The New Jersey Devils may want to keep one eye on Buffalo if the Sabres actually make a run at Connor Hellebuyck.
That kind of move could change the goalie picture fast, and Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen is the name the Devils should have circled if he becomes available. Buffalo has discussed a possible trade with the Winnipeg Jets, and if those talks turn into something real, New Jersey could have a chance to pounce.
For the Devils, this is about more than just adding another body in net. Goaltending remains a question heading into the season, and Luukkonen would give them another starting option to sort through alongside Jake Allen. Allen also brings experience and a veteran presence that could help a younger goalie like Luukkonen.
The catch is obvious: Buffalo would first need to land Hellebuyck. If that happens, the Sabres suddenly have a different kind of logjam. There wouldn’t be much reason to keep two goalies who both expect meaningful playing time, which is where a team like New Jersey could enter the picture.
The Devils, though, have their own roster math to solve. They recently claimed Remi Poirier off waivers from the Dallas Stars, adding another goaltender to the organization. So if New Jersey wanted to bring in Luukkonen, it would likely need to move one of its current goalies first.
David Rittich or Nico Daws could be the names to watch. Rittich would offer Buffalo a veteran third option if the Sabres wanted extra depth behind Hellebuyck and Alex Lyon. Daws, on the other hand, is younger and could appeal to a team looking for a longer-term backup type elsewhere in the league.
Luukkonen himself is an intriguing fit for New Jersey because he checks a lot of boxes without being framed as a "bonafide star". He is a true starting goalie, he has NHL experience, and he still has room to grow into a larger role. That kind of profile would give the Devils another real answer in net instead of simply crossing their fingers that one of their current options grabs the job.
None of this is simple, of course. New Jersey would have to move Rittich or Daws, Buffalo would have to be willing to deal Luukkonen, and both sides would have to agree on the return. But if the Jets and Sabres do pull off a Hellebuyck blockbuster, the Devils should be ready to call Buffalo and see if they can make something happen.
In Other News...
Alexander Holtz Just Revived An Old Devils Development Debate
The Devils roster trim ahead of the official deadline brought the focus back to the margins of the organization, with goaltender David Rittich on waivers and Remi Poirier claimed from Dallas. It also put an old familiar name back in the conversation, as several former Devils players, including Alexander Holtz, landed on waivers elsewhere.
Holtz is the one that resonates most in Newark because he was once the kind of first-round talent the franchise hoped would grow into a long-term scoring piece. Instead, after being moved to the Vegas Golden Knights, his limited scoring success has reopened a familiar debate about how the Devils handle top prospects, how quickly they expect offense to arrive, and whether the player or the development path was the bigger issue. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Just Made Nico Daws' Situation A Lot More Complicated
The Devils added another layer to their goaltending picture by claiming Dallas prospect Remi Poirier off waivers, a move that comes on the heels of David Rittich landing on waivers. It is the kind of transaction that can look minor on paper but carries real weight in a position group where opportunity is often as important as talent, and New Jersey now has another young goalie in the mix as it sorts out its depth chart.
For Nico Daws, the timing makes an already crowded situation more complicated. The Devils appear to be considering a three-goalie rotation, which could reshape how the team manages starts and development at the position, while also forcing a closer look at who fits where over the coming stretch. For now, the move adds competition and uncertainty, and it leaves Daws' immediate path a little less straightforward than it was a day ago. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Final Roster Fight Just Got A Lot More Intense
The Devils have already started trimming the roster for the 2026-27 season, sending several players down to their AHL affiliate in Utica after a preseason that gave the coaching staff plenty to weigh. New Jersey closed exhibition play at 3-0-1, and the results were encouraging enough to leave the final decisions a little more complicated than a typical early cutdown.
Wins over the Islanders and Rangers helped set the tone, but the bigger story was how some of the younger pieces handled the moment. Amadeus Lombardi was among the players who made a strong case with his preseason work, and now the Devils have to sort out which performances translate into openings in Newark and which ones mean a longer stay in Utica. [Read more 🡒]