3 Things for the Devils to Consider Heading Into 2026-27

The offseason is nearly over, but the New Jersey Devils have shown no signs of stopping anytime soon. On Tuesday, they added Luke Evangelista to their roster, acquiring him from the Nashville Predators in exchange for two selections in the 2028 NHL Draft. 

Following a summer filled with positive changes, their top and bottom six have been revitalized in just a few short months. General manager (GM) Sunny Mehta has already made it clear that the Devils have what it takes to be a contender. And with so much talent throughout their organization, a return to the playoffs appears to be a matter of not if, but when.

Training camp is less than two weeks away, and the club must finalize its lineup, while some players will have to compete for a roster spot. But in the meantime, here are three big things for the Devils to consider heading into the 2026-27 season.

Is Meier-Hischier-Mantha a Better Combination?

The first order of business for New Jersey will be sorting out offensive lines. Last season, that task became infinitely more difficult once injuries sidelined star players and depth scorers alike. Vast improvements came this summer in the form of Jesper Boqvist and Evan Rodrigues, who were acquired from the Florida Panthers in the Jacob Markstrom trade.

But arguably the most important addition was Anthony Mantha, a proven top-six veteran wing. Initially, it seemed that a spot alongside Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt was inevitable, but data from NHL Edge and Natural Stat Trick proves he might be better suited to play with Nico Hischier and Timo Meier.

For starters, Mantha’s finishing abilities would be a major asset to the Devils’ top line. Last season, he tallied 33 goals and 31 assists, which would have made him the leading goal scorer in New Jersey. His stats and style of play is fundamentally similar to Meier’s, both ranking near the top of the league in high-danger shots on goal and skating distance, paired with their dynamic skating and strong net-front presence.

His 5-on-5 capabilities are another reason why the Devils can benefit from putting him on a line with Hischier and Meier. Mantha scored 25 goals and earned 47 points in 5-on-5 scenarios last season and was on the ice for 60 goals. This would be a key asset on the first line, especially since Hischier and Meier are responsible for the toughest matchups. All in all, Mantha’s size, goalscoring abilities, and skill in high-danger areas can make the Devils’ top line even more of an offensive juggernaut.

Where Do Noesen and Bjugstad Fit?

Now that the Devils have established a new era driven by metrics and analytics, it’s important to move on from players who don’t fit with their current group. And following Mehta’s complete restructure of their bottom six, it will be interesting to see how the rest of September plays out. 

With training camp right around the corner, two players who could compete for an extra forward slot are Stefan Noesen and Nick Bjugstad. Both had a difficult 2025-26 campaign for different reasons. Noesen was limited to 38 games after facing setbacks with his knee surgery, putting up just seven points. Bjugstad, on the other hand, was acquired by the Devils in February but has yet to make a significant impact. In 26 games, he recorded two assists, primarily playing on the fourth line.

Out of the two, Noesen is the likelier bounce-back candidate. In 2024-25, he earned a career-high of 22 goals and 41 points, playing a key role on the power play. If he can get back to his explosive offense from two seasons ago, there’s a chance that he could find himself back in a consistent bottom-six role. But if he can’t, the expectation is that Boqvist will earn a permanent fourth-line role.

At the moment, it doesn’t seem feasible to keep Bjugstad on the roster. Their right side is virtually set in stone, especially with the recent addition of Evangelista. In fact, the Devils now have an abundance of talented right wings, leaving Connor Brown projected to play on the fourth line. Bjugstad has one year left in his current contract, which has an average annual value (AAV) of $1.75 million.

With an overcrowded forward group, the Devils will need to make some tough decisions before opening night. Their third and fourth lines have seen serious upgrades in terms of offensive production, but it leaves Noesen and Bjugstad as the odd men out.

Is a Three-Goalie Rotation the Answer?

The Devils’ biggest question by far lies with their goaltending situation. After re-signing Nico Daws and adding another veteran in David Rittich, it appears they’ll head into the season utilizing a three-goalie rotation. Jake Allen remains the strongest candidate to be their starter, with Daws and Rittich as backups. But is this a long-term solution?

For years, Daws has been viewed as an important part of the Devils’ franchise. However, he’s appeared in just 55 games across four seasons, with only three starts in 2025-26. With Markstrom gone and Rittich signed for just one year, Daws has a shot at something that’s evaded him for a long time: a path to a full-time NHL role.

He’s spent the majority of the last two seasons in the American Hockey League (AHL) with the Utica Comets, but hasn’t had the opportunity to develop fully with the Devils. Making him Allen’s backup for 2026-27 would allow Daws to prove his worth, especially after signing a $2.2 million extension over the summer.

Sunny Mehta on the goalie tandem for the #NJDevils right now of Allen/Daws:

"Nico Daws has been a pretty big prospect for us for years now, and hasn't really had the path to develop. For me, we're pretty excited about the potential opportunity in front of him."

— Amanda Stein (@amandacstein) July 2, 2026

The good news is that Mehta appears to have complete faith in Daws and is encouraging this next step in his career. Another important member of the Devils’ franchise excited to see how this season pans out is Martin Brodeur, who believes Daws has what it takes to compete for the starting role.

Overall, the Devils have quite a few things to think about before the season begins. Training camp will provide a better understanding of what to expect, but the consensus is that New Jersey will be a team to watch in 2026-27.