Devils at the Deadline: A Crossroads Between Reset and Rebuild
With the Olympic break here and the NHL trade deadline less than a month away, the New Jersey Devils find themselves in a familiar - and frustrating - position. After a red-hot 8-1-0 start, it looked like this team was ready to take the next step in the Jack Hughes era.
Consecutive playoff appearances were within reach for the first time since the late ‘90s glory days. But since that fast start?
A 20-26-2 slide has dropped them to seventh in the Metropolitan Division, and they hit the break on a three-game losing streak.
Playoff hopes? Hanging by a thread.
Their current probability of making the postseason sits at just 2.4%. But don’t expect a fire sale.
This isn’t a team looking to burn it all down. With core pieces locked in and a young, skilled foundation, the Devils are more likely to make targeted moves - selling short-term, but still thinking long-term.
Where They Stand
Record: 28-27-2, 7th in the Metro
Deadline Cap Space: $7.66 million
Retention Slots: 0 of 3 used
Contracts Used: 48 of 50
Draft Capital:
- 2026: 1st, 2nd, 4th (via WPG), 5th, 6th
- 2027: 1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 7th
This is a team with some flexibility, but also some decisions to make - especially with a few expiring contracts and a cap sheet that’s getting a little tight in the years ahead.
Recent Moves & Trade Chips
The Devils already dipped into the market just before the Olympic roster freeze, picking up veteran center Nick Bjugstad from the Blues. He’s under contract through next season, so that move was more about shoring up bottom-six depth for 2026-27 than making a playoff push now.
But general manager Tom Fitzgerald could make a few more tweaks - especially with a handful of pending UFAs on the roster. The list isn’t long, but it includes:
- Evgenii Dadonov: Signed as a low-risk, one-year free agent, the veteran winger hasn’t had the impact New Jersey hoped for. A hand and wrist injury derailed most of his season, and in 17 games, he has yet to register a point and sits at a -3. Still, his playoff track record with Dallas and a 20-goal, 40-point season just last year might make him worth a flyer for a contender needing depth scoring.
- Luke Glendening: After earning a spot through a professional tryout in training camp, Glendening’s production has fallen flat - four assists in 52 games and a -11 rating. He’s not killing penalties, his faceoff win rate (51.7%) is down from his usual near-60% standard, and his ice time is the lowest of his career. With Bjugstad in the fold, Glendening’s role is even more limited, and it’s hard to see much of a market for him.
- Zack MacEwen: Limited to just three NHL games this season due to injuries, MacEwen brings 240 games of NHL experience and could draw interest from teams looking to add toughness to their forward group. He’s the type of player you stash as a 13th forward for a playoff run.
Bigger Picture: Cap Management & Potential Moves
While the Devils aren’t in cap trouble yet, they’re not exactly flush with space moving forward either. Arseny Gritsyuk needs a new deal this summer.
Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer’s contracts are up in 2027. If they want to get ahead of the curve, now might be the time to move a player with term - especially from a position of surplus - to free up money and bring back NHL-ready talent.
They’ve already done something along those lines, sending Ondřej Palát to the Islanders in exchange for Maxim Tsyplakov. That move required attaching a mid-round pick, but it’s the kind of cap-clearing maneuver that may become more common.
On defense, there are a couple of names to watch:
- Dougie Hamilton: His name has been in the rumor mill for a while, and with a $9 million cap hit and a no-movement clause through 2027-28, trading him is complicated. He’s got seven goals and 21 points in 52 games, but his defensive play has been inconsistent, and that’s a steep price tag for a player who isn’t producing at an elite level.
- Johnathan Kovacevic: After a breakout 2024-25 season earned him a five-year, $20 million extension, Kovacevic has been limited to just 11 games this year due to knee surgery. He’s posted two assists and a -6 rating, and without more post-injury game tape, it’s tough to imagine a team taking on four more years of term without some hesitation.
What the Devils Need
1. Goaltending Stability
This has been a sore spot all season. Jacob Markström, signed to a two-year, $12 million extension that kicks in next year, has struggled mightily. A .882 save percentage and nearly 11 goals allowed above expected in 30 games is not what you want from your starter.
Jake Allen is a steady 1B option, but he’s not built to carry the load. Meanwhile, Nico Daws has looked promising in NHL call-ups but is struggling in the AHL with a .881 save percentage and a 6-13-10 record. Even 2024 second-round pick Mikhail Yegorov, once viewed as a near-term option, has regressed at Boston University.
If they can’t move Markström - and that’s a big ask - then the Devils might explore the market for a goalie who could form a more reliable three-man rotation with Allen and Daws.
2. Depth Scoring
Outside of Jack Hughes, who’s producing at a point-per-game clip despite missing time, the offense has been a letdown. The Devils are averaging just 2.51 goals per game - ahead of only Calgary league-wide. Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier have all seen their numbers dip, and the bottom six has offered little support.
Paul Cotter (5 goals, 10 points in 54 games) and Stefan Noesen (3 goals, 7 points in 38 games) haven’t moved the needle. Adding a reliable middle-six scorer - someone who can chip in 15-20 goals and play with pace - would go a long way toward rebalancing the offense and setting the stage for a bounce-back season in 2026-27.
The Verdict
The Devils aren’t blowing it up - and they shouldn’t. The core is still young, skilled, and under contract.
But this deadline is about realignment. Selling off expiring deals, exploring cap-saving trades, and laying the groundwork for a more complete roster next season.
The playoffs may be out of reach this year, but the mission now is clear: fix the goaltending, inject some scoring depth, and get this group back on track before the window starts to close.