The New Jersey Devils may have a habit of getting people excited about young forward depth, only to watch the picture change fast. That was the mood heading into last season, when the organization looked like it finally had some help coming through on the wing. The center situation was still thin, but if Nico Hischier, Cody Glass, and Jack Hughes stayed healthy, the Devils figured they could make it work.
The preseason brought a long list of names into the mix. Luke Glendening arrived after his PTO, Juho Lammikko came over from Europe, Arseny Gritsyuk was trying to force his way onto the roster, and Brian Halonen, Angus Crookshank, Marc McLaughlin, Zack MacEwen and Thomas Bordeleau all had a chance to grab a spot.
But the two prospects drawing the most buzz were Lenni Hameenaho and Shane Lachance, both viewed as players with middle-six upside who could help in the right setting. Each got a real chance to win a job, though both ended up appearing in just one preseason game.
Hameenaho eventually showed why there was optimism. He put up four points in his first six games before running into the rookie wall and finishing with eight points.
Lachance’s path was much quieter. He got one NHL game and didn’t make much of an impact, and his AHL season fell short of expectations as well.
In 63 games, he finished with 25 points. That’s not the kind of production that screams future NHL regular, but it also doesn’t mean the Devils should be ready to move on just yet.
At 22, Lachance still brings the physical edge that made him interesting in the first place. The skill set is still there, and there’s still a chance he finds the right role. He may never become a 30-goal scorer, but if he turns into a poor man’s Blake Coleman, that still has real value for New Jersey.
In Other News...
Devils Fans Finally Got The Streaming Change They Wanted
For Devils fans who have spent the last stretch dealing with the Gotham Sports App, the long-awaited streaming change is finally here. The app drew plenty of frustration for delays and technical glitches, and the teams games will no longer live there once the next broadcast arrangement kicks in.
The move comes through a new partnership involving MSG Networks and the YES Network, with Devils games set to be streamed on DAZN beginning with the 2026-27 NBA and NHL season. The broad direction is now clear, but the finer points still matter to fans, and pricing along with possible game-package options have not yet been announced. [Read more 🡒]
Devils May Be Facing Their Biggest Post Brodeur Goalie Decision Yet
The Devils goaltending picture is suddenly one of the more interesting roster questions in the organization, with Jake Allen, Nico Daws and David Rittich all under contract as the team tries to sort out what it really wants in net. Allen is in place long term, Daws remains a developmental option with limited NHL time, and Rittich arrived on a one-year deal this offseason to help stabilize the position alongside Allen.
What makes the decision tricky is the larger direction of the roster. New Jersey can choose to trust a veteran-heavy rotation and lean on team defense, which has become a more workable path around the league, or it can keep chasing a true star goaltender if the right name becomes available. The Devils are at the point where the answer in net may depend as much on what else they add to the lineup as on the goalies already in the room. [Read more 🡒]
Quinn Hughes' Next Month Could Change Everything For Devils Fans
Quinn Hughes and his camp are expected to meet with Wild general manager Bill Guerin in Michigan this week, a conversation that figures to carry more weight than the early optimism around a quick extension ever suggested. Minnesota has been pushing for a long-term commitment, with the sides still navigating the kind of contract structure that can define a franchise relationship for years.
What makes the situation more delicate is how little substantive progress has surfaced as the new season draws near, leaving the Wild to balance urgency against patience. The next stretch should bring more clarity on where Hughes fits in Minnesotas future, and it also keeps open the possibility that the conversation around him could shift well beyond this season. [Read more 🡒]