The wait is almost over. On Thursday, the Devils will defend their home ice against one of their biggest rivals, kicking off their 2026-27 campaign against the Philadelphia Flyers.
After a disappointing season last year, new general manager Sunny Mehta has made it clear that he means business. Establishing that his goal is not just playoffs, but the Stanley Cup, it's safe to say he is definitely not lacking ambition. If the Devils want to accomplish this goal and not let the fans of New Jersey down (again), three specific things need to happen.
1. Nico Daws Becomes a True Starting Goaltender
Former general manager Tom Fitzgerald left Mehta with an abundance of salary cap issues, one of them being Jacob Markstrom's two-year, $12 million extension that was set to kick in July 1, 2026. Mehta managed to find a suitable trade partner, offloading Markstrom to the Florida Panthers before the extension kicked in on July 1, 2026. Angus Crookshank was packaged with Markstrom and shipped to Sunrise, Florida for Evan Rodrigues, Ben Steeves, and a reunion with Jesper Boqvist. A move praised by fans, it also came with uncertainty of who will be between the pipes for the Devils this season.
Mehta has expressed his full confidence in young goaltender Nico Daws, a 2020 third-round pick. With only 55 games played in the NHL, but plenty of AHL experience under his belt, Daws should be slated to have a solid season. The dynamic of Daws and Jake Allen will be interesting to watch unfold, but if Daws can blossom into a quality NHL-level goaltender, he could easily win the starting job. The roster in front of him looks the best it has been in years, so if he can make the routine saves and come up big every once in a while, the Devils will be just fine.
2. Luke Hughes Takes the Next Step
The youngest Hughes brother has had quite a difficult start to his NHL career. In his fourth year in the league, Luke Hughes has posted a lackluster -38 +/- rating through 223 career games. At only 23 years old, he still has massive potential.
With Mehta trading Nemec to Calgary, this year will be Hughes' chance to prove he can become a star offensive defenseman in the NHL. The quarterback of the top power-play unit is up for grabs, and although Dougie Hamilton has more experience and a more powerful shot from the blueline, fans hope Hughes will take after his older brother, Quinn, and become a true playmaker. If Luke hones his skills and blossoms into a playmaking defenseman this year, it would pay dividends for the Devils in terms of transition offense and special teams.
3. The Injury Bug Doesn't hit
The number one issue of the past five years. The dreaded 'injury bug' seems to always find its way in and tear through the locker room. Whether it be Jesper Bratt, Cody Glass, or the annual Jack Hughes injury, it's become rare that we see this squad 100% healthy. The team started the 2025-26 season with flying colors, but once superstar Jack Hughes got injured, the whole offense was derailed, and they never regained their footing to make a push for the playoffs. If they can go the whole year with minimal injury concerns, playoff hockey will make a return to Newark.
The Devils face off against the Flyers Thursday, Oct 1 at 8:00 EST to open up the season, hoping to bounce back from last year's struggles.
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