The New Jersey Devils have a lot to look forward to. This is a team that’s ready to continue growing. They can take another step forward in 2025-26.
With the continuation of elements that were already working last season and the changes made in the offseason, this is a team that can win the Metropolitan Division. With the regular season just around the corner, let's look at three reasons the Devils can win the division.
1. They have stronger forward depth this season
Last season, the Devils’ lineup wasn’t deep enough. They didn’t have enough depth scoring. Any amount of depth would have had a hard time absorbing the level of injuries the team suffered ahead of and during the Stanley Cup Playoffs, but even a healthy team needs solid depth. Every team needs role players to round out the lineup. When the team was looking for someone to step up with depth scoring, Tomas Tatar and Erik Haula just weren’t cutting it.
The Devils have upgraded their depth players, including three players who can score goals. In the offseason, they added Evgenii Dadonov for depth scoring. The seasoned veteran scored 20 goals last year. The Devils also added Connor Brown, whose two-way game will be an asset in the bottom six. He played a role of depth scoring with the Oilers, but his versatility with defensive responsibility is just as important.
Devils’ prospect Arseny Gritsyuk is poised to start his NHL career after spending time in the KHL. The Devils signed Gritsyuk to an entry-level contract for the 2025-26 season. It will take some time to adjust to the NHL, but Gritsyuk is brimming with scoring potential. The Devils need someone other than their top stars to score goals, and now they have three new Devils who can.