The Devils’ camp questions are usually about depth, roles, or which young player can force his way into the picture. This time, the biggest one sits right at the top of the lineup: does Jack Hughes stay with Jesper Bratt?
Early projections have them together again, with newcomer Anthony Mantha joining them. On paper, that’s a dangerous-looking group.
More importantly, it’s familiar. Hughes and Bratt have already shown they work well side by side, which makes this feel like a straightforward case of not overcomplicating what already makes sense.
That’s really the heart of it. Unless Sheldon Keefe has a strong reason to break them apart, there’s not much upside in moving away from the pair.
The only obvious scenario would be a broader reshuffle, one that sends Timo Meier to Hughes and lines Bratt up with Nico Hischier. That kind of switch could serve a purpose, especially if the Devils want to make life harder on opposing coaches by forcing constant matchup decisions.
Still, Hughes and Bratt together feels like the cleanest answer. It’s the kind of pairing that has worked before and doesn’t need a fresh coat of paint just for the sake of change.
Of course, there is a version of this season where the Devils are forced to rethink everything. If scoring becomes a problem, Keefe may have no choice but to start mixing lines and trying something new.
In that kind of scramble, Hughes could move to the wing while Dawson Mercer slides back to center. Evan Rodrigues, who can also play center, is another option after being used at times as the Florida Panthers’ top-line pivot last season when injuries hit.
Even Nick Bjugstad could be pushed up the lineup if needed.
That’s the worst-case path, though, and the Devils would rather avoid it. For now, the priority is simple: get Hughes and Bratt set early, because this shortened preseason doesn’t leave much time for trial and error. Coaches need a strong read on what their Opening Night lineup should look like before the tinkering begins.
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The Devils got an unwelcome reminder of how quickly a preseason can change when Nick Bjugstads recovery became the headline before camp even opened. New Jersey said the veteran forward underwent successful surgery to repair a torn left pectoral muscle, and the timing could hardly be worse for a team trying to sort out its early-season plans and build some stability down the middle.
Bjugstad will miss training camp and is facing a four-to-six month recovery timeline, which puts a significant chunk of the 2026-27 season in jeopardy as well. The injury adds another layer of caution to camp, where defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic is also expected to be limited while working back from a minor offseason knee procedure. [Read more 🡒]
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Devils Camp Suddenly Has A Roster Crunch Fans Need To Watch
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What makes camp worth watching now is the squeeze at the bottom of the roster, where a few spots are going to be fought over rather than handed out. Dawson Mercers status remains part of the conversation, and new defenseman Declan Chisholm adds another layer to the competition as the Devils sort through how their projected lines and defense pairings ultimately fit together. [Read more 🡒]