The NHL’s 2026 offseason has delivered plenty of movement, and if there’s one message buried in all of it, it’s this: keeping players happy matters more than ever.
For the New Jersey Devils, that lesson should hit home. This summer has already brought a more defined direction in New Jersey, with Sunny Mehta at the helm.
The Devils moved Jacob Markstrom’s contract, brought in Anthony Mantha, and locked up Nico Hischier and Arseny Gritsyuk. That has given the fan base plenty to feel good about.
But the bigger picture is harder to ignore: if New Jersey wants to become a real Stanley Cup contender, the next step has to be more than just a promising offseason.
The Devils still haven’t reached the Eastern Conference Finals since 2012, and their playoff track record has been too uneven for a team that wants to be taken seriously. This summer’s chaos around the league should serve as a warning. The NHL is starting to look a lot more like the NBA, with players pushing their way out when situations turn stale.
Brady Tkachuk was traded to Florida and will now play alongside his brother Matthew, who forced his way out of Calgary in 2022 after telling the front office he wouldn’t re-sign long-term. Dylan Larkin waited for the “Yzerplan” to take shape, but after Detroit’s late-season collapse, he hit his limit. Connor Hellebuyck is another striking case: he still has five years left on his deal, he’s 33, and he’s still viewed as arguably the NHL’s best goalie right now, yet he also requested a trade this offseason.
There was also word that reigning Norris winner Zach Werenski asked out of Columbus, though it appears he and general manager Don Waddell have since worked things out. Columbus did try to send him to Dallas in July, but Werenski used his no-movement clause to block the move.
Then there’s Quinn Hughes, Jack and Luke Hughes’ older brother, who essentially forced his way out of Vancouver last season by telling the team he wouldn’t sign a new contract, in a move similar to Matthew Tkachuk’s.
For the Devils, the takeaway is clear. They’ve locked up their core for now, but that only matters if they keep building a team that players want to stay with.
Complacency isn’t an option. New Jersey needs to be in the playoffs consistently and actually make a run when it gets there.
If not, the same names that look secure today - Hughes, Hischier, and Bratt - could eventually become part of the league’s next wave of exits. That’s unlikely right now, but this offseason has made one thing plain: teams have to keep their stars happy, and becoming a legitimate threat in the Metropolitan Division would go a long way toward doing exactly that.
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The rumored design is said to include an unbordered red logo and subtle striping inspired by the devil tail, with an official reveal anticipated in October 2026. What remains unclear is how often New Jersey would wear it and whether the NHLs Hometown Remix program is a one-season experiment or something that sticks around beyond that first run. [Read more 🡒]
Connor Brown Just Put Devils Fans On Notice For Next Season
Connor Browns first season in New Jersey gave the Devils plenty to like after he arrived on a four-year deal, then backed it up with 18 goals and 43 points in 75 games. It matched his career-best point total and, for stretches after the Olympic break, he looked like much more than a checking-line addition, skating in a larger offensive role alongside Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt.
The question now is how much of that late surge can carry over. Brown may not hold onto top-six minutes for long, especially as he moves into his mid-30s, but his work in a bottom-six role still projects as a useful part of the lineup. For a Devils team trying to keep its depth moving in the right direction, that kind of versatility could matter just as much as the scoring burst did last season. [Read more 🡒]
Oilers Suddenly Have A Jesper Bratt Blockbuster To Consider
The Devils are in the middle of a familiar kind of summer math, trying to balance their roster, their salary cap and what comes next. Much of the conversation has centered on the possibility of adding Quinn Hughes down the line, and with no extension in place beyond the current season, New Jersey is still sorting through how much room it might need for a major move and a goaltender upgrade.
One of the more intriguing paths would involve Jesper Bratt, whose contract and value make him one of the few players who could open real space if the Devils decided to be bold. Edmonton has surfaced as a possible trade partner, with a package that could include Isaac Howard, Trent Frederic and draft picks, but Bill Guerin has stayed quiet on Hughes' intentions beyond this season, leaving the bigger picture unsettled for now. [Read more 🡒]