The New Jersey Devils packed a lot into one week, and the latest stretch of news gave a clearer picture of what this team wants to look like heading into the season.
It started with the signing of Anthony Mantha to a two-year, $9.5 million deal, then continued the next day when the 2026-27 regular season schedule was released. Between the new bottom six, a different goalie rotation and another scorer added to the top line, the Devils are set up to look very different from last season’s group.
Mantha’s first media session in New Jersey offered the first real window into why he chose to come aboard. He said general manager Sunny Mehta’s approach played a major role in his decision, pointing to a Zoom conversation the weekend before his signing.
In that talk, Mehta laid out his vision for the team and discussed different lineup possibilities, something Mantha said he appreciated. He also praised Mehta’s analytical style and the way advanced statistics factored into the process.
Mantha also opened up about the mental side of his career, saying that after a long run of injuries - including a torn shoulder and ACL - he began working with a mental coach. That change, he said, helped him reconnect with his love for hockey and gave him tools to reset his mindset and improve his habits.
“Little techniques of resetting your mind, resetting your body, to be ready for the next shift if you do make a mistake. And on the opposite side, if you’re scoring a goal or two goals quickly, how you’re able to reset also to keep a neutral mind,” said Mantha.
Asked what Devils fans should expect, Mantha said he hopes to deliver another strong season. That could mean better play in his own end, building chemistry with new linemates, or simply adding more scoring. However it comes together, the message was clear: he wants to contribute and help push the team forward.
Mehta also continued reshaping the organization behind the scenes, adding three coaches and a goaltending director to Sheldon Keefe’s staff.
Ted Donato and AJ MacLean are the new assistant coaches. Donato spent the last 22 seasons as Harvard University’s head coach and won 334 games at the NCAA level. He was drafted 98th overall by the Boston Bruins in 1987 and played 796 NHL games over 13 seasons.
MacLean comes over from the Syracuse Crunch, where he was an assistant coach in the AHL. He also worked with Keefe during their time with the Toronto Marlies. As a player, MacLean skated for the Halifax Mooseheads in the QMJHL before spending six more seasons in various pro leagues, finishing his career in the UK’s Elite Ice Hockey League.
Leo Luongo has been hired as Director of Goaltending, a role that will have him working with the Devils’ and Utica Comets’ coaches, plus scouting and development staff. He’ll also keep tabs on draft picks and prospects in the organization’s pipeline. Luongo spent 10 seasons with the Florida Panthers, working in coaching and development at both the AHL and NHL levels.
Dan Stewart is the new goaltending coach. The Devils had been looking for a replacement since mid-May, when Dave Rogalski was relieved of his duties.
Stewart spent the last six seasons with the St. Louis Blues organization, developing players at the NHL, AHL and ECHL levels.
Before that, he coached in the OHL and OJHL.
The schedule release itself also drew plenty of attention. The Devils leaned into a parody of The Devil Wears Prada, and the video spread quickly on social media. Ken Daneyko, Rachel Herzog and NJ Devil all made appearances, with Jack Hughes in the lead role.
Hughes, who is a high school goalie for Verona-Glen Ridge and wears number 86, said yes right away when asked to take part. A lifelong Devils fan, he said, “I love performing in big moments. I’d like to try and be that guy if I can,” said Hughes.
The team will open its first 84-game regular season on Oct. 1 at Prudential Center against the Philadelphia Flyers. With Mehta now steering the organization into a new era, the Devils will enter the season with plenty of attention on how this revamped roster and staff come together in the Metropolitan Division.
In Other News...
Devils Reset May Be Creating A Roster Ripple Fans Need To See
The Devils reset is not just about the NHL roster, either. With the organization looking to retool its AHL setup after a rough run of missed postseason chances in both New Jersey and Utica, the ripple effects could reach well beyond opening night. Anthony Mantha is expected to settle into a top-six role, and that kind of move can change the way a forward group is built, especially for a team trying to find a cleaner path back into the playoff picture.
Alexander Command is another name worth watching as the Devils sort through those layers. The young forward has drawn a comparison to Anton Lundell for the way he could make the jump to the NHL and fit alongside Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes without forcing the issue. If that kind of transition starts to take hold, it could give New Jersey a different kind of depth than it has had in recent seasons, and a lot of the intrigue now sits in how quickly that development can happen. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Prospect Matias Vanhanen Just Made A Major Development Choice
Matias Vanhanens path to the Devils just took a familiar college-hockey turn, with the Finnish forward choosing Boston College as his next stop after a standout season in the WHL with Everett. The 2026 second-round pick gave New Jersey plenty to like in junior hockey, finishing ninth in league scoring and pacing the Silvertips in assists, production that helped make him one of the more intriguing players in the organizations prospect pool.
For the Devils, the move gives Vanhanen a chance to keep developing against top NCAA competition while settling into a roster that already includes fellow Finnish player Oscar Hemming. Boston College is expected to use him in a middle-six role, which should give him meaningful minutes without the pressure of carrying the offense right away, and it sets up another important step in a development track New Jersey will be watching closely. [Read more 🡒]