The New Jersey Devils have set their opening night roster for the 2026-27 season, and it comes with a few expected absences, a notable rookie moment, and three goalies on the list as the club prepares to open at home on Oct. 1.
The roster breaks down to 14 forwards, eight defensemen and three goaltenders. Among the forwards, Nick Bjugstad is on the injured/non-roster list after the Devils announced he had surgery and would be sidelined for four to six months.
Amadeus Lombardi is one of the more interesting names on the list. The Devils acquired him in June in a deal that sent their 4th-round pick in the 2026 NHL Draft to the Grand Rapids Griffins forward. Lombardi spent the last three seasons in the American Hockey League with Grand Rapids, and his NHL debut is set to come in the Devils’ home opener.
The forward group also includes Jesper Boqvist, Jesper Bratt, Connor Brown, Luke Evangelista, Cody Glass, Arseny Gritsyuk, Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes, Anthony Mantha, Timo Meier, Dawson Mercer, Stefan Noesen and Evan Rodrigues.
On the blue line, Seamus Casey and Johnathan Kovacevic are both on the injured/non-roster list. Kovacevic was limited in training camp while rehabbing an injury, and Casey was hurt in the Devils’ last preseason game. Head coach Sheldon Keefe said Casey will be out for some time.
The defense corps on the roster is rounded out by Declan Chisholm, Brenden Dillon, Dougie Hamilton, Luke Hughes, Brett Pesce and Jonas Siegenthaler.
In goal, the Devils are carrying Jake Allen, Nico Daws and Remi Poirier. Allen is set to begin the year as the starting goaltender, with Daws behind him. Poirier, claimed on waivers from the Dallas Stars on Sept. 27, has not yet appeared in an NHL game, but the Devils are clearly giving him a real shot to stick.
The opener comes against the Philadelphia Flyers at 7 PM ET on Oct. 1.
In Other News...
Alexander Holtz Just Revived An Old Devils Development Debate
The Devils trimmed their roster ahead of the official deadline, putting goaltender David Rittich on waivers and claiming Remi Poirier from the Dallas Stars. But the more familiar name in the mix is Alexander Holtz, the former first-round pick New Jersey once hoped would grow into a steady scoring piece.
Holtzs situation has a way of pulling the conversation back to one of the organizations lingering development debates, because he was dealt to the Vegas Golden Knights and is now on waivers after limited scoring success. For Devils fans, it is another reminder of how uncertain the path can be for a young forward who arrives with pedigree, leaves with questions, and still leaves plenty of second-guessing behind. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Camp Battle Is Putting One Tough Roster Decision Front And Center
Training camp has done what it usually does for a team with playoff expectations and too many forwards for too few jobs: it has turned the bottom six into the loudest part of the roster conversation. The Devils are still sorting through different third- and fourth-line combinations, with experience and youth both getting a long look as the staff tries to settle on a group that can handle defensive shifts, contribute enough offense and survive the grind of a long season.
Jesper Boqvist, Colin White and Stefan Noesen are among the names in the mix, and the numbers game could eventually force the issue through waivers. Amadeus Lombardi is also part of the equation, with a possible AHL assignment looming as the organization weighs whether he is better served by development time or a spot on the big club. It is the kind of roster squeeze that speaks well of the depth, even if it leaves a few players waiting for the final answer. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Opening Night Will Test A Roster That Suddenly Feels Deeper
The Devils head into opening night looking like a club that carried more than just good vibes out of camp. Their preseason showed a group playing with sharper cohesion and a clearer sense of identity, and it was the kind of stretch that made the roster feel deeper than it did a year ago. Amadeus Lombardi was among the players who turned that opportunity into something more concrete, earning a spot and adding to the sense that the pipeline under Tom Fitzgerald is starting to produce real options.
Now the challenge shifts from summer optimism to a game that counts, with the Flyers waiting to provide an early read on how much of that preseason improvement holds up. Depth can look different once the pace rises and the matchups sharpen, and opening night should say plenty about whether the Devils are simply better equipped for the grind or ready to turn that added depth into an edge right away. [Read more 🡒]