The New Jersey Devils now know the road ahead, and the 2026-27 schedule already has a handful of dates that jump off the page. On Thursday, the team unveiled its slate for the season, and a few details stand out right away: 13 back-to-backs, three meetings with the New York Rangers before New Year's, and all three games against the defending Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes coming after the All-Star break.
That’s enough to get Devils fans looking ahead. With a new-look Sunny Mehta-led group entering a season that figures to matter plenty, the calendar is packed with games that come with built-in storylines. Here are five that deserve a spot on the radar.
The opener against Philadelphia on 10/1/26 sets the tone immediately. The schedule makers wasted no time dropping the Devils into a matchup with their New Jersey Turnpike rivals, and it comes with some unfinished business attached. New Jersey went 0-3-0 against the Flyers last season, so this first game at the Rock is an early chance to start changing that script.
Later in the fall, Simon Nemec will make his return to Jersey on 11/27/26. The Devils and Calgary Flames have been doing business with each other lately, and the most recent move sent Nemec and forward Maxim Tsyplakov to Alberta in exchange for two conditional first-round picks, a 2026 second-round selection, and defenseman Etienne Morin. That trip back to New Jersey should bring plenty of attention, both for the reaction Nemec gets and for the way he performs against the organization that drafted him.
Then comes what could be Alex Ovechkin’s final game in New Jersey on 1/24/27. The 26-27 season may be the last one for the greatest goal scorer in NHL history, and Ovechkin has been a problem for the Devils going all the way back to 2005-06. If this is truly his swan song, the January meeting in New Jersey figures to draw a crowd eager to see him one more time.
The Devils also get a February test against the Florida Panthers on 2/18/27, and this one carries extra weight because of the Tkachuk brothers. Matthew and Brady will be on the same team for this matchup, and that alone makes the game a major measuring stick. With Alexander Barkov, Brad Marchand, and others also back from injuries, it’s the kind of night that should tell the Devils plenty about where they stand against one of the Eastern Conference’s top teams.
Finally, the Hughes family spotlight comes to Jersey on 3/31/27. As long as Quinn Hughes remains unsigned with the Minnesota Wild, the possibility of him eventually joining Jack and Luke in New Jersey isn’t going away.
That makes this late-season meeting a must-watch event, with plenty to watch beyond the score itself. The state of both teams, and the future of the Hughes brothers, will be part of the conversation.
And if Quinn still hasn’t extended by then, Devils fans will surely make their case loud and clear for 2027-28.
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. It also comes with a push to reshape the organizations depth chart after a stretch of frustration in both Newark and Utica, where the affiliate has missed the postseason three straight times and New Jersey has had its own share of playoff disappointment. With the front office trying to get the whole pipeline moving in the same direction, the ripple effects could reach well beyond the opening-night lineup.
Anthony Mantha is expected to factor into that reworked forward mix in a top-six role, and that alone could change how the Devils sort out their scoring lines. There is also growing attention on Alexander Command, who is being viewed as a player with the kind of NHL transition upside that can matter quickly around Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes, much like Anton Lundell did as a rookie. If that development comes together, the Devils may find their reset is bigger than a simple roster shuffle. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Offseason Plan Is Starting To Look Bigger Than Expected
Anthony Manthas arrival gave the Devils another notable offseason move, and his first media availability offered a glimpse at why New Jersey appealed to him beyond the contract itself. The winger talked about the decision to join the club and, just as much, about the mental side of the game, a reminder that the Devils are trying to add not only talent but players who fit the way they want to operate.
The organizational picture is widening, too. Along with Mantha, the Devils have started filling out the staff around the roster, adding assistant coaches Ted Donato and AJ MacLean, plus Director of Goaltending Leo Luongo and goaltending coach Dan Stewart. With the 2026-27 schedule now out as well, the offseason no longer looks like a collection of isolated moves. It is starting to resemble a broader plan, even if one of the biggest reasons behind Manthas choice is still part of the story being told. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Prospect Matias Vanhanen Just Made A Major Development Choice
Matias Vanhanens next step is already taking shape after a standout year in the WHL with Everett, where he emerged as one of the leagues most productive forwards and finished as the Silvertips assist leader. The Devils prospect also showed enough playmaking punch to land among the leagues top scorers, a strong sign that his game is translating beyond just junior hockey pace and into something more complete.
For New Jersey, the appeal is obvious: a skilled forward with a real offensive track record who is now heading to the college ranks to keep building. Boston College gives Vanhanen a different kind of proving ground, and hell arrive with another Finnish teammate in Oscar Hemming, which should help ease the transition as he settles into a middle-six role and starts the next phase of his development. [Read more 🡒]