The New Jersey Devils’ 2026-27 schedule is loaded with the kind of stretches that can shape a season fast. With the league moving to 84 games, the calendar gives them more chances to build momentum - and more chances to get exposed.
The first month won’t tell the whole story, but the Devils’ first real stress test arrives at the end of October. They’ll hit Dallas on Oct. 27, then turn right around for Colorado on Oct. 28 before closing the month at Vegas on Oct.
- That’s four nights, two of the Western Conference’s best regular-season teams from last year, and then the defending Western Conference champs.
If there’s a week that can show what this group is made of, it’s that one.
Thanksgiving week brings another important checkpoint. The Devils open with a home-and-home against the Columbus Blue Jackets, and that Metro matchup could go one of two ways: Columbus is fighting for position, or New Jersey has a chance to stack two statement wins.
After that comes an afternoon game on Black Friday against the Calgary Flames, then a game the next night against the Winnipeg Jets. Both are at home, both opponents are expected to be bottom-feeders, and both are the kind of games a playoff team should bank.
If Connor Hellebuyck is still with Winnipeg when that one comes around, it becomes another useful chance for the Devils to show what they are.
The toughest stretch may be the one that gets chopped up by the All-Star Break. Officially, it’s a seven-game road trip, but the break splits it in half.
New Jersey plays four games, gets 10 days off, then returns for Philadelphia, Nashville, and Florida. The first half is the part that jumps off the page: Edmonton, then Calgary and Seattle on back-to-back nights, then Vancouver.
It’s the kind of Pacific Division swing that can quietly knock Eastern Conference teams off track. If the Devils can handle that trip well - or at least come out with a winning record, or points in four of the seven games - they’ll stay in the mix.
And then there’s the finish. New Jersey’s longest home stand comes late, when they close the season with four straight at Prudential Center and six of their final seven at home.
The final run is not soft, either. The Devils get Carolina and Minnesota at home, then head to Raleigh for their last meeting with the Hurricanes.
They also see Minnesota again a week before the trade deadline, a date that could matter for those watching the Quinn Hughes situation. After that, it’s the Panthers, Lightning, Islanders, and Penguins to end it.
That last stretch could decide everything. If the Devils keep control of those home games and stay steady through the closing run, they can put themselves in the playoffs and maybe near the top of the Metropolitan Division. If they stumble, they could be looking up from the outside.
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Nico Hischier Revealed What Made Him Commit To The Devils
Nico Hischier didnt wait long to make his intentions clear. On the first day he was eligible, he agreed to a five-year, $58.5 million contract extension with the Devils, another sign that the captain sees his future tied to New Jersey. It was also a reflection of what he has been for the organization over the past five seasons: a steady, reliable presence and a central part of the teams core.
In an interview, Hischier talked about his commitment to the Devils and pointed to the changes around the franchise, including the hiring of new general manager Sunny Mehta. For a player who has helped define the club through a period of transition, the timing of the extension only adds to the sense that New Jersey is building around him. The bigger question now is how that belief translates as the roster and front office continue to evolve. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Already Face A Big Question With Their New Winger
The Devils latest winger addition gives them another young piece to sort through, but Luke Evangelista is arriving with a contract clock already ticking. Acquired from the Predators, he is in the final year of his deal, which means New Jersey does not just have to fit him into the lineup, it also has to decide what he is worth in the bigger picture as the season unfolds.
Evangelista says he is not currently worried about extension talks, which buys everyone some time, but it does not make the question go away. For a Devils team trying to keep adding talent without creating more uncertainty, the situation is another reminder that every new arrival comes with a second conversation attached, even before the season gets rolling. [Read more 🡒]
Sabres May Have One Path Left To Contender Status
Goaltending remains one of the clearest pressure points for the Devils as the offseason market takes shape, and Connor Hellebuyck keeps surfacing as the kind of name that can alter a teams trajectory. The discussion around potential trade destinations has centered on three clubs that could use an upgrade in net, with New Jersey grouped alongside Buffalo and Carolina as teams worth watching if Winnipeg ever decides to listen.
For the Devils, the appeal is obvious: theyre in the stage of trying to turn a competitive roster into a true contender, and a goalie of Hellebuycks caliber would immediately change the equation. Whether they can actually get into that conversation is another matter, since any pursuit would have to line up with what the Jets want in return and how aggressive New Jersey is willing to be in addressing a need that could define its season. [Read more 🡒]