The New Jersey Devils are facing a ton of pressure heading into the 2026-27 season. They have a strong team, but last season, they crumbled and missed the postseason after a solid start. The Devils are determined not to let that happen again.
Each player has a role to fill, and as we gear up for the season, we can start predicting how each player will perform as we continue our Devils’ player projections through the forward group. Next up is Connor Brown.
2025-26 Performance
Brown signed with the Devils at the start of the 2025 offseason. He played in 75 games during the 2025-26 season and recorded 43 points via 18 goals and 25 assists. On Oct. 30, Brown suffered an undisclosed injury and was placed on injured reserve (IR). Luckily for the Devils, he was not out long and returned to the lineup on Nov. 18.
On Oct. 11, Brown played his second game in the Devils’ red and black and was already on the score sheet. Although Timo Meier opened the scoring just eight minutes into the first period, Brown was quick to follow with his first goal two minutes later. He scored his second goal in the third period to help the Devils take their first win of the season against the Tampa Bay Lightning.
Throughout the 2025-26 season, Brown flexed between the top six and the bottom six. With how many injuries the Devils faced last season, Brown was needed in a different capacity each game. He was a trooper throughout and proved he can play and produce points no matter where he slotted into the lineup.
Expectations for the 2026-27 Season
Heading into the 2026-27 season, Brown will likely spend a lot of time on the bottom six. The Devils management spent a lot of time upgrading New Jersey’s forward group. With the additions of players like Luke Evangelista, Anthony Mantha, Jesper Boqvist, and Evan Rodrigues, the Devils lineup will look a lot different this season.
In his first season with the Devils, Brown proved himself to be a flexible player in the lineup and a known points producer. The Devils will need him to continue the level of production, just now on the bottom six. There is always a chance that Brown can slot into the top six at some point in the season, but for the majority of 2026-27, it’s more likely that he will spend his season in the bottom six.
Upcoming Career Milestones
Brown is just 24 games away from his 700th career NHL game. He may have been in the league for a while, but Brown continues to play like he’s fresh to the league. This would be an incredible achievement, and he should be proud.
The number 24 might be Brown’s lucky number this season since he is also 24 assists away from his 200th assist. He ended the 2025-26 season with 301 total points and 125 goals. It’s going to be difficult to reach another milestone for both goals and overall points, but both his 700th game and his 200th assist are definitely attainable for 2026-27.
Projections for the 2026-27 Season
Brown ended the 2025-26 season with 43 points, which is also his career high. The only other time he broke 40 points was when he recorded 43 points with the Ottawa Senators in 2019-20. It was clear from the start that Brown was finding his footing in New Jersey.
My bold prediction is that Brown will have another 40-plus point season. He became a part of the Devils team and immediately became a points producer; Brown has the chance to do that again for 2026-27.
Other Projections
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