The New Jersey Devils are rolling out a lineup with plenty of NHL muscle for Monday night’s preseason matchup against the New York Rangers in Newark.
After beating the New York Islanders on Sunday afternoon, the Devils return to action for their second preseason game with head coach Sheldon Keefe leaning on a group led by Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, and Jesper Bratt. Luke Evangelista, Anthony Mantha, and Evan Rodrigues are also set to make their Prudential Center debuts.
Here’s how the Devils are lined up for the morning skate:
Mantha - Hughes - Bratt
Meier - Hischier - Evangelista
Gritsyuk - Rodrigues - Mercer
Boqvist - McLaughlin - Noesen
Hughes - Pesce
Siegenthaler - Hamilton
Vilen - Diotte
Allen | Daws
The Devils’ power play units are set as follows:
First unit: L. Hughes, J.
Hughes, Bratt, Evangelista, and Hischier
Second unit: Hamilton, Gritsyuk, Mantha, Meier, and Rodrigues/Mercer
Keefe said Allen will handle the opening 20 minutes before Daws takes over for the final two periods.
He also explained why Evangelista has a spot on the power play: "The biggest thing is that he shoots right. That is the biggest thing.
[...] That is important with a lot of the things that we want to do.
You really do need to have a right-handed shot to get the puck to go to the different places that you want. [...]
He can distribute the puck to our shooters, to our finishers, but he’s got some grease to his game, too, below the goal line to win a puck back."
Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m., with the game airing on MSG.
In Other News...
Devils Already Have A Tough Bottom-Six Decision To Make
The Devils used their first preseason game to lean heavily on lower-line players and prospects, a useful early look at how the bottom of the roster might shake out before the regular season arrives. With camp still offering chances to make an impression, players such as Amadeus Lombardi have already helped add some intrigue to a group that is trying to sort out fit as much as pure talent.
Stefan Noesen looks like the likeliest player to be exposed to waivers because of roster and contract considerations, while Jesper Boqvist, acquired in an offseason trade, is another name in the mix. For New Jersey, the challenge is less about finding bodies than deciding which depth pieces best match the lineup it wants to carry into the season, and the next few preseason games should make that decision even tighter. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Fans May Be Rethinking Just How Risky That Markstrom Era Was
When Sunny Mehta took over the Devils, one of his first major moves was sending Jacob Markstrom to Florida in a deal that brought back Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist. The trade also cleared the cap room New Jersey needed to add Anthony Mantha and Luke Evangelista, giving the roster a different shape up front and signaling a clear pivot in how the team wanted to build around its goalie situation.
Markstroms preseason debut with the Panthers offered an early reminder of why that decision will be watched closely in New Jersey. The Devils, meanwhile, are heading into the season with Nico Daws, Jake Allen and David Rittich in the crease, a tandem-and-a-half arrangement that leaves the position looking very different than it did when Markstrom was still in the mix. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Camp Suddenly Has A Roster Battle Fans Need To Watch
Training camp in New Jersey has opened with the kind of competition every team hopes for and every fringe player dreads. The Devils are sorting through rookies, veterans and new additions as they build toward the 2026-27 season, and a recent preseason win over the Islanders only sharpened the focus on who can push their way onto the roster.
Amadeus Lombardi has turned some heads with his play in that game, giving himself a legitimate case to stick around if he keeps it up. In goal, Nico Daws looks set to handle the backup role after signing a two-year extension, and coach Sheldon Keefe has already voiced confidence in his readiness, leaving the rest of camp with a few more jobs still very much up for grabs. [Read more 🡒]