How Devils’ Depth Scoring Is Stepping Up

The New Jersey Devils have enjoyed a phenomenal start to the 2026-27 season, with a 12-5-0 record to show for their efforts. Since welcoming Sunny Mehta as their new general manager (GM), they’ve added key pieces to their roster, and every gamble the club has made has paid off — and then some.

Initially, there were two major uncertainties the organization needed to address: depth scoring and goaltending. But after adjustments to their middle and bottom six, paired with the addition of star goaltender Connor Hellebuyck, the Devils have been on a hot streak. They’ve won eight of their last ten games, most recently defeating the New York Islanders 5-4 in overtime on Saturday night.

Secondary scoring has been an unsung hero for the Devils, especially in their last few games. Here is everything that’s been going right for their bottom six.

Connor Brown: All-Situations Extraordinaire

Connor Brown has become a crucial all-situations player for the Devils. After missing the start of the season with a lower-body injury, he returned to the lineup on Oct. 20 against the Colorado Avalanche. Since then, he’s recorded three goals and five points, most recently notching a goal and an assist on Tuesday night against the Edmonton Oilers, his former team.

The Lombardi-Glass-Brown line is a stabilizing presence for their bottom six, but Brown is also making significant contributions for the Devils’ special teams. His ability to disrupt opposing scoring chances on the penalty kill is unmatched. He also excels at creating shorthanded opportunities, as shown by his goal against the Avalanche. Brown opened the scoring with a fortunate bounce that found its way into the back of the net.

Man advantage? Not for them. https://t.co/GiINOBaJn9

— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) October 29, 2026

Earlier this week, he was moved to the top power-play unit in an effort to find consistency. He immediately proved his worth against the Oilers, tying the game at one with a power-play goal assisted by the Hughes brothers. Brown also earned an assist on Jack Hughes’s goal at the end of the second period, ending the night with two points on the man advantage.

Anthony Mantha: Third-Line Stability

When the Devils signed Anthony Mantha to a two-year deal in July, the expectation was that he would play on the top line alongside Hughes and Jesper Bratt. Though this combination showed some promising chemistry, it took a while for all three players to be on the same page. As a result, head coach Sheldon Keefe decided to move Mantha onto the third line on the left wing of Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist.

This move was far from a demotion. Instead, it allowed Mantha to join a line better suited for his skill set. Rodrigues is an adept playmaker, Boqvist offers elite speed, and Mantha is a power forward with strong finishing abilities. Per MoneyPuck, the Mantha-Rodrigues-Boqvist line averages 4.87 goals every 60 minutes, along with 46.79 shot attempts. 

It’s also worth noting how Mantha can seamlessly transition throughout the lineup. For example, in the few shifts he played with Hughes and Bratt against the St. Louis Blues, Mantha scored the goal that put the Devils up by two. He notched a total of three points in the second period, assisting Boqvist’s goal before scoring his second of the night on a breakaway.

Mantha seems to have found his stride early on this season, with four goals and eight points in his last eight games. When asked about the newfound chemistry with his linemates after defeating the Blues, he said, “It feels great. A game like tonight obviously probably gives us more confidence as a line…If your top guys are playing great and then your bottom six are doing the same thing, then like I said before, we’re going to be really hard to play against.”

Amadeus Lombardi: A Hidden Gem

The Devils’ fourth line in particular has seen major improvement this season, largely due to the presence of Amadeus Lombardi. He made his NHL debut during the home opener and has appeared in all but two games so far for 2026-27.

Mehta’s hope was to acquire a player with a high ceiling in a low-risk trade scenario. The young forward is the textbook definition of a hidden gem, acquired right before the 2026 NHL Draft in exchange for a fourth-round pick. Prior to the trade, he spent four seasons with the Grand Rapids Griffins of the American Hockey League (AHL), where he recorded 69 points across 163 games.

Now, he’s secured a full-time role on the Devils, taking Stefan Noesen’s former spot. Lombardi’s rookie campaign has been a success so far, gradually earning additional responsibility and higher ice time with each game. He has four assists this season, two of which came during the Devils’ explosive 7-1 win over the New York Rangers. He’s still looking for his first NHL goal, but has recorded a career-high of four shots on goal twice.

All in all, he’s been making the most of his current situation. Lombardi has bolstered the Devils’ fourth line, turning a former weakness into a source of consistency. His defensive responsibility, ability to break the puck out, and his work ethic will remain a valuable asset as the season wears on.

The Devils have benefited from reliable depth scoring to start 2026-27, which has been a liability in seasons past. They have versatile veterans in Mantha and Brown, plus a surplus of young talent in Lombardi, making secondary scoring a key factor in the team’s playoff hopes.