as to say they’ll only do it if they get a “1st-line type forward, specifically a center”

That line alone is interesting, but not surprising. Center is a premium position. Wingers are not. Nico Hischier is entering a contract year. His status with the Devils beyond next season is uncertain. Jack Hughes has been injured far too often. He’s also coming off of an Olympic tournament where he had success playing on the wing. Getting another top six center would be incredibly proactive just in case Hischier decides to leave, but it also gives the Devils more options whether or not Hischier stays and whether or not Jack Hughes suffers another injury. It’s a better plan than “just move Dawson Mercer to center”. And worst case scenario, the Devils are now Colorado or Florida levels of deep down the middle. That’s not a bad thing.

It’s hard to find difference-making centers and the Devils really only have two assets to try to find one if they so choose. They could use their first round pick this year on one if they like the prospect enough. Or they could try to trade Simon Nemec for one.

The problem with trading Nemec for that type of player is that teams that have that type of player are going to keep them for themselves. They’re going to build around young-impact top-six forwards. They’re especially going to keep those players if they can play center. The Devils aren’t going to be able to flip Nemec for Macklin Celebrini, or Leo Carlsson, or Adam Fantilli, or Logan Cooley. They’re also not going to flip Nemec to get a player like Beckett Sennecke or whatever young winger you have on your wishlist. These teams are also right to think that and to want to hold on to those types of players

If they’re going to trade Nemec for that type of forward, it probably has to be a player in a similar situation to Nemec where they’re frustrated with their situation, there’s some flaws with the player, the team is in a precarious position and might be desperate for assets, and/or you’re betting a chance of scenery will get the most out of the player you’re acquiring.

So what are your options realistically?

Jordan Kyrou is a name that has been out there for trade. He’s listed as a center but he’s really more of a scoring winger. He’s having a down year, but that could be a byproduct of the Blues being a dreadful team. He’s also going to be 28 on Opening Night. I wouldn’t consider him to be ‘young’ by NHL standards. That’s not to say I wouldn’t want to trade for Kyrou, but I don’t think I’m making Simon Nemec the centerpiece of that type of deal if I do choose to go down that road. I’d be looking to trade picks or other assets to do that.

Elliotte Friedman speculated recently on his 32 Thoughts podcast that a Simon Nemec for Matthew Knies deal could make sense. Knies will be 24 in October, and he would add much needed size and physicality to the Devils Top Six. He’s not a center, and he is signed through 2031 at $7.75M AAV. Granted, I’m not sure why Toronto would move Knies, but the Leafs lack assets of their own and its just as hard to find good young RHD as it is centers.

Other than that though, I’m not sure where you’re going for that type of player. Maybe the Flyers want out of the Matvei Michkov business given his usage this season but I don’t see the two division rivals connecting on a trade of that magnitude. Maybe the Kraken want to move on from Shane Wright but I don’t know if he’ll become that type of player you’d be hoping to get. I will say that I wouldn’t trade Nemec just to trade him, and I wouldn’t trade him for futures because I don’t think that does anything for the Devils.

Nemec might not be as valuable as he was four years ago when he went #2 overall. Frankly, if he played better, we probably wouldn’t be having the conversation at all because keeping Nemec would be a no-brainer. But this isn’t the Alex Holtz situation either where he can’t crack the lineup and the Devils sold Holtz for 30 cents on the dollar before it became apparent he couldn’t play. Nemec is playing nearly 20 minutes a night. He’s still a young right-handed defensemen, which is another premium position. If there’s any doubt how valuable RHD are, go look at the returns bad ones like Tyler Myers fetched at the deadline. Aside from the 2026 first round pick, the Devils most valuable trade chip among their prospects is probably Simon Nemec.

If they could turn him into that type of difference-making, top-six player, I’m certainly open to suggestions. But I don’t think they can, nor do I trust Tom Fitzgerald to swing that sort of deal.

The Argument For Keeping Nemec​

Good, young, right-handed defensemen are incredibly difficult to find. And simply put, the Devils shouldn’t be in the business of giving one away.

Obviously, Nemec has had his struggles this year. That’s to be expected as he’s still on his ELC and isn’t close to 200 NHL games played yet. But he has also shown flashes of brilliance this year. He probably has the best shot on the team among defensemen, a list that includes Dougie Hamilton. He has shown a clutch gene, which isn’t nothing. He’s the rare type where he seems to play better the more minutes he gets as opposed to being sheltered. He had a strong Olympic tournament playing in a best-on-best format.

The Devils do have to consider the future of their blueline though. Hamilton is 32 years old. Pesce is 31. Kovacevic is 28. The Devils don’t really have another RHD in the organization with the upside that Nemec has, and I’m including Seamus Casey in the conversation when I say that. With all due respect, Casey isn’t Nemec. Guys like Viktor Hurtig, Charlie Leddy, Mikael Diotte, Sigge Holmgren, and Artem Barabosha are fine depth pieces to have in the organization but there’s a long way to go before we ever see any of those guys in the NHL, if we ever see them at all.

That’s not to say the Devils don’t wind up addressing the RHD position in a significant manner at this year’s draft. We don’t know what they’ll do when they’re on the clock, whenever they’ll pick. But just because they address the position in the draft doesn’t mean they’re going to move on from Nemec.

What Should the Devils Do?​

I can say with certainty that if I were in charge, the first thing I’m doing is I’m not letting Tom Fitzgerald make this decision. He and the rest of the Devils braintrust can go on their merry way as far as I’m concerned.

That said, if it were up to me, I’m not moving Simon Nemec. For a few reasons.

One, I don’t think the Devils can get the type of player they’re thinking (or more realistically, hoping) they can get by dangling Nemec on the open market. I think the best they could do is the 2024 David Jiricek trade…..no, not the one from last week for Bobby Brink. The one with all of the draft picks. And I’m not really interested in a futures-heavy return like that, even knowing that picks are ammunition for potential future trades. That trade isn’t making the 2026-27 Devils any better than the 2025-26 team.

Two, I don’t think a potentially difficult contract negotiation is reason enough to move on from a player that you once thought highly enough of to draft #2 overall. Nemec’s agent can ask for the sun, the moon, and the stars, but at the end of the day, he doesn’t have arbitration rights. Fitzgerald, or whoever the Devils GM, would be smart to take a page from the late Ray Shero on this one. Nemec’s camp can threaten to play hardball or go to the KHL, but at the end of the day, the Devils hold his rights. If he wants to play in the NHL, it will be in New Jersey unless the Devils decide otherwise. For now, anyways.

Three, I’m not moving Nemec because I still believe in the player at the end of the day. Just because he’s not worth the Luke Hughes contract doesn’t mean they should just give up on him. Put him in a position to succeed by playing him, let him learn from his mistakes, let him figure out what he needs to improve on over the summer like you would any other young player, and go from there.

The Devils might have a logjam on the blueline, but trading Nemec to clean that up isn’t the answer. I get their options might be limited due to the Kovacevic NTC, Hamilton’s AAV and trade protection, and their lack of desire to move Pesce, but that’s the situation Fitzgerald created with the Kovacevic contract extension. If it was up to me, I’m exhausting every option to trade Hamilton and using the return I get from him and the cap space to add to the forward group. And if I can’t do that, I’m exhausting even more options by moving Dillon or Siegenthaler and playing Pesce off-hand. Not that I love the idea of playing Pesce off-hand, but its something the Devils have done this season.

I won’t go as far as to say that trading Nemec is a non-starter. The Devils should be open to ideas to making the team better. But I don’t think trading Nemec accomplishes much towards reaching that goal unless they can land that young top-six forward, and I’m skeptical that player is out there and attainable in this instance.

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...01/the-devils-and-their-simon-nemec-situation

 

[New Jersey Devils]

Devils in the Details – 3/11/26: Taking Charge Edition

Mar 4, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, USA; New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (86) and Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman Morgan Rielly (44) look for the puck during the second period at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images | Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

Here are your links for today:

Devils Links​

“The Devils rank dead last in goals scored above expectation and Timo Meier might be the poster boy for their struggles. He is scoring at a pace of 23.6 goals per 82 games. That’s not a bad total but certainly not $8.8 million worthy – and the worst of any full season in his NHL career.” [Infernal Access ($)]

On Simon Nemec: “Whether another team swoops in and tries to steal the Slovak defenseman remains to be seen. However, a source tells New Jersey Hockey Now that the Nemec camp may start negotiations with Luke Hughes‘ number on his new contract. That’s noteworthy given Nemec switched agents recently and is now represented by Craig Oster of Newport Sports Management.” [New Jersey Hockey Now]

Our guy Jack:

Some insight from #NJDevils Keefe on how Jack Hughes has evolved since the Olympics:

"There’s been a significant increase in Jack speaking up both on the bench and in the locker room (…) to me he’s come back and really taken charge of a lot of different areas for our team." pic.twitter.com/ZHpt884hnG

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) March 10, 2026

Hockey Links​

Pretty good!

Lane Hutson officially has the record for most assists by an NHL defenseman through his first 150 games

With 116 assists, he passes Sergei Zubov in the history books pic.twitter.com/N4oVG5KEbP

— Gino Hard (@GinoHard_) March 11, 2026

19-year-old Macklin Celebrini joins some elite company tonight after scoring his 90th point of the season against Buffalo

(h/t @NHL) pic.twitter.com/W6QrcAMjD7

— BarDown (@BarDown) March 11, 2026

“The 2026 NHL trade deadline didn’t produce the type of fireworks hockey fans wanted to see — and maybe even some NHL front offices. It might, though, be a precursor to an offseason that delivers some rather explosive moves.” [The Athletic ($)]

“The Colorado Avalanche were not happy after superstar Nathan MacKinnon was ejected from Tuesday’s loss to the Edmonton Oilers. MacKinnon received a five-minute major penalty and game misconduct after colliding with Edmonton Oilers goaltender Connor Ingram.” [Sportsnet]

“The Florida Panthers aren’t expecting to see Brad Marchand play again anytime soon, and with the team’s playoff hopes dwindling it’s possible that the two-time Stanley Cup winner and Olympic silver medalist’s season could be over.” [Associated Press]

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

Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...-in-the-details-3-11-26-taking-charge-edition

 

[New Jersey Devils]

Game Preview #64: Detroit Red Wings @ New Jersey Devils

This is what fans want to see, some fight in the Devils…or perhaps the Red Wings are simply trying to console the Devils for wasting another season. | Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images

• The Matchup: Detroit Red Wings (35-21-7) @ New Jersey Devils (32-29-2)
• The Time: 7:00 pm EST
• The Broadcast: ESPN, Devils Hockey Radio

Last Devils Game​

On Saturday afternoon the Devils beat the New York Rangers 6-3 at the Rock. The win was the Devils 4th win in a row, and Jacob Markstrom’s 4th win in a row, in which he’s started 5 games in a row for the Devils. The Devils went up 1-0 1:06 into the first period on a goal from Jesper Bratt. The Rangers would score 2 goals 2:10 apart in the middle of the period before Dawson Mercer tied the game at 2-2 with 13 seconds left in the period. The Devils and Rangers traded goals 1:01 seconds apart in the 2nd to start the 3rd period tied 3-3. The Devils would score 3 unanswered goals in the 3rd period, including an ENG, which gave Jack Hughes a hat trick. He scored more goals on Saturday than he had in his previous 24 games. Hopefully he’ll go on a heater for the rest of the season.

Last Red Wings Game​

On Friday, the Red Wings lost 3-1 at home to the Florida Panthers. The loss was their 2nd in a row, and their 3rd loss in their last 5 games. Matthew Tkachuk had a hat trick for the Panthers, scoring one goal in the 1st period, and 2 goals in the 3rd period, including an ENG. Alex DiBrincat had the lone goal for the Red Wings at 10:56 of the second period. John Gisbon was in net for the loss for Detroit. As of this writing, there is no word on whether Gibson or Cam Talbot will get the start tonight against the Devils.

Injuries, Roster for Tonight, Yada, Yada, Yada.​

The Devils did just play Saturday afternoon, so they will not be practicing today. You’d have to assume that Jake Allen will play again at some point. Jacob Markstrom has started 5 games in a row, and won 4 of those 5, but with back to back games this weekend, now is the perfect time to get Jake Allen some game action. I would also assume, barring any unknown injuries, that the Devils will run the same lineup again tonight, as they did yesterday afternoon.

Grimace’s Prediction and 2025-2026 Record Tracker​

Grimace was wrong yet again for his prediction against the Rangers. However, at this point, he told me that he’s just going to keep “predicting” that they will lose, as he says he’s bound to be right eventually.

Grimace’s 2025-2026 Season Prediction record currently stands at 12-14-0.

Your Take​

The Devils have now won 4 games in a row, which is officially their 2nd longest win streak of the season, after the 8 game win streak back in October. While wins are nice, the 4 wins have all been against teams currently out of a playoff spot and/or below the Devils in the standings. Detroit is in 3rd place in the Atlantic Division, so this will be a much tougher game for the Devils. The Devils still sit 9 points out of WC spot #2 and 10 points out of WC #1. If they can go on a 10 game winning steak, maybe they can get back in the mix. Feel free to leave your thoughts and comments below and thanks for reading!

In a shameless bit of non hockey related self promotion (approved by Chris – thanks Chris), I wanted to plug my brand new podcast on here, if any of you are interested in listening. We have a light hearted, fun discussion about any movies, music or video games mostly from the 1980s and 1990s. Please feel free to listen to us on any of the formats below and any feedback is welcome (positive and negative). Also, please follow us and subscribe, even if you think we stink.

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Source: https://www.allaboutthejersey.com/d...review-64-detroit-red-wings-new-jersey-devils

 

[New Jersey Devils]

2025-26 Gamethread #65: New Jersey Devils vs. Calgary Flames

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 20: Simon Nemec #17 of the New Jersey Devils and Connor Zary #47 of the Calgary Flames wrap around the net during the first period at Prudential Center on March 20, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) | Getty Images

The Matchup: New Jersey Devils (32-30-2) versus the Calgary Flames (25-32-7).

The Time: 7:00 pm EST

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

The Game Preview: I had it here.

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-65-new-jersey-devils-vs-calgary-flames