The New Jersey Devils have spent the summer building momentum, and with veterans due to report to training camp on Sept. 16 and the preseason opener set for Sept. 20 against the New York Islanders, the conversation is shifting from offseason noise to what this roster can actually become.
A pair of Devils centers landed among NHL Network’s top 20, with Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes both earning spots on the annual list. The Devils were one of just two teams to place more than one player, alongside the Edmonton Oilers.
Hischier checked in at No. 15 after a season in which he scored 28 goals and added 38 assists. His value went well beyond the box score.
He led the league in faceoffs taken, with 1,808, and faceoff wins, with 1,008, while giving the Devils a reliable presence through a season that was hammered by injuries. “Captain of the @NJDevils Nico Hischier comes in at #⃣1⃣5⃣ on NHL Network's Top 20 Centers Right Now list!
📺: #NHLTopPlayers on NHL Network pic.twitter.com/4WCGz1xOpM
- NHL Media (@NHLMedia) August 23, 2026”
Hughes landed at No. 10, and the placement fits what he did when he was on the ice. Even after missing about a quarter of last season because of injuries, he still led the team with 77 points and posted his fourth straight season of at least 70 points.
He also played a major part in Team USA’s Olympic run, scoring the golden goal in overtime against Canada. Once the break ended, he turned right back into a difference-maker for New Jersey, putting up 41 points over the final 25 games.
If he stays healthy through 2026-27, he should be a major piece of the Devils’ top six again.
While the Devils are looking ahead, former first-rounder Simon Nemec used a media tour in Munich to revisit how things ended in New Jersey. The 2026 European Player Media Tour began earlier this week, and Nemec was there representing the Calgary Flames after the Devils dealt him in June for a second-round 2026 draft pick, two future conditional first-round selections, and prospect Etienne Morin.
In an interview with David Alter of The Hockey News, Nemec said he never felt he was given the chance to reach his full potential with the Devils. He described bouncing between the NHL and the American Hockey League while trying to carve out a role, all while competing with Luke Hughes and Dougie Hamilton for top minutes.
Even so, his 2025-26 season had clear positives. Nemec played 68 games for New Jersey, scored a career-high 11 goals, and finished with 26 points. Injuries opened the door for him to spend more time in the lineup, but he still ended the year on the outside looking in.
Now he is trying to turn that frustration into motivation. Nemec says his aim for 2026-27 is to prove he can be a No. 1 defenseman, and he believes that role is there for him in Calgary. “I just want to prove to everyone that New Jersey wasn’t right,” said Nemec.
The numbers also paint an encouraging picture for New Jersey heading into the new season. NHL Edge data shows the Devils were dangerous in a lot of different ways last year, especially when it came to shooting volume and skating speed.
New Jersey finished fifth in the league in shots on goal and also ranked inside the top 10 in high-danger, mid-range, and long-range shots. Timo Meier stood out in particular.
He led the Devils with 269 shots on goal and ranked in the 99th percentile among NHL forwards. He also landed at the 90th percentile or better in skating distance, with 231.94 miles skated, and hardest shot, at 94.30 miles per hour.
Anthony Mantha was just as sharp in the dangerous areas. He scored 24 goals, and 72.7% of them came from high-danger situations, which tied him for fifth in the league. His 21.7 shooting percentage also put him in the 99th percentile.
Luke Hughes adds another layer to the Devils’ upside. His skating numbers were near the top among defensemen last season, including a max speed of 23.37 mph, 4.45 miles skated in a game, and 110 speed bursts between 20 and 22 mph. That kind of movement can help the Devils defend cleanly and push the puck the other way in a hurry, and with Hughes now fully healthy, there is room for a breakout year.
In Other News...
Devils Legend Who Brought Hockey To New Jersey Gets Long Overdue Honor
Jack Hughes may have gotten a nomination for the New Jersey Hall of Fame, but the 2024 class will look a little different when the ceremony arrives on Sept. 24. Among the inductees is Dr. John McMullen, the former Devils owner whose place in the states sports history runs far beyond wins and losses, with the honor coming posthumously and in a setting hosted by Danny DeVito.
For Devils fans, McMullens recognition carries a familiar kind of resonance because his influence helped shape where hockey could take root in New Jersey. While Hughes was among the names considered, he was not selected this time, leaving the spotlight on a figure whose connection to the franchise and the state still feels overdue. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Blue-Line Debate Gets Interesting With One Intriguing PTO Option
Logan Stanley is the kind of defenseman who always seems to invite a debate, and that is part of what makes him an interesting summer option for the Devils. He put up career highs in goals, assists and points last season while leaning into the physical side of his game, and the broader case for him is pretty simple: there is size, edge and enough offensive touch to think there could still be something more there with a bigger role.
For New Jersey, the appeal would be less about splash and more about depth on a blue line that can always use another dependable body. Stanleys underlying numbers are part of the conversation too, since they suggest there may be room for improvement if he gets more ice time, but the real question is whether the Devils see enough upside to make the move worth exploring. That is what keeps this possibility interesting, and unresolved, heading into the next stretch of roster building. [Read more 🡒]
Former Devils Forward Mike Hardman Just Took A Notable Career Turn
Mike Hardman appears to be headed overseas for the next step in his career, with a Swedish outlet reporting that the 27-year-old former Devils forward has verbally agreed to join HV71 in the SHL. No official announcement has come yet, but the move would mark a notable change of scenery for a player who most recently skated with the Utica Comets in the AHL after his time in New Jersey.
For HV71, the appeal is clear after a season that left the club near the bottom of the standings. The expectation is that Hardman can help in a middle-six role while also adding value on the penalty kill, a kind of depth assignment that can quietly shape whether a team stabilizes or keeps chasing results well into the winter. [Read more 🡒]