Devils’ Depth Scoring Can Become a Major Strength for 2026-27

With just a month left before veterans are set to report to training camp, it’s safe to say that the New Jersey Devils will look drastically different this season. Armed with a new general manager, a revamped front office, and quite a few new faces, the club is on the hunt for redemption. But can they emerge as a serious competitor within the Eastern Conference?

One of the most critical determinants of their success will be depth scoring. After spending the last few seasons with a volatile bottom six frequently shuffled due to injury, their third and fourth lines must find consistency. Here are a few reasons why their former weakness can become one of their biggest strengths in 2026-27.

Arseny Gritsyuk’s Increased Role

Having a fully healthy Arseny Gritsyuk will be a game-changer for the Devils. He missed the final stretch of games last season after suffering an upper-body injury in late March. Later on, head coach Sheldon Keefe revealed that he would undergo season-ending surgery, but the good news is that he’s expected to be ready before the season begins.

Even though his rookie campaign was cut short, he still recorded 13 goals and 31 points. Gritsyuk’s first season in North America was incredibly promising, namely due to his ability to find chemistry with a wide variety of linemates. He spent the majority of 2025-26 on the third line, but also frequented the Devils’ top line and the power play.

Everyone's favorite is staying on the menu.

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— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) June 30, 2026

Earlier this summer, Gritsyuk signed a three-year extension, which carries a $3.25 million average annual value (AAV). This season, he’s projected to have a permanent role on the third line, per PuckPedia. He’ll be an offensive threat, especially during 5-on-5 scenarios. Last season, he recorded 26 points in 5-on-5 situations and was on the ice for a total of 40 goals — a stabilizing presence in an area where the rest of the team struggled.

In only his second NHL season, Gritsyuk is going to embrace a much larger role for the Devils. With his visionary playmaking, strength on the rush, and deceptive wrist shot, he remains a top candidate for a breakout season.

Middle-Six Upgrade in Evan Rodrigues

Another significant improvement for the Devils this summer was the addition of Evan Rodrigues, who was acquired in the Jacob Markstrom trade. At long last, the club has another option for a third-line center, after having difficulties filling the role for multiple seasons.

Rodrigues has crossed the 30-point threshold for the last five seasons, including a career-best of 43 in 2021-22, offering strong two-way capabilities and gritty playmaking. He thrived while switching between center and wing for the Florida Panthers last season, moving throughout the lineup as needed after a multitude of injuries. He also saw increased ice time on special teams, logging his highest amount of penalty-kill minutes since 2018-19 with the Buffalo Sabres.

A potential third-line combination of Gritsyuk, Rodrigues, and Connor Brown would be a substantial upgrade for the Devils. Likewise, Rodrigues’s versatility will be an asset, with the ability to move throughout their middle and bottom six based on the team’s needs. He’s also known for generating a high volume of shots on goal, and his 160 shots last season were nearly double that of the average NHL forward (86), according to NHL Edge.

Toward the end of 2025-26, the Devils’ third and fourth lines were an unsuccessful combination of physicality and American Hockey League (AHL) talent. Meaning, the club will benefit from having another player capable of creating scoring opportunities and driving play.

Fourth Line Can Shine

Perhaps the biggest difference this season will be the Devils’ fourth line, which has lacked stability in recent seasons. Luke Glendening mainly served as their fourth-line center at the beginning of last season, with some variation of Paul Cotter, Stefan Noesen, or Brian Halonen on either wing. 

Data from Natural Stat Trick shows just how much this group struggled in 5-on-5 situations. For example, the Cotter-Glendening-Noesen line had a 33.33 goals for percentage, paired with a relative shots for percentage of minus-11.10%. After injuries wracked the lineup in the second half of the season, the Devils relied on a fourth line consisting of Cotter, Nick Bjugstad, and Maxim Tsyplakov. Unfortunately, this combination fared even worse, with only two goals and 33 scoring chances across 15 games.

Now, their fourth line is shaping up to be Jesper Boqvist, Cody Glass, and Nick Bjugstad. Fans have high expectations for Boqvist’s second stint in New Jersey, since his playoff pedigree and speedy offense can immediately bolster their bottom six. Like Glass and Rodrigues, he can also alternate between center and wing, which will leave Keefe with a few more line variations to choose from.

However, a crucial factor in their success will be staying healthy. So long as there isn’t a constant string of injuries, the organization should be able to maintain consistent secondary scoring.

Big Expectations for 2026-27

After undergoing major changes this offseason, the Devils have the opportunity to make a major comeback. They possess a unique mixture of veteran talent, high-octane offense, steady goaltending, and dynamic defense.

With key extensions signed and both new and familiar faces joining the lineup, it will be interesting to see general manager Sunny Mehta’s vision finally come to fruition. Now that they have a dependable middle and bottom-six group, there’s a good chance that the Devils will take the Metropolitan Division by storm for 2026-27.