The Devils spent last season trying to patch holes, and Lenni Hameenaho flashed just enough to make the conversation interesting.
For a brief stretch, the former second-round pick looked like one of the few young bright spots in New Jersey’s lineup. In his first six games, Hameenaho put up two goals and two assists.
After that, the production came to a halt: four points, with no goals, over his next 27 games. The rookie wall showed up fast, but the Devils were also working with a shortened roster, and Sheldon Keefe still viewed him as the best option available.
That’s what makes this season such a tricky fit. New Jersey has built up its depth, and Hameenaho’s place on the roster is anything but secure.
Without an injury, he looks like the odd man out. The Devils now have 24 NHL players on the roster, and adding depth pieces such as Jesper Boqvist, Evan Rodrigues, Declan Chisholm, and David Ritiich pushes the body count even higher.
A trade could still change everything. Sunny Mehta’s Devils have not exactly been predictable, with the Jacob Markstrom trade and Anthony Mantha signing arriving without warning.
And with so much attention on the Quinn Hughes conversation, a major forward move could happen before anyone sees it coming. That kind of shuffle could create the opening Hameenaho needs.
If he is going to break through as the roster is currently built, the path would have to be pretty direct. It would take a bold decision from Sunny Mehta, something like sending Stefan Noesen or Boqvist down to the AHL to begin the season.
Even then, the likeliest landing spot for Hameenaho is the third line, right where he spent time last season.
That trio of Hameenaho, Cody Glass, and Arseny Gritsyuk logged the fifth-most minutes of any Devils line. In 123 minutes together, they controlled about 60% of the chances on the ice, scored seven goals, and gave up only three.
If Mantha takes a top-six spot over Gritsyuk, it would make plenty of sense to keep Hameenaho in that mix. The line worked, and there’s a case for giving it another run.
The problem came when Gritsyuk moved up. Hameenaho struggled badly when the Devils swapped in Nick Bjugstad, and even with Jesper Bratt on the line, the results never clicked. The chemistry with Gritsyuk was real, and New Jersey couldn’t recreate it with anyone else.
If the Devils can’t commit to Grits-Glass-Lenni, then the better move might be to let Hameenaho keep building in Utica. The Comets could use a stronger start after how last season opened, and Hameenaho has already shown he can be an NHL player when the fit is right.
In Other News...
Devils Just Got A Big Center Boost Amid Fresh Nemec Debate
The Devils are entering the 2025-26 season with a much clearer picture down the middle, and NHL Networks latest center rankings only reinforced that. Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes both landed among the leagues top 20 centers, a reminder that New Jerseys biggest strength remains the spine of its lineup. For a team that has spent the past season leaning on speed and puck possession, the recognition fits with what the advanced numbers already hinted at, especially with strong shooting and skating metrics backing up their play.
Simon Nemecs departure has added a different layer to the conversation, even after the recent trade that sent him to the Calgary Flames. In a recent interview, the defenseman said he wants to prove his former team wrong about his potential, which gives the move a little extra edge as New Jersey keeps building around its core. The Devils may feel good about their centers, but the debate over what they gave up and what Nemec becomes elsewhere is likely to linger for a while. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Legend Who Brought Hockey To New Jersey Gets Long Overdue Honor
Jack Hughes may have gotten a nomination for the New Jersey Hall of Fame, but the 2024 class will look a little different when the ceremony arrives on Sept. 24. Among the inductees is Dr. John McMullen, the former Devils owner whose place in the states sports history runs far beyond wins and losses, with the honor coming posthumously and in a setting hosted by Danny DeVito.
For Devils fans, McMullens recognition carries a familiar kind of resonance because his influence helped shape where hockey could take root in New Jersey. While Hughes was among the names considered, he was not selected this time, leaving the spotlight on a figure whose connection to the franchise and the state still feels overdue. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Blue-Line Debate Gets Interesting With One Intriguing PTO Option
Logan Stanley is the kind of defenseman who always seems to invite a debate, and that is part of what makes him an interesting summer option for the Devils. He put up career highs in goals, assists and points last season while leaning into the physical side of his game, and the broader case for him is pretty simple: there is size, edge and enough offensive touch to think there could still be something more there with a bigger role.
For New Jersey, the appeal would be less about splash and more about depth on a blue line that can always use another dependable body. Stanleys underlying numbers are part of the conversation too, since they suggest there may be room for improvement if he gets more ice time, but the real question is whether the Devils see enough upside to make the move worth exploring. That is what keeps this possibility interesting, and unresolved, heading into the next stretch of roster building. [Read more 🡒]