The New Jersey Devils and Montreal Canadiens often play a game or two every preseason. It's a nice change from the usual Rangers-Islanders-Flyers matchups we see to lessen travel burdens. A game in the preseason against a team from the Atlantic Divisions gives the Devils a different look before the games matter.
Next season, the Devils might be looking to replace the Canadiens with the Senators, giving them a different look from the same division.
In 2025, it appears the Devils will get the opportunity to play one of those preseason games in front of an insane crowd. That's because they are playing at the Videotron Center in NHL-starved Quebec City, as first reported by TSN's Bruce Garrioch.
The #Sens will face the New Jersey Devils on Sunday, September 28, at 3 p.m. and the Montreal Canadiens, will follow on Tuesday, September 30, at 7 p.m. in Quebec City at the Videotron Centre in Quebec City.
— Bruce Garrioch (@SunGarrioch) January 27, 2025
The Videotron Center opened back in 2015, and that's when talk of a possible expansion to Quebec City for the NHL really started. While many have said the NHL might not want to focus on expanding to more Canadian cities, where hockey is already the most important sport and the growth is limited, QC has remained as the one city north of the U.S. border that stays in the expansion conversation.
Quebec City is competing with American cities Atlanta, Georgia, Phoenix, Arizona, and Houston Texas to get the next expansion team or relocation. It sounds like the NHL is eventually looking to move to 34 teams, but there are still a lot of hoops to jump through before we know the where and the when. A recent survey by the players found that QC comes in second to Houston for desired expansion city.
New Jersey Devils playing preseason game in Quebec City, Quebec next season.
Playing preseason games in the city might just be the NHL throwing them a bone, or it could be a test study to see if an NHL team can be viable and profitable in Quebec City. It's interesting that they used the Devils as the opponent for the first game. They have plenty of international stars. Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Dougie Hamilton all put butts in seats.
Ironically, one of the most popular Devils players for that game will likely be Kurtis MacDermid. Not only is he the only player on the current roster who claims Quebec, but his birthplace is listed as Quebec City itself. He should have a big contingent of family and friends in the arena during the game, as we think there's no way the Devils keep him out of the lineup that night.
The Devils and Senators have stars up and down the lineup, and it will be a fun atmosphere to give another great Canadian city a chance to see hockey played at the highest level.