The New Jersey Devils are hoping to put together a great season in 2026-27. One of the biggest impacts Sunny Mehta made in his first season as GM was revamping the depth of the team. He traded flailing goalie Jacob Markstrom for Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist, and he added Amadeus Lombardi and Declan Chisolm as close-to-NHL contributors. He also added Anthony Mantha, which pushes everyone down one line from the second line down.Â
His depth moves actually created a logjam at the forward position, where they pretty much already have 14 NHL players. Guys like Stefan Noesen are coming off injury and Boqvist, Nick Bjugstad, and Lenni Hameenaho are fighting for roster spots despite their previous impacts.Â
Despite the supposed logjam, the Devils will have injuries. There will eventually be opportunities for players to showcase their skills for the greater good. Some of these players have been with the Utica Comets for a few years, and they are facing a make-or-break development season. While the might not become NHL regulars this season, these three players can showcase why they will become NHL players in the future.Â
1. Matyas Melovsky
We’ve been hearing about Matyas Melovsky for a few years. There are a few reasons for that. He’s a late-round pick with NHL upside. Those players always get a lot of love from the fanbase. Sunny Mehta specifically named him as a good option in Utica, which has Devils fans excited. He’s also the only center prospect worth a darn. Prior to trading for Lombardi and drafting Alexander Command, the Devils essentially ignored the center position from a prospect position because they had Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier on the roster.Â
Last season, he had 26 points for the Utica Comets, but it’s getting to be time to show what he can actually be as a prospect. Melovsky is 22 years old and needs to take multiple steps forward. We liked what we saw in his first season of professional hockey, but we need more if he’s going to prove that the NHL is in his future. If he can move much closer to a point per game in the AHL, it will be enough to keep the hope alive.Â
2. Ethan Edwards
The Devils went from having a stacked defense with 8+ options at the NHL level to moving multiple pieces, including Simon Nemec. Now, we’re seeing what the future might hold. Many might want to put Seamus Casey here, but we think he’s an NHL talent who hasn’t gotten an NHL opportunity long-term. He’s proven he can survive at the next level, and sometimes he’s even thrived.
Ethan Edwards is still a major question mark. Devils fans were excited to see his first professional season after a successful run at the University of Michigan, and his Comets debut came with varied results. Defensemen take longer to develop, and Edwards showed some NHL chops last season, but he needs to take a step. If he can show that he’s capable of being a top-line AHL defenseman, possibly with his former Michigan teammate Casey as his partner, then he will have a future opportunity in the NHL.
3. Marc McLaughlin
Marc McLaughlin spent most of last season with the New Jersey Devils, but it was due to a preseason injury that kept him off the ice for months. Once he returned, he got a cup of coffee in the league before spending most of his actual season with Utica. The Devils re-signed McLaughlin this offseason, showing that Mehta and company believe he can bring something to the roster. He was someone with high hopes before the injury, so we can see him getting an opportunity once the injuries start stacking up.
He is 26 years old, so unlike the other guys on the list, we’re really facing a make-or-break season. If he doesn’t show that he can be an NHL player this season, then he’s probably a career AHLer or he will play overseas. What does that look like? He just has to play a style that makes sense for the Devils. Beat guys to the boards, play on his edges, score goals when the opportunity arrises, and be the most competitive player on the ice.Â
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