How the Devils Can Become Contenders in 2025-26
The New Jersey Devils need to make changes to their roster, but some improvement will also have to come internally to make noise in 2025-26.
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This is a crucial offseason for the New Jersey Devils. They made the playoffs by just two points this past season, so they need to improve their roster to avoid being in a precarious situation again in 2025-26.
How can the Devils become contenders in a Metropolitan Division that looks less competitive than it once did? External additions will help, but they also need some things to go right internally.
Finding a Third-Line Center
We've covered this topic quite a bit already, so it's probably obvious by now, but the Devils need to find a third-line center. Part of it is because of the uncertainty with Jack Hughes' health, but they also got nothing out of their third-line centers this season.
Jean-Gabriel Pageau could be one target, but one name that emerged over the weekend is Colorado Avalanche center Charlie Coyle. Nick Kypreos reported in his most recent article for the Toronto Star that Coyle could find himself back on the market after the Avalanche re-signed Brock Nelson to a three-year deal worth $7.5 million annually.
Coyle finished this past season with 17 goals and 35 points in 83 games between the Boston Bruins and Avalanche. His $5.25 million cap hit is too rich for my liking, but he would be a solid option for the Devils if they can find a third-party facilitator to retain his salary.
A one-two-three punch of Hughes, Nico Hischier and Coyle would be an improvement over what the Devils iced last season, and there's no long-term commitment since Coyle is entering the final year of his contract. He should cost pennies if the Avalanche are just looking to unload his salary.
At Least One Top-6/Middle-6 Winger
Once the Devils find their third-line center, they can focus on improving the supporting pieces around their centers. Cap space will determine how many wingers they can add, but they need at least one top-six/middle-six winger.
Mason Marchment seems to be a popular trade target among Devils fans, and understandably so. He produced a 29-goal, 62-point pace this season but has snarl and would add size at 6-foot-5, 212 pounds. His $4.5 million cap hit could give the Devils some flexibility to add some more depth, depending on how much salary they shed themselves.
Marchment won't be the only winger the Devils could target, too. JJ Peterka might be expensive to acquire and re-sign, but he seems like the type of player that would interest the Devils. Bryan Rust, Chris Kreider, and Morgan Geekie are other wingers who have popped up on trade boards, and others will emerge.
Gritsyuk & Nemec's Development
Not all the Devils' improvements will or can come externally because they're tight on cap space. That means some of their young players will have to take steps forward and be meaningful contributors in 2025-26.
Perhaps the most important is Arseniy Gritsyuk, who's been one of the top young players in the KHL for the last few seasons. The Devils don't need Gritsyuk to be a star, though that wouldn't hurt, but the bar for him to be better than the Devils' depth players last season is very low.
If Gritsyuk is a 15-20 goal scorer and 35-40 point player as a rookie, that's a win for the Devils. Anything better is a bonus, and there is potential for that bonus if he shows he can fit on a line with Hughes or Hischier.
Nemec had a rough 2024-25, but he showed in the playoffs that he's far from a lost cause. He'll likely begin next season in the NHL since Johnathan Kovacevic won't be ready for training camp after he underwent knee surgery a month ago.
I'm not a doctor, but Kovacevic having knee surgery and that long of a timeline makes me think he suffered some ligament damage. If so, Nemec has an opportunity to make an impact, even if it's in a third-pair role.
The Devils need more puck-moving and offensive ability on their back end, which is Nemec's strength. I wouldn't rule out Seamus Casey having a say, too, but Nemec looking more like his rookie self would go a long way. If Gritsyuk and Nemec live up to their potential, the Devils will be better for it.
Daws Needs To Be a Reliable Backup
Perhaps the Devils find a way to re-sign Jake Allen, but I'd be surprised if they can make it work financially. If so, that leaves Nico Daws as the top candidate to take over for Allen as Jacob Markström's backup.
Daws looked like an NHL-caliber goalie in his brief time with the Devils this season, but I'm still unsure what he is. He totaled an .893 SV% with the Utica Comets, but the Comets were also one of the weaker teams in the AHL this season.
The Devils don't need Daws to be an all-world goaltender, but they'll need him to hold down the fort when called upon, since they can't run Markström into the ground. If Daws is a .900 goalie and saves what's expected of him, goaltending shouldn’t be an issue next season.
A Bottom-6 Wing
This will be entirely dependent on whether the Devils have enough cap space, but finding a cheap bottom-six forward in free agency would do wonders.
I'd advise against spending big during free agency this year. But no matter how shallow the UFA group is, you can almost always find effective bottom-six wingers for minimal cost.
Michael Essyimont would be a good fit, but there are others that we will start getting into later this week. Even someone like Brian Halonen would likely be an upgrade over Nathan Bastian, and the Devils could always bring back Daniel Sprong, who should cost close to the veteran minimum to re-sign.
Jack Hughes Needs to Stay Healthy
Last but not least, the Devils will go as far as Jack Hughes' health takes them. If he's unavailable come the playoffs, I have a hard time imagining them making a run.
Even if the Devils acquire someone like Coyle and re-sign Cody Glass, Hughes is a top 5-10 center in the NHL, so they need him to stay on the ice. Hopefully, he'll have enough time this offseason to add strength to his frame after having shoulder surgery in early March. A stronger and healthier Hughes means a stronger Devils team.