The Devils came out of a demanding road trip with real momentum, and the last few nights offered a little bit of everything: resilience, depth scoring, defensive buy-in and a power play that still needs a spark.
Three games in four days against Dallas, Colorado and Vegas could have exposed them. Instead, New Jersey won twice, finished October at 9-5-0 and bounced back from that rough night in Colorado with a strong showing against the Golden Knights.
“I couldn’t ask for more in terms of the response,” Keefe said. Five wins in six games is a healthy stretch, and the way the Devils got there - with more patience, sharper checking and production from all over the lineup - gives it extra weight.
Connor Hellebuyck has helped steady things right away. After waiting months to finally get into game action, he summed up his mindset before his debut with one word: “Finally.”
He stopped 16 of 17 shots in Dallas and 19 of 21 in Vegas, and the encouraging part is that he hasn’t had to rescue the Devils yet. The team in front of him has done enough to keep him from being overworked, and Luke Hughes called him “a rock.”
Luke Hughes, though, may be the most interesting storyline of the bunch. The offense has been there - he scored in Dallas and again in Vegas - but Keefe sounded just as energized by what he’s doing without the puck.
After the win over Vegas, Keefe said, “When he did, the play died, and we were going the other way,” referring to Hughes’ checking. That’s the kind of detail that can push him into a different tier.
His skating can shut down a rush and turn it into a Devils chance in a blink.
Arseny Gritsyuk is making the most of his opportunity, too. He scored twice in Vegas to reach eight goals on the season, and both finishes told a story.
The first stopped the Golden Knights’ push late in the opening period. The second showed the confidence to drive the middle, make a play and bury his own rebound.
He’s been clicking next to Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, and he’s clearly absorbing what’s around him. “Jack Hughes showed me how I can do this stuff before,” he said.
“I tried all this stuff, and it’s working.”
Jack Hughes had one of those nights where the scoring line only tells part of the story. He scored twice and fired seven shots in Vegas, but the details away from the puck mattered just as much.
His stick helped create offense, and later in the third period he cleaned up a dangerous sequence after a turnover behind the Devils’ net. “When we’ve got guys like Jack leading the way in that area, there’s no choice for anybody else,” Keefe said.
Connor Brown keeps proving how many ways he can help. He scored both Devils goals in Colorado, but his impact goes well beyond that.
Keefe has leaned on his voice, his experience and his return to the lineup as part of the team’s recent uptick. Cody Glass described a player who brings the same work no matter where he’s slotted, and Glass himself is speaking up more.
Keefe also said Amadeus Lombardi is making his voice heard on the bench.
The power play, though, remains a problem area. New Jersey went 0-for-8 on the trip and is sitting at 16.7% on the season, which ranks 24th in the NHL.
The chances are there, and Keefe keeps pointing to encouraging underlying numbers, but that only goes so far if the puck isn’t going in. The brief five-on-three in Colorado was a chance to swing a game the Devils were getting pushed around in, and they didn’t cash in.
When asked about Dougie Hamilton and Anthony Mantha being on that unit, Keefe talked about tired players and the need for shooters. Still, if the finishing doesn’t improve, there’s reason to wonder whether the personnel should change more often.
The talent is there.
On the blue line, the rotation is broader than Brenden Dillon alone. Keefe made that clear before Colorado, when Declan Chisholm came back in and Johnathan Kovacevic came out.
It’s a three-man rotation, with schedule and readiness driving the decisions. Dillon showed exactly what he brings in Dallas: physical play, a key stop around an open net and the willingness to respond to players like Jamie Benn.
Anthony Mantha is another name to watch. He helped set up Luke Hughes’ opening goal in Vegas, then left the game and didn’t return.
Keefe had no update afterward and said the team would need to evaluate him back home. He also said not to assume the exit meant something serious, though he wouldn’t rule out missed time.
Mantha has three goals and six points, and he’d been settling in alongside Evan Rodrigues and Jesper Boqvist. If he’s out, the forward depth gets tested again.
And then there’s the Dylan Larkin situation, which is worth keeping on the radar. Detroit suspended Larkin without pay Thursday after he refused to play while waiting on a trade.
New Jersey is among the teams on his reported list of approved destinations. That doesn’t mean a deal is close, only that the Devils are in the conversation.
Mehta has shown he’ll act when he sees an opportunity, but the real question is whether the price, cap space and roster fit line up.
In Other News...
Devils May Have A Real Shot In The Dylan Larkin Sweepstakes
Dylan Larkins name has suddenly become part of the conversation around the Devils, and that alone is enough to raise eyebrows around the league. The Detroit captain is reportedly willing to waive his no-trade clause for a list of 10 NHL teams, with New Jersey among the clubs on it, giving a contender with roster ambition at least a theoretical path into one of the more intriguing trade discussions of the season.
The market, of course, is where this gets complicated. Teams such as Carolina, Montreal and Utah have also been weighed for the kinds of prospect and asset packages they could put together, and the Devils would have to decide how far they are willing to go if the opportunity really opens up. For now, there is no confirmed trade or official move, just a lot of maneuvering and the kind of speculation that can quickly turn a star name into the center of the deadline chatter. [Read more 🡒]
Devils New Jerseys Reopen A Debate Fans Know Too Well
The Devils are about to add another alternate look to the rotation, and this one arrives with some familiar baggage. New Jersey will debut its Hometown Remix jerseys on Nov. 18 against the Montreal Canadiens and wear them 10 times this season, with the design already getting an early look after Macys website briefly leaked the new sweater. The black-heavy style appears to lean in the same direction as the clubs well-received 2023-24 Stadium Series jersey, which should at least give the fan base a frame of reference before the first puck drops.
Still, any time the Devils roll out a new alternate, the reaction tends to split quickly between those who want something fresh and those who would rather the team stick closer to its classic look. The early leak only added to the conversation, especially since the initial merchandise listing on Macys site featured only Timo Meier jerseys, a small detail that only sharpened the curiosity around how the full rollout will land once the team is actually wearing them on the ice. [Read more 🡒]
Red Wings Trade Picture Just Got More Interesting Than Fans Realized
The trade chatter around Dylan Larkin has already drawn plenty of attention, and the latest wrinkle only adds to the intrigue. Detroit Red Wings assistant general manager and head of pro scouting Kris Draper was in attendance for the Washington Capitals recent home games, a reminder that when the front office starts showing up in person, the watch list can widen quickly and the conversations around the league tend to get louder.
For Devils fans, the key part of the picture is what is not being discussed. New Jersey is reportedly not considering moving Nico Hischier or Jesper Bratt in any potential Larkin deal, which helps frame the market from their side even as other teams keep exploring bigger swings. The Toronto Maple Leafs are also looking at ways to upgrade their blue line and could still chase a major move despite cap complications, with names like Morgan Rielly, Easton Cowan and Erik Karlsson floating through the broader rumor mill. [Read more 🡒]