After a tumultuous season that ended in playoff elimination, the New Jersey Devils are looking to bounce back in their final two games of 2025-26. Earlier this week, they lost two crucial Metropolitan Division matchups, and their impressive goalscoring pace stalled for a few games.
Either way, New Jersey is set to have an eventful summer ahead of next season. Going 2-3-0 in their last five games, it’s time for the team to take the offseason to reevaluate their priorities, hire a new general manager (GM), and bring in complementary talent for their core players.
This week, the Devils will play their final home game of the season, then play the Boston Bruins in one last road trip. Here are a few storylines to follow for the week of April 12 — April 19, 2026.
Luke Hughes and Jacob Markstrom’s Seasons End
The last few days have been filled with announcements from the Devils’ organization, most notably shutting down both Luke Hughes and Jacob Markstrom. Even though it’s the tail end of the season, the team will still be challenged without their star defenseman and starting goaltender.
Hughes was shut down to undergo surgery and begin the rehab and recovery process early. At this time, the team has not revealed what kind of operation he will have, but many speculate that it has to do with the dislocated shoulder he suffered in January. This marks the second consecutive year that Hughes has had to sit out the final games of the season, following an injury in Game 1 of the Devils’ appearance in the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
On Friday, head coach Sheldon Keefe announced that Markstrom will also miss the rest of the season in order to address some lingering issues. He was sidelined with a lower-body injury at the start of the season, and there’s a possibility that he never fully recovered.
It could explain his shaky performance this season. His .883 save percentage (SV%) and 3.07 goals-against average (GAA) mark his worst numbers since his 2014-15 season with the Vancouver Canucks. Hopefully, both Hughes and Markstrom make a full recovery in time for training camp.
AHL Recalls Have the Chance to Shine
Quite a few players from the Utica Comets will be ending the season with the Devils. Last week, the team recalled forwards Brian Halonen and Marc McLaughlin from their American Hockey League (AHL) affiliate, and both have slotted into a fourth-line role since then. So far, Halonen has one assist, but McLaughlin has yet to record a shot on goal across four games.
A familiar face joined the Devils for practice on Friday, as Nico Daws is set to enter the lineup. He is expected to start on Sunday against the Ottawa Senators in the final home game of the season. Daws posted a .968 SV% against the Minnesota Wild in October and has a 15-16-8 record with the Comets this season. If there are any issues with the Devils’ goalie tandem in the offseason, there’s a high likelihood that fans will see Daws again.
Defenseman Topias Vilen was also recalled from the AHL, and the 23-year-old is expected to make his NHL debut tonight (April 12). In his third season with the Comets, Vilen has tallied four goals and 24 points in 59 games. While speaking to the media after practice, he shared what it meant to have the chance to play with the Devils, saying, “I’m ready for this chance and opportunity.”
Incoming GM’s Issues and Priorities to Address
Once the season wraps up, fans can expect major roster changes throughout the summer months. The most obvious candidate to move is Dougie Hamilton, whose $9 million average annual value (AAV) has been a subject of debate all season. It’s undeniable that his trade value has increased after his point production amped up in the second half of the season.
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But recently, there’s been some concern surrounding their captain, Nico Hischier, who is eligible to sign an extension starting July 1. Ahead of the Devils’ 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, his nonchalant answer about a possible extension and his future in New Jersey sparked debate among the fanbase. “I’m focusing on playing hockey here, and I still have one more year. I’m with the Devils right now, and then we’ll see what happens,” said Hischier.
There’s no denying that one of the first things their new GM should do is extend the captain — especially since the team cannot afford to lose Hischier’s leadership or his crucial 200-foot game.
Another area that needs a refresh is the Devils’ depth scoring. Players like Evgenii Dadonov and Stefan Noesen should be evaluated to free up enough cap space to bolster their bottom six. The priority should be acquiring younger talent to improve consistency and 5-on-5 abilities. All in all, the new GM will have their work cut out for them in the near future.
Devils Schedule April 12 — April 19
| Date | Opponent | Time (EST) | Venue | Notes |
| Sun, April 12 | Ottawa Senators | 7:00 PM | Prudential Center | Final home game of the season, looking for redemption after a 4-1 loss to the Senators in January |
| Tue, April 14 | Boston Bruins | 7:00 PM | TD Garden | Marks the end of the 2025-26 season, series finale after a 4-3 Devils’ OT win last month |
