標籤: devils

Manchester United Atalanta are making solid progress towards the signing of Ederson, after surpassing Atletico Madrid.

The midfielder was an unused substitute in the Serie A team’s last match of the season against Fiorentina.

After the match, La Dea manager Rafael Palladino gave a hint His appointment was due to negotiations with Manchester United. The coach was happy that a top club was behind the 26-year-old player.

On 27 May, Game Witness Covered claims from Italy Major turning point in deal worth €45m.

There was no mention of what it was, but reports state he is close to a move to the Premier League.

move away from manchester united

TuttoMercatoWeb Consider that, and his headline says he is ‘one step away’ from joining Manchester United.

In the report, they reveal that the Brazil international is living out his last few days as an Atalanta player.

That’s because negotiations between Michael Carrick’s side and La Dea are in the final stages. Both clubs are sorting out the final details, and the Red Devils should finalize the deal in the ‘coming days’.

The Italian club paid €22.9m to sign Ederson from Salernitana in July 2022 and will make a profit from his sale this summer. TMW state Manchester United will pay €45m plus €3m in easily accessible bonuses.

Earlier claims put the price at €50m while some put it at €45m including bonuses. The final figure should clarify when and how this step forward occurs.

The Red Devils have revamped their midfield this summer due to Casemiro’s exit and uncertainty over Manuel Ugarte’s future.

After completing the deal for Ederson, Manchester United are likely to sign at least one more midfielder.

Contracts, prices, statistics and agent information

The Atalanta player has 13 months left on his contract, and transfer market He is worth €45 million.

Brazilian agency Link Sports, headed by agent Andre Cury, represents Ederson.

He played 3,169 minutes in 41 matches this season and scored three goals and two assists.

Manchester United Atalanta have been working on a deal for Ederson in recent weeks.

The Red Devils finished third in the league and qualified for the Champions League after a year’s absence in Europe.

This, coupled with Casemiro’s decision to leave as a free agent, forced Manchester United to strengthen their midfield in the summer.

The Premier League side have identified a few midfield targets, including the 26-year-old.

On 22 May, Game Witness Covered claims from Italy The Old Trafford club made progress to sign him.

Later that day, the Brazil international remained on the bench in La Dea’s 1–1 draw against Fiorentina. This is because the conversation has taken place entered the decisive phase.

atlanta manager Raffaele Palladino confirmed The decision to release him was taken due to ongoing talks with a top club.

“It was a decision taken in consultation with the player because there is something going on in the transfer market. The fact that such a big club follows the player should be a source of pride.” He said.

Solid progress from Manchester United

Michael Carrick’s side are closing in on a deal for Ederson. This is according to the journalist Gianluca Di MarzioWhich reports that there is a ‘major turning point’ in this operation.

He did not clarify what exactly it was nor give details of the developments, but said that the player is ‘one step away’ from joining Manchester United.

Earlier claims had mentioned a fee around €50m, but the journalist now claims the English club will pay €45m. This includes fixed fees as well as more difficult bonuses.

Atletico Madrid have also shown strong interest in the Brazil international. However, the Old Trafford club have overtaken him and are close to securing his services.

There is no mention of individual conditions, so this is unlikely to be an issue.

Contract, price and agent information

Ederson will soon enter the final year of his contract at Atalanta, and transfer market He is worth €40 million.

Agency Link Sports is leading negotiations for his transfer to Manchester United.

The South American played 3,169 minutes in 41 matches this season, scoring three goals and two assists.

While the New Jersey Devils watch the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs from home, one of their most ardent supporters still has something to play for.

Josh Langer, Devils season-ticket holder and the voice behind one of the largest Devils fan accounts on Instagram, @devils.fanpage, placed second out of more than 616,000 entries in the NHL’s official ‘Bracket Challenge.’

He has correctly predicted the outcome of all 12 playoff series so far – and determined the exact number of games for every series except three.

has the potential to He Okay up to this point? About one in 200,000.

UPDATE!! Now through two rounds a perfect bracket!!

I’m now ranked second in the world out of 616,147 in the NHL’s Bracket Challenge

Oh my 🤯🤯🤯 https://t.co/srUltFqhBj pic.twitter.com/Bvz5L1GIAt

– Josh (@joshlangerr) 19 May 2026

All that remains for completion is the Colorado Avalanche and Carolina Hurricanes meeting in the Stanley Cup Finals, with the Avs winning it all. According to NHL.com, both of these teams are “overwhelming favorites” to advance in their respective series.

The first place bracket belonging to user “galastorn” predicted the same finals result. But the total number of goals scored in the final could become a potential tiebreaker; Langer predicted 35, while Galstorna predicted 33.

If Langer is able to leap into the first place bracket and win it all, he will win an all-expenses-paid trip to any NHL event as well as a limited edition Norken watch valued at over $10,000. not bad.

Even if he is unable to do so, he will still have a pile of rewards from the individual groups he is involved in, of which Langer says he is “absolutely guaranteed to win at this rate.”

It took him only five minutes to make the bracket.

“I’m a big hockey fan and follow enough regular season action to make my own picks from the dome when looking at the bracket for the first time,” Langer explained. “And from there I think I have a good chance right from the start.”

One call he’s particularly proud of? Picking the Anaheim Ducks to upset the Edmonton Oilers in the first round:

He said, “It feels like Edmonton’s window is slowly closing without proper goaltending, meanwhile Anaheim’s window is opening with young star talent.” “The only way I could have gone different was based on playoff experience, but I still went with Anaheim.”

Many of her more than 51,600 followers on Instagram have supported her bid for first place.

“With the way the internet is these days, you’d probably expect some trash talk to accompany anything I post,” he laughs, “but I’m not sure I’ve seen much, if any, under my bracket success posts, it’s been mainly fun, positive words and most importantly shocking.”

The Devils’ two most recent playoff sweeps have come at the hands of the Hurricanes. Naturally, he’s eating her out.

“I’ve been a Devils fan since birth,” Josh told me. “I was 8 days old when they won their third title in 2003, so I was instantly obsessed with my father and that’s been in my life forever.”

However, the Hurricanes’ success against the Jersey side hasn’t stopped them from being objective when it matters. In fact, he says the opposite is true.

“When filling out a bracket my Devils fandom is put aside. All biases are put aside and I make my picks based on how that team performed that season in my mind… Picking Carolina to go to the Finals this year, I wouldn’t do it if my Devils fandom got in the way.”

Langer has filled out an NHL bracket every year since 2018 or 2019 — it’s a tradition he, his family and his friends look forward to like many during March Madness.

Of course, as a Devils fan, it will be a bit strange for him to watch the Eastern Conference Finals.

He said, “I won’t be rooting for Carolina, but I won’t be as upset if they win the ECF this year compared to the year I didn’t have the right bracket.” “If Montreal wins, great. I won’t be upset because I would love to see them in the finals. If Carolina wins, great too, because it’s good news for my class.”

What if it all comes together and he wins the entire challenge?

“Yeah, I mean it would be great, right?” Josh said with a big smile.

For a man who has been going to games since childhood and now runs one of the largest Devils communities online, a national bracket title would be the final ray of hope after a disappointing Devils season.

Daniel is the New Jersey Devils beat reporter for SportsNut. He graduated from Montclair State University in 2025… More about Daniel Amoia

It appears Sunny Mehta has gone through his process of identifying the New Jersey Devils’ weaknesses, and he has broken up with the dead weight.

Thus, Devils GM fired Dave Rogalski on Tuesday and is rehiring Sergei Brylin within the organization. He will not be in a coaching capacity.

Sheldon Keefe will remain as head coach of the Devils, and Keefe hired Brad Shaw and Jeremy Colliton to remain as his assistants.

However, the Devils need to replace Braylin behind the bench and hire Rogalski – widely known as the Martin Brodeur hire – as a goaltending coach.

The search to replace both is currently ongoing. Starting at the goaltending coach position, who could Mehta and Keefe pursue for the position?

Leo Luongo-Florida Panthers/Charlotte Checkers

Well, now that Mehta is in charge and Braden Birch as his right-hand man, why not go back to the Florida well that has worked so far?

Leo Luongo, younger brother of Hall-of-Fame goaltender Roberto Luongo, has played two NHL roles with the Florida Panthers. He was previously their goaltending development coach in 2020-21 – where he helped Sergei Bobrovsky have a strong year and helped Chris Dreigger turn in a stellar performance. He then graduated to Director of Player Development, and is now Director of Goaltending for Florida’s AHL affiliate, the Charlotte Checkers.

Luongo is a member of a first-of-its-kind goaltending excellence department in Florida that has helped develop netminders such as Dreigger, Joey Daccord and Spencer Knight.

Part of Luongo’s responsibility as Director of Goaltending is to streamline the structure between Florida and Charlotte so that NHL and AHL goaltenders can receive similar development and mentorship.

In fact, he has been a key part of Florida’s organization that has helped Luongo and Florida win two Stanley Cups.

This would certainly bode well for NHL goaltenders and developing netminders like Mikhail Yegorov and Jakub Malek.

Luongo could also help develop his own goaltending excellence department in New Jersey and ultimately end the revolving door of weak goaltenders in the Devils organization.

Hannu Toivonen-Toronto Marlies

If we’re looking for a goaltending coach to match Keefe, look no further than Hannu Toivonen, who overlapped with Keefe for three seasons in the Toronto organization.

Former pro goaltender turned goalie coach Toivonen has been labeled the Toronto Marlies goaltending guru after helping bring Ilya Samsonov back to NHL standard and successfully develop Dennis Hildeby early in his career.

With Samsonov in particular, Toivunen’s task was to get him back on track as a goaltender after taking a leave of absence for a “physical and mental reset”.

Toivonen’s role in Samsonov’s resurgence when he returned on January 14 after a 10-day reset was instrumental in his return to the Maple Leafs on the tail end of the 2023–2024 season. Samsonov posted a well below average .862 SV$ and 3.94 GAA in his first 15 games. He was assigned to the AHL Marlies to work on himself, and Samsonov received dedicated one-on-one mentoring from Toivonen.

Through focused sessions on the ice and support from the team’s development and performance staff, Toivonen helped Samsonov rebuild his confidence, refine his technique, and restore his mental intensity. The results were shocking. Upon his return, Samsonov delivered a much-improved .904 SV% and 2.70 GAA over his final 25 games, demonstrating the profound impact of Toivonen’s guidance in helping the Russian netminder regain his form and stabilize the Maple Leafs’ crease.

Now, it appears Toivonen is grooming another young goaltender in Toronto, named Artur Akhtyamov, who finished his first season as the starting goaltender for the Marlies with a 2.88 GAA and .904 SV% in 37 games. Akhtiyamov carried his strong regular season performance into the postseason where he has posted a 2.25 GAA and .916 SV% in eight games so far.

A source told New Jersey Hockey Now that Toivonen is “deserving of a promotion” and would be an excellent choice to take over the Devils’ vacant position.

Curtis Sanford-Toronto Maple Leafs

It seems more like the Devils could take Toivonen from Toronto rather than displace Curtis Sanford, who is already the goaltending coach in Toronto.

However, the Maple Leafs are going through changes of their own, and the arrival of a new head coach does not guarantee Sanford will remain in his position.

Sanford is a former NHL goaltender turned coach who has spent his coaching career in the Maple Leafs, Utica Comets and Abbotsford Canucks organizations.

In Toronto, Craig Berube inherited Sanford, who was hired by Keefe as goaltending coach in 2022–23.

Their most recent results don’t jump off the page in terms of their goaltenders’ performance. However, this is a result of the team’s poor performance overall.

In recent seasons, Sanford has put up some solid numbers from goaltenders such as Martin Jones, Joseph Woll, and Anthony Stolarz.

Depending on his luck in Toronto, Sanford’s familiarity with Keefe could attract him to New Jersey as the 46-year-old goalie coach looks to continue his career in the NHL.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Sheldon Keefe is safe, but Sunny Mehta is cleaning house. He is serious about improving the New Jersey Devils.

Earlier on Tuesday, the Devils announced that goaltending coach Dave Rogalski has been relieved of his duties.

Additionally, assistant coach Sergei Brylin will take on a new role within the organization.

According to a team source, Braylin will no longer be in a coaching role.

The search for replacements for those roles has begun.

Keefe will return for his third season as head coach with the Devils in 2026–27. Over the course of two seasons, he is 84-70-10. The 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs are set to miss the postseason for the first time since a disappointing 2025-26 season.

Keefe described missing the postseason as “embarrassing” in his year-end press conference.

Rogalski moving on shouldn’t be a surprise. In fact, it was long pending.

The Devils signed Jacob Markstrom to a two-year extension in October to secure their crease. However, Markstrom regressed in 2025–26, recording his worst statistical season to date.

In 44 games, Markstrom recorded an .883 save percentage and was 88th out of 98 goaltenders in goals saved above expectation (-11.9).

Braylin began working as a team consultant for the Albany Devils in the New Jersey organization during the 2012–13 season. He was immediately promoted to assistant coach the following season and then became an assistant coach for New Jersey in 2022–23.

Braylin’s role moving forward has not yet been determined.

Rogalski has been in the NHL since 2017-18. He moved from St. Louis to New Jersey in the 2020–21 season. He transitioned from a development coach to a goaltending coach and has been in his role ever since.

There will be no other changes to the Devils’ coaching staff. For the time being, Brad Shaw and Jeremy Colliton will continue in their roles alongside Keefe.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Since ancient times, undue importance has been given to low-sized prospects. Look no further than Cole Caufield, the 5-foot-7 Montreal Canadiens 50-goal scorer who fell to 15th overall in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Despite scoring 72 goals during the season, the previous US development team record (Auston Matthews, 55) was demolished.

The New Jersey Devils could take advantage of that bias towards smaller players by selecting Viggo Bjork if he is still available with their 12th overall pick in the first round on June 26.

Björk Caulfield is not small either. He stands at 5-foot-10, 172 pounds, and watching his style of play in the Swedish Hockey League (SHL) or the recent IIHF World Championship should put most size concerns to rest. He has drawn comparisons to Tampa Bay Lightning forward Brayden Point.

However, we have seen it time and again. Many scouts are stubborn and stale in their analysis of less skilled players, even if those players continue to prove them wrong.

The Athletic draft expert Corey Pronman has Bjork headed to the Devils at #12 in his mock draft. Trading the pick might be in the Devils’ best interest. But if there’s one thing we’ve learned about general manager Sunny Mehta, it’s that he’s not afraid to do what he feels is right, even if it’s unpopular.

Thus, if nothing comes of the Devils’ time, using the pick on Bjork could still be an incredible option. Based on skill and talent alone, he is in the top five.

Playing against NHL talent at the World Championship, he didn’t look out of place in any way. Take it from the great Sidney Crosby himself:

“It’s not easy [being that young at Worlds] … You know, he’s very balanced and you can tell he’s competitive. He’s not the biggest guy but he sees the ice well, makes good shots, does everything well. The way he competed, he was really tenacious with the puck.”

Sweden has equalized against Canada in the power play.

Viggo Björk (#2026NHLDraft) wins the faceoff against Ryan O’Reilly, Oliver Ekman-Larsson finds Lucas Raymond who makes no mistakes, just sneaks past him to tie the game!

– Tony Ferrari (@theTonyFerrari) 15 May 2026

Björk has two points (1G, 1A) in three games, as well as a disallowed goal, and despite his youth he has not shied away from participating in (and winning) puck battles. Both his playing ability and general hockey IQ seem well ahead of his age.

“They doubt [related to size] “Should fade out early,” said Ivan Ortiz of SMAHT scouting. “He is a well-rounded, intelligent player who is already managing the physical demands of professional hockey. Bjork plays with consistent energy and awareness, constantly scanning the ice and staying engaged in all three zones.

If the Devils retain Nico Hischier – which they should – the 1-2-3 punch of Hughes, Hischier and Bjork could be absolutely lethal on the road.

Bjork can also excel on the right wing, which could be a better option if he becomes a perennial 50+ point producer.

Viggo Bjork preventing Canadian defenders from pressuring a shot is something that won’t show up on the stat sheet or that people who aren’t looking for it won’t notice.

What you do is equally important #NYR pic.twitter.com/ZF2cJu6v12

– NYLOUIE TM️ (@NYLOuie) 15 May 2026

There is no guarantee that Björk will still be on the board at pick No. 12. But if he is, which wouldn’t be a surprise given his drafting history, the Devils shouldn’t think too much about it.

History with Mehta says he probably won’t think too much about it; They had Jesper Bratt, who was drafted #172 in 2016, ranked as the third best player in the entire draft via their draft model.

As GM, Mehta is clearly in a much more influential position than he was a decade ago. Fans should have full faith in Mehta and company. Decide to pursue.

Daniel is the New Jersey Devils beat reporter for SportsNut. He graduated from Montclair State University in 2025… More about Daniel Amoia

Lenny Haminaho showed the New Jersey Devils some moxie amid their comeback in the 2025-26 season, and he’s taking that momentum to the IIHF World Championship for Finland.

Haminaho put in a strong performance for Finland in their 6-2 win over the United States on Monday in Zurich.

The 21-year-old Devils forward finished with two goals and an assist as Finland went 3-0 unbeaten in Group A.

Haminaho opened the scoring at 6:06 of the first period. He stripped the puck from Ryan Leonard in the neutral zone, took it into the American zone on the left wing, and wristed it high to the glove side of Josef Woll, setting the stage for a dominant finish performance.

It was the same type of responsibility that Haminaho has displayed outside the offensive zone for the Devils this season that translated into offense for Finland.

Patrick Puistola made the score 2–1 in the first game by taking a short pass from Haminaho and beating Vol High. Aatu Raati scored a shorthanded goal before the period ended, giving Finland a 3–1 lead on just eight shots. Matt Coronato briefly tied it for the US at 7:44.

In the second period, Haminaho scored again on the power play at 1:26, once again on Finland’s first shot of the frame to make the score 4–1. Saku Manelaanen found the Vols net 31 seconds later. Devin Cooley came as a relief for the Americans.

Ryan Leonard scored for the US on a 5-on-3 power play early in the third to cut the deficit to 5–2. Anton Lundell responded on the man advantage to close out the scoring a few minutes later. Justus Anunen stopped 30 of 32 shots for Finland.

Haminaho, who had two goals and six assists in 33 NHL games with the Devils last season, played on a line with Anton Lundell and Patrick Puistola. Finland outshot the United States despite the Americans having a 32–28 edge in shots.

The win keeps Finland undefeated while the US remains at 1-2.

It was certainly an encouraging game from Haminaho who had a great performance against a USA team loaded with NHLers.

More performances like this from the Devils forward could certainly propel him to training camp over the summer and to help him get off to a big start in 2026-27.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Jack Hughes’ future with the New Jersey Devils has been in the headlines recently. With Quinn Hughes approaching NHL free agency, a potential extension with the Minnesota Wild is on the table. However, the Hughes brothers’ futures remain tied to each other, and an NHL insider has provided a big update on the New Jersey forward.

As reported by Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman on the Fan Hockey Show, the Devils are not trading Jack Hughes after missing the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs. This report comes after The Athletic reported that Minnesota general manager Bill Guerin attempted to trade for New Jersey defenseman Luke Hughes at the 2026 NHL trade deadline.

The Wild want to keep Quinn Hughes long-term, so trading for one of his brothers is a great way to do that. However, is reelection more likely in New Jersey or Minnesota?

Why is Quinn Hughes more likely to join Jack Hughes in New Jersey?

Jack Hughes is under contract with New Jersey through the 2029–2030 NHL season. Luke Hughes, meanwhile, has a contract that runs until the 2031–32 campaign. So, is it more likely that the two New Jersey players will join Quinn Hughes in Minnesota or vice versa?

Despite what the public says, it is far more likely that Quinn Hughes comes to the Devils than the other way around. With the Wild defenseman entering his contract year, some questions need answers soon. If Quinn Hughes plans to stay with Minnesota, an extension will likely be pursued this summer.

Friedman had previously predicted a three-year contract, in line with Jack Hughes’ contract in New Jersey. Unless Jack Hughes requests a trade, it doesn’t make sense for New Jersey to trade him. After all, if Quinn Hughes wants to play with his brothers, he can sign with the Devils in NHL free agency next year.

It all depends on what Quinn Hughes wants to do moving forward. If a trip to the Stanley Cup Finals is his goal, staying in Minnesota would make the most sense. If playing with his brothers is a bigger desire than signing with New Jersey then that’s the most realistic outcome.

Either way, it’s much easier to imagine the Hughes brothers playing with each other in New Jersey than it is in Minnesota.

READ MORE: Quinn Hughes moved to Detroit Red Wings? what will it actually take

Austin Konensky is a writer at SportsNut, covering the NHL, MLB, NFL, NBA and more. His work can also…more about Austin Konensky

Is Nico Hischier going to cost the New Jersey Devils more than $11 million per season for the next eight years?

The latest AFP Analytics offseason contract projections indicate that may very well be the case.

The Devils have a lot of answers to answer under new general manager, Sunny Mehta.

And although they are heading into the summer with $11,875,000 in cap space, it seems like that money could be eaten up very quickly, with no real room to improve without making cuts elsewhere.

The NHL officially announced 12 days ago that the 2026-27 salary cap will be $104 million.

Here’s a quick look at the Devils’ projections:

updated cap outlook

Per Pakpedia projections for 2026–27:

• Salary Cap: $104,000,000
• Projected cap hit: $92,125,000
• Cap Space: $11,875,000
• Cap floor: $76.9 million

Although the Devils are comfortably on top despite the $1.25 million bonus paid in overtime, Mehta will have little time to work with due to some key extensions.

Here’s where the following major contracts are projected to land:

Pending Free Agent (2026 UFA/RFA)

• Arseny Gritsyuk:
  • Long-term: four years at $5.890 million AAV
  • Short term: two years at $3.046 million AAV
• Simon German:
  • Long term: seven years at $8.061 million AAV
  • Short term: two years at $4.473 million AAV
• Paul Couture: Three years at $2.325 million AAV
• Nico Dawes: $892,500 for one year

Extension-Eligible (July 1, 2026 – FA July 1, 2027)

These players can be given extensions starting July 1, but have one year left on their contracts and won’t hit free agency until 2027:

• Nico Hischier: $11.459 million AAV at eight years.
• Dawson Mercer:
  • Long-term: six years at $7.839 million AAV
  • Short: Two years at $5.762 million AAV
• Cody Glass: Three years at $4.302 million AAV
• Brandon Dillon: $3.814 million, one year
• Stefan Noesen: $1,122 million in one year
• Seamus Casey: $940,500 for one year

Looking towards 2027-28

Let’s assume the salary cap is projected to be $113,500,000 in 2027-28. At that time, the Devils are projected to have $47,125,000 in cap space (based on current commitments). Thus, if the Devils sign all of the above extensions – applying long-term deals to those with long-term projections – New Jersey will have only $1,370,500 in cap space on July 1, 2027.

What does it mean for devils

With $11.875 million in projected cap space for 2026-27, the Devils have ample room to pursue most or all of the major free agents and extension eligible players without drastic roster surgery. Of course, this doesn’t mean players who are probably going to walk like Denis Cholovsky and Evgeni Dadonov.

The big commitments – Hischier (up $11.459 million), Nemec (up $8.061 million), Gritsyuk (up $5.89 million), and Mercer (up $7.839 million) – will consume a large portion of that space.

This situation perfectly reflects the rapid inflation in the NHL salary cap. This cap is projected to increase from $104 million in 2026–27 to $113.5 million in 2027–28, resulting in a large jump in available dollars. Through 2027-28, the Devils are currently projected to have approximately $47.125 million in cap space – more than four times the room they will have this upcoming summer.

That said, it is not realistic to retain every pending free agent and extension-eligible player. The Devils will have to make choices – allowing some depth players to walk or move while prioritizing key pieces. Even with strong cap inflation, the money can disappear quickly after an extension is signed. Expect Mehta to be selective this summer and possibly look for ways to shed salary from existing contracts to create more breathing room.

Overall, the projections are encouraging for New Jersey. However, if the Devils are looking for outside help, Mehta will have to find ways to shed some of the burden.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The New Jersey Devils trading Nico Hischier is a bad idea. However, not trading for Quinn Hughes is also a bad idea.

You have to give to get.

I want to reiterate that I am not advocating that the Devils should move Hischier. They should build their 1-2 center punch around him and Jack Hughes.

After all, the Devils are screwed by keeping Hischier—who is undoubtedly a top-line center—on the second line.

Still, you’re not getting Quin without premium returns. And if you can acquire arguably the best defenseman in the league, you will.

It’s more than uniting the Hughes brothers. Still, the Minnesota Wild are just as interested in employing them all on one team as the Devils.

evidence?

After bringing Quinn back from Vancouver last season, Bill Guerin tried to bring in Luke Hughes via the Devils trade.

This will undoubtedly help Guerin sign the Jacks as a free agent in 2030. Nevertheless, the Devils did not entertain Guerin’s pursuit of Luke, and the Devils remained with two of the three Hughes brothers.

However, Sunny Mehta is no Tom Fitzgerald. How much does he desire to unite Hughes’s triumvirate – if at all?

How much is he willing to trade his captain for Quinn?

This seems unlikely. Still, if the nuclear option of acquiring Quinn is successful for Hischier, there are options who should be available to fill the center void this summer, even if not the same as the Devils captain.

Perhaps Quinn’s presence covers any holes left by Hischier, because although you’re upgrading with Quinn, you’re upgrading at center.

Ryan O’Reilly-Nashville Predators

The Nashville Predators were treating Ryan O’Reilly with kid gloves last season.

O’Reilly has no protection from a trade, yet Predators GM Barry Trotz was treating him as if he did. Thus, despite all the trade speculation, O’Reilly remained in Nashville as they tried for the playoffs.

They couldn’t make it, and now Nashville will have a new GM.

Who will be at the helm in Nashville has yet to be determined, but after a roller coaster season, a new GM should be ready to move O’Reilly who is going into the last year of his contract on a roster that needs to get younger.

O’Reilly is cut from the same cloth as Hischier. He may no longer have elite metrics in the neutral and defensive zones, but he’s still on the bubble.

In his age-34 season, O’Reilly scored 25 goals and 74 points in 81 games. That’s fewer goals than Hischier (28) but more points (66) while winning 55.8% of faceoffs.

You’re betting on the 35-year-old O’Reilly’s play as a potential short-term stopgap solution and pending free-agent to fill the void.

Mason McTavish-Anaheim Ducks

You might be shopping upside down here.

It seems things are rocky between the Anaheim Ducks and Mason McTavish, who often served as a healthy scratch through two rounds in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

The ducks were eliminated on Thursday night. The focus now turns to the offseason where they will undoubtedly look to improve on an unexpectedly successful 2025-26.

Still, McTavish serving as a healthy scratch in his most important games over seven seasons shows where he stands in the eyes of Joel Quenneville.

Now the Ducks will have to make a decision about his future, just like they did with Trevor Zegras last summer.

And it worked out very well for the Philadelphia Flyers.

McTavish has completed the first year of a six-year contract with an average annual value of $7 million. Heading into his age-24 season, there is still a lot to like about McTavish’s game.

The Ducks forward has shown good scoring touch with occasional high-end flashes — winning battles along the wall, driving through contact, and making quick plays in tight areas — but his skating and defensive reliability remain glaring areas of limited consistency so far.

Perhaps Quinn’s tarpaulin-like ability to cover the ice will make up for the defensive deficiencies here. And the Ducks would certainly be selling the player at a low price.

Shane Wright-Seattle Kraken

For a more defensively reliable option, Shane Wright brings some interesting tools to his game – he’s a strong short-field player with solid wheels and reliable defense.

That said, he has seen very limited puck touches in both of his NHL seasons, making it hard to project him as a true driver given how limited his overall participation has been.

Instead, he will need the support of two key top-six wingers. Perhaps Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer will provide ample support until Wright figures out how to move the game forward on his own – or rather If He figures out how to carry the game on his own.

The Kraken were challenging Wright to make his splash at the 2026 NHL trade deadline. In this situation, the Devils are a good fit for a 22-year-old player heading into the final year of his entry-level contract. And there is a positive side to Wright’s development as the aforementioned playdriver.

Wright was more successful in his first full season in 2024–25, scoring 19 goals and 44 points in 79 games, compared to only 12 goals and 27 points the previous season.

Perhaps in a more offensive system in New Jersey – as opposed to Seattle – he can unlock what made him so popular in his draft year.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

According to a recent report from Michael Russo of The Athletic, Minnesota Wild general manager Bill Guerin attempted to acquire Luke Hughes from the New Jersey Devils during the 2025-26 season — a move that would have seen Luke leave one brother, Jack Hughes, to join forces with another in the form of Quinn Hughes.

Of course, rumors and speculation about the future of all three Hughes brothers have been running rampant. Just last week on an episode of The Sheet with Jeff Marek, all three brothers’ agent, Pat Brisson, talked about the idea of ​​them all playing together at some point:

“We probably haven’t had any specific discussion about this. These are possibilities, I will not deny the factBut when your three brothers get together during the summer or in the offseason, we have lots of fun conversations about lots of fun things.

Obviously, no deal happened for Luke. Based on the language used by The Athletic, it doesn’t seem like the Devils ever seriously considered parting ways with Luke.

But here’s what we know. All else being equal, there is no reason to believe that Quinn will be someone More He is willing to sign an extension beyond his current deal (which runs through 2026–27), which he would not have done if the team had made a deep run in the playoffs.

“I’m definitely ready to re-sign here,” Quinn said in his exit interview today. He also said that getting a deal in the summer is “more ideal”, but is “so mentally tough” that it is not possible to go into the season without it.

Regardless, the possibility remains that Guerin attempted to acquire Luke to increase his leverage for a Quinn extension. This will prompt a GM who does not have full Confidence in your ability to accomplish it. Quinn’s words confirm that the outlook at this position is far from certain, even if he enjoys playing in Minnesota.

At the end of the day, the Devils have something the Wild don’t: both of Quinn’s brothers. There’s no telling what Devils GM Sunny Mehta’s plan will be – and whether he’s considering a potential pursuit of Quinn in any near-term decisions.

Additionally, Quinn is already 0-for-1 on a contract extension entering the season and there are plenty of rumors surrounding him. Even if he is 100% genuine in his desire to stay in Minnesota, things could change quickly if he doesn’t make a move this offseason.

Mehta, Guerin and everyone involved know that Jack’s contract expires after 2029-30 and Luke’s after 2031-32. If Quinn really wants to play with his brothers, the quickest path is to New Jersey.

While ex-Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald has rightfully faced his fair share of scrutiny, some of his late decisions could potentially play a big role in any Devils success in the future:

Her refusal to part with Luke may one day be the reason the Devils finally meet Quinn. And their ability to let Ondrej Palat’s contract out without any salary retention would add some much-needed flexibility for Mehta to work with this offseason.

Time will tell what direction the Quinn saga and the Devils as a whole will take. In the meantime, until proven otherwise, Devils fans should hold their positions full confidence In Mehta.

Daniel is the New Jersey Devils beat reporter for SportsNut. He graduated from Montclair State University in 2025… More about Daniel Amoia

Bill Guerin appears to want to accomplish what former New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald couldn’t. He wants to reunite the Hughes brothers, but in Minnesota.

According to a report from Michael Russo via The Athletic, the Wild GM attempted to trade for Luke Hughes — the youngest of the three NHL phenoms — during the 2025-26 season.

Idea? After ambushing the Devils for Quinn Hughes and luring him to Minnesota, get Luke and sign superstar forward Jack Hughes if he becomes a free agent in 2030.

“Everyone knows the Hughes brothers want to play together. Maybe Jack wants to come to Minnesota to join forces with Quinn instead of waiting now or doing it the other way,” Russo wrote in his latest. “That would be complicated, however, because it’s hard to believe that Jack would leave his youngest brother, Luke, behind with the New Jersey Devils. That’s why, according to league sources, the Wild made an offer to former Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald to acquire Luke last season. Still, it seems unlikely that new GM Sunny Mehta’s first move would be to trade Jack Hughes. The same can be said for Hischier, He’s eligible for an extension this offseason, though. And if the Devils get the impression the Skipper won’t move, you can bet they’ll put him on the market.”

Fitzgerald is no longer in the GM chair as he and the Devils parted ways and New Jersey hired Sunny Mehta as its sixth GM in franchise history.

Fitzgerald’s departure stemmed from Ball dropping the ball in the Quinn saga when he was still in Vancouver and preferred to ply his trade in New Jersey.

However, the ex-Devils GM did do one thing right by nabbing the youngest Hughes brother.

Not only is Luke projected to emerge as the Devils’ No. 1 defenseman, but holding on to him gives New Jersey its best chance to keep Jack long-term.

The Devils signed Luke to a long-term, seven-year contract last September, with six years remaining after the 2025–26 season.

This will be an interesting summer for both the Devils and the Wild.

Quinn is eligible to sign an extension on July 1 as he has one year remaining on his contract. It remains to be seen whether he does so or not, but it’s no secret that Quinn has been highly complimentary of the Wild organization—specifically Guerin.

The Devils have decisions to make themselves this summer, namely the pending free agent contracts in Simon Nemec and Arseniy Gritsyuk, as well as Nico Hischier who, like Quinn, is eligible for an extension on July 1 with one year left on his deal.

We know Guerin will continue his aggressive approach to upgrading the Wild while also doing everything he can to keep Quinn in Minny.

However, Mehta’s approach remains to be seen as a first-time GM in the NHL.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Sunny Mehta was brought in as general manager to be bold and he certainly has the opportunity to do that this summer via the New Jersey Devils trade.

Mehta’s background shows that he is willing to take risks having been a former professional poker player, an options trader, and even a professional musician.

So, why wouldn’t he at least try to acquire Quinn Hughes?

You know the story. Quinn is the older brother. Jack Hughes and Luke Hughes have long been associated with New Jersey. It would be crazy to get these three together in New Jersey – the kind of thing fans have been daydreaming about for years.

This was almost a reality in 2025-26. Ultimately, former GM Tom Fitzgerald missed the opportunity and it didn’t happen.

Thus, Minnesota Wild GM Bill Guerin swooped in and ran the ball back for a touchdown. Wild believed Quinn was one of, if not the final piece of the puzzle that would ultimately lift the Stanley Cup.

Still, Minnesota was devastated by the inevitable Colorado avalanche last night.

With a new person in charge, many are wondering if Mehta will be able to do what the old front office could not.

Quinn is still under contract in Minnesota through next season. He’s coming off another big year, and the Wild are in no position to “sell.”

But contracts eventually end, conditions change, and the family works harder. Therefore this story will not end.

adventure part

If the Devils are serious about it, it will definitely be worth more than just prospects and picks.

Let’s preface this by saying that I’m not advocating that Satanists should or shouldn’t do this. All I’m saying is that it’s the kind of bold move Fitzgerald wouldn’t come close to.

The Wild’s eventual collapse in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs may be due to one very obvious thing. They have no central depth.

In New Jersey, the Devils have a frontline center with the same contract expiration date as Quinn and nearly identical cap hits for the rest of their deals.

Yes. We are talking about the captain. Nico Hischier.

Hischier has been the devil’s heart. He is a reliable, two-way center who leads by example. Trading him for a defenseman – even one as good as Quinn – will feel uncomfortable at first. But hat math is hat math. Quinn wants big money on his next deal. Hischier himself is about to get a big promotion. If you’re trying to fit three Hughes brothers under one hat while trying to build a contender, something’s got to give.

A deal that really catches Minnesota’s attention might look something like this:

• devils send: Nico Hischier, Simon Nemec (or Anton Silayev), this year’s first rounder, and maybe one more piece
• devils get:Quinn Hughes

This is a huge offer. You’re leaving your captain and a young NHL defenseman who has a shot at being a top-four prospect.

However, you are becoming arguably the best defenseman in the NHL. And the Wild have been yearning for a legitimate center for years.

Maybe bold doesn’t even cover it.

Will Mehta do this?

We’re talking about a move with a magnitude of 10 here.

However, this is not unfamiliar territory for Mehta. You have to remember, Mehta didn’t get a final shot with his former club, the Florida Panthers. However, he was instrumental in assisting GM Bill Zito with important moves that ultimately led them to consecutive Stanley Cups in the last two seasons.

One of those tricks? The foresight to move Jonathan Huberdeau and Mackenzie Weegar in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk.

In the end, that trade ultimately changed the Panthers’ trajectory from bubble threat to legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.

This was the final gamble in which the Panthers lost cash twice.

So no, don’t take such a bold step in front of Mehta. History shows that calculated risks are in its DNA.

Will this also work?

On paper, adding Quinn ahead of Jack and Luke would be ridiculous. The passing, the power play, the ability to control the game from the back end – this will inevitably force the Devils to lean back on their strengths, but on steroids.

As a result, you’ll be centering the situation and diluting your already weak prospect pool at the same time. That doesn’t mean Mehta can’t figure out another 2C solution, but it won’t be easy — they don’t grow on trees, especially ones like Hischier’s that undoubtedly have 1C quality. If this doesn’t change rapidly in the cup window, you’ll have years of regrets.

Mehta’s background in analytics and poker means he probably approaches trades differently than the previous guy. The lower the sentiment, the higher the expected value. Will this lead to any major accomplishments like this in his first few months on the job… who knows.

Right now it’s all smoke. No real traction beyond the usual off-season whispers that I’ve heard. In fact, it’s more likely that Quinn extends to Minnesota.

But that kind of boldness was lacking under the previous regime and that’s what the Devils ownership are hoping Mehta will bring to the table. If the Devils really want to unify the Hughes Triforce, Mehta will have to lure Guerin to the dance.

The offseason is young and Mehta is just getting started. However, he will undoubtedly want to make his mark on the roster.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Sunny Mehta took over his former club-Florida Panthers when he made his first appointment at New Jersey Devils.

Mehta announced the hiring of Braden Burch as Assistant General Manager, adding significant experience and championship pedigree to his hockey operations department.

Birch, the Panthers’ former director of hockey operations and salary cap management, served at Florida since the 2016–17 season, where he was a key member of the front office that led them to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles in 2024 and 2025.

Birch also served as a special assistant to Bill Zito.

The move would give Birch a central role at both the NHL club and its AHL affiliate. In his new position, Birch will serve as general manager of the Utica Comets, while supporting Mehta and the broader front office in key strategic areas including player scouting, contract negotiations, roster construction and salary cap planning.

This multifaceted role provides the Devils with a battle-tested executive who has clearly demonstrated an understanding of every layer of building a winner.

“Braden will be an extremely valuable addition to our senior hockey operations group,” Mehta said. “His blend of on-ice experience, management background and intelligence will serve him well in his new role. Braden will work to elevate all areas of our operation, and I look forward to joining his existing front office, where his personality and work ethic will be an excellent fit.”

Birch expressed excitement about the opportunity: “I’m really excited to take this next step in my professional career. I want to thank Bill Zito, the Viola family, and the entire Florida Panthers organization for 12 amazing years, and the ability to help a front office achieve the ultimate goal of a Stanley Cup championship. I greatly appreciate them giving me the opportunity to further my professional career in New Jersey. I look forward to getting the Devils back to that level of success.” Look forward to working with Sunny and his group to achieve what we are confident they can achieve.”

Birch is a sixth-round draft pick by the Chicago Blackhawks (179th overall) of the 2008 NHL Draft.

A left-shot defenseman, he played collegiately at Cornell University in the ECAC from 2009–10 to 2012–13. In 128 career games with the Big Red, he recorded 21 points (5 goals, 16 assists) and 92 penalty minutes while serving as tri-captain in his senior season.

Professionally, Burch served in the ECHL with affiliates in both Florida and Colorado, and spent time in Finland’s Liiga with HIFK, where he wore an assistant captain’s letter. Before turning professional, he developed through strong junior programs with Oakville (OJHL/OPJHL), Nanaimo (BCHL) and Stoney Creek (GHL).

Off the ice, Birch earned a master’s degree in sports management from Florida Atlantic University, preparing him for a long-term career in hockey leadership.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

After competing for the services of Sunny Mehta, it looks like the New Jersey Devils and Toronto Maple Leafs may be facing off against each other for another front office executive.

After learning he was also a candidate for the job in Toronto, the Devils were not going to let Mehta slip through their fingers.

He immediately fired Tom Fitzgerald and secured Mehta’s arrival in New Jersey.

Mehta didn’t have to wait long to make changes to his front office and has now relieved former assistant general manager Dan MacKinnon and senior advisor Chuck Fletcher.

Now the Devils GM has a cabinet to build, and he may seek the services of Florida Panthers Director of Player Development Brian McCabe.

“One of the guys I’m curious to see if Mehta will try to add is Brian McCabe.

“Former Maple Leaf defenseman Brian McCabe has a really good reputation for player development,” Elliotte Friedman said on the latest 32 Thoughts podcast. “Mackenzie Weegar is one of those guys who has credited McCabe in the past for really helping him become the player he’s become.”

However, Friedman noted that although John Chayka and Mats Sundin have not yet made a move, McCabe could also be a candidate in Toronto – where he has played before.

Friedman said, “But I’ve also wondered if, for whatever reason, if, if, if, if Toronto makes a change, would Sandin commit to him in a player development role as well.”

McCabe will be a welcome asset to New Jersey. Given his success in developing players like Weegar, Gustav Forsling and Dmitry Kulikov into vital blueliners, this kind of guidance would prove tremendously helpful to Devils defensemen like Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec.

McCabe isn’t the only Panthers executive Mehta may have his eye on.

The Devils GM needs a right-hand man, and Braden Burch is the name being whispered about.

“The other guy I heard might be on Sunny Mehta’s radar is a guy named Braden Burch. Now, Burch’s official position is this [Florida’s] Director of hockey operations and salary cap management. He played hockey. he was actually drawn by [Chicago] Blackhawks in 2008, and then he moved abroad. “He’s been around hockey his whole life.”

“When we were talking about… how some of these teams felt that some of the guys they were interviewing were very quiet and didn’t really have a lot of experience in a lot of different areas, one of the future candidates, because I don’t think he’s ready yet, some people reached out to me about Burch, and they wondered if he was ultimately going to be Sunny Mehta’s right-hand man with the Devils. So just a few names that I pointed out there. Wanted to do.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

New Jersey Devils forward Paul Cotter has been selected to the preliminary roster for the 2026 U.S. Men’s National Team at the IIHF Men’s World Championship in Switzerland.

Cotter is playing for the USA men’s national team for the first time.

The 26-year-old Canton, Michigan native last represented the United States at the 2017-18 World Junior A Challenge.

Full Team USA preliminary roster:

Ahead: Cotter, Matt Coronato, James Hagens, Isaac Howard, Sam Lafferty, Ryker Lee, Ryan Leonard, Oliver Moore, Danny Nelson, Tommy Novak, Matthew Olivier, Max Plante, Max Sasson, and Matthew Tkachuk

protect: Will Borgen, Declan Carlyle, Connor Clifton, Justin Faulk, Wyatt Kaiser, Ryan Lindgren, Mason Lohrey, Ryan Uffko

goalkeeper:Drew Comeso, Devin Cooley, Joseph Woll

Cotter appeared in 82 games for the Devils in 2025–26, in what he described as a disappointing season, recording 9 goals and 6 assists.

Cotter had his best season in the goal column in 2024–25, scoring 16 goals and 22 points.

In 296 career NHL games with Vegas and New Jersey, he has 47 goals and 35 assists.

The Devils forward will bring a unique blend of speed, skill and physicality and can play a scoring or checking role in a tournament like this.

Cotter joins Devils teammates Nico Hischier and Timo Mayer (Switzerland), Connor Brown (Canada), and Lenny Haminaho (Finland) as participants out of New Jersey at the World Championships this summer.

He is a former Stanley Cup champion with the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. The Devils immediately traded for him and a 2025 third-round pick that summer in exchange for Alexander Holtz and Akira Schmid.

The men’s World Championship tournament is scheduled for May 15–31, 2026. Rosters are preliminary and subject to change.

Team USA is set to face Team Switzerland first on May 15 in the preliminary round.

Cotter is a pending restricted free agent and is due to sign a new contract this summer.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

New Jersey Devils general manager Sunny Mehta officially has the exact numbers he can work with in the 2026-27 NHL season.

According to Elliotte Friedman, the NHL officially set the 2026-27 salary cap and notified its 32 clubs.

According to Friedman, the structure is as follows:

• land: $76.9 million
• Middle: $90.4 million
• Roof: $104 million ($8.5 million increase from 2025-26)
• Maximum individual player salary: $20.8 million

This is a significant league-wide increase of $8.5 million from last July that comes at an ideal time for the Devils as they transition to a new era under Mehta.

Projected cap position on July 1, 2026

According to the latest projections from Pukpedia, the Devils are expected to enter the 2026-27 season with a projected cap hit of $92.125 million. This leaves them with approximately $11.875 million in cap space under the $104 million cap.

Obviously, the Devils’ projected cap hit sits comfortably above the $76.9 million floor and just above the $90.4 million midpoint, giving them solid flexibility while still being in a strong position for floor compliance.

The projection has approximately 18 of the 23 active roster spots filled, with a total of 28 standard contracts and no significant dead money or buyout fees beyond bonus overages.

Bonus overage for 2026-27

The Devils will carry $1.25 million in performance-bonus overage into the 2026–27 season. This amount is added directly to their 2026-27 cap hit – which unfortunately reduces the available cap space.

Older Age Details:

• Simon Nemec ($750,000): Earned through three “A” bonuses (goals, plus/minus, and time on ice).
• Evgeny Dadonov ($500,000): Triggered via bonuses in games played ($250K in 10 games and $250K in 20 games).

These bonuses will be fully implemented due to the team’s LTIR usage in 2025-26.

Major pending free agents and extension candidates

With a projected cap space of $11.875 million, Mehta has room to address pending free agents and extensions.

Restricted Free Agent (RFA) – High Priority

• Simon Nemec (D): Breakout young defenseman and key building block.
• Arseniy Gritsyuk (RW): Promising winger with secondary scoring ability.
• Paul Cotter (LW/C): Physical depth forward.

Unrestricted Free Agent (UFA) – Depth Options

• Evgeny Dadonov (RW/LW): Veteran contributor who started his share of the bonus overage; Possible low-cost refund or replacement.

Notable extension-eligible players (under contract for 2026–27)

• Nico Hischier (C): Team captain and No. 1 center – Eligible for an extension through July 1. Keeping the 27-year-old leader safe for the long term is a key priority.
• Dawson Mercer (RW): Versatile 24-year-old middle-six forward—also extension-eligible on July 1. If a deal is not signed this summer, the Devils retain the RFA rights through 2027. Mercer is arbitration eligible.

Strategic implications for Devils under Sunny Mehta

An estimated $11.875 million in space (after a $1.25 million cap) gives Mehta a worthwhile option for July 1:

• He may prefer an extension for Hischier (and if Mehta determines Mercer is part of the future) while handling a key RFA like Nemec.
• Add target depth in free agency to improve bottom-six scoring, defense or goaltending.
• Maintain flexibility for important trades, in-season moves or LTIR use.

Looking ahead, the rising cap (expected to reach $113,500,000 in 2027–28) will create room for even more relief when the current contract expires. The core comprising Hischier, Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes, Jasper Bratt, Timo Meier and others remains locked in, providing a strong foundation for Mehta’s approach.

Of course, projections can change rapidly with trades, signings or bonus outcomes. As mentioned, the Devils should make a deal for a top-6 forward to play alongside Jack and Bratt.

However, overall, the official outlook is positive.

The new $104 million cap hit puts the Devils in position to have what should be a productive offseason as Mehta begins to shape the roster for contention.

However, Mehta’s hurdle will be navigating Tom Fitzgerald’s no-move/trade clause on New Jersey’s roster.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The New Jersey Devils should aggressively trade their 12th overall pick instead of using it to select a player in the 2026 NHL Draft.

Tuesday night’s draft lottery brought a few surprises. The Toronto Maple Leafs moved up to first overall. The San Jose Sharks moved up eight spots to number two.

However, the devils were undeterred.

They are now locked in at 12 after missing their 2.5% chance of reaching number 2.

At least he didn’t fall.

Now, new Devils general manager Sunny Mehta knows how much he values ​​his first-round draft pick. He won’t get a chance in Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg. However, he should give himself a chance at a top-six forward to break out the line-up of Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt.

When the Devils fired Tom Fitzgerald, it became clear that New Jersey needed a change.

Fitzgerald’s tenure as Devils GM was mixed. A major factor contributing to his departure to New Jersey was his patience to a fault.

At the 2026 NHL trade deadline, he stood down. Not a single trade was made after making the surprise decision to bring in Nick Bjugstad in an unexpected push for the playoffs.

Still, at the deadline, players like Nicolas Roy were getting a first-round pick, and the Devils have Cody Glass — who they could have reacquired more futures to flip for a more pressing need.

Suffice it to say that Fitzgerald displayed too much patience and it ultimately cost the organization.

Mehta needs to separate. One of the reasons he was brought to New Jersey was to contribute to his success with the Florida Panthers. He helped facilitate the trade that brought them to Matthew Tkachuk. He assisted in removing Gustav Forsling from remission. And that was part of the decision to flip Spencer Knight for Seth Jones.

Now, the Devils need that kind of offensive action to improve their top six. After all, Mehta himself had said this. Change is needed.

When he was introduced as the Devils GM, Mehta said, “I see a lot of similarities because when I got to Florida, they’ve been through some tough times recently.” “But they had some very talented players. There are some things we need to maintain and some things we need to change.”

Despite recent results, the devil’s window is now open. They have the top talent to win, but it’s an incomplete puzzle.

Mehta has a lot of decisions to make this summer, one of them being what to do with his first-round pick. Whoever they pick at the age of 12 will not be of any help for the next two-three seasons. The devils have no time to wait any longer.

The Devils’ biggest need will be scoring. Package the pickup and take it to help now.

Settling to select a player in that situation, rather than making a trade to improve on him now, would be a sign of the same complacency.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The New Jersey Devils will have the 12th overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Tuesday’s lottery showed no movement for New Jersey, which entered with the 12th-worst record among non-playoff teams.

His slim chances of climbing into the top ten never materialised.

Instead, chaos reigned at the top of the board. The Toronto Maple Leafs, with only 8.5% odds and the fifth-worst record, moved from outside the top tier to first overall.

The San Jose Sharks moved up to second place, about a 5% difference from mid-lottery position (ninth-worst). Both jumps were highly improbable and expectations for the 2026 NHL Draft class were reshuffled.

For the Devils, it’s another year of lottery neutrality. Like 2024, they’re stuck in a spot that reflects their season: competitive enough to miss the playoffs but not lottery-friendly. That year he landed a big shot at Russian defenceman, Anton Silayev.

The top-tier talent headlined by prospects like Gavin McKenna now looks to Toronto and San Jose as teams looking to capitalize on long-term fortunes.

Yet 12th overall remains valuable.

What the Devils do with their first round pick remains to be seen. New GM Sunny Mehta reported that he believes New Jersey is on the verge of becoming a perennial playoff performer.

Thus, it’s fair to wonder if Mehta will settle for his core needs and package a first-round pick for more immediate help.

Otherwise, the Devils lack chances going forward. The 2026 NHL Draft is loaded with forward talent, and New Jersey will certainly look to improve their crop of forwards in the pipeline.

The 2026 NHL Draft is just less than two months away. Thus, Mehta and his team will have ample time to assess the best course of action with the 12 overall selections on June 26.

However, if the new regime is truly something that is going to change the culture in New Jersey, their first round pick should – without question – be used as a trade chip to eventually make Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt a proper left winger.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The New Jersey Devils’ decision to trade Sunny Mehta out from under the Toronto Maple Leafs is looking like pure highway robbery, as the Leafs selected John Chayka as their new general manager on Monday.

Mehta was the leading candidate for the GM position in Toronto before the Devils promptly fired Tom Fitzgerald and hired his successor just 10 days later.

A smart move by Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment (HBSE) forced Maple Leaf Sports & Entertainment (MLSE) to pivot, hiring Chayka as their 19th GM in history and Matt Sundin as senior executive advisor of hockey operations.

The initial announcement shocked the hockey world.

Chayka – a man who hasn’t worked in the NHL since he was suspended by Gary Bettman five years ago to pursue new opportunities around the league despite having three years remaining on his contract – comes in with a controversial background.

Ironically, he was in talks with the same ownership group that hired Mehta over interest in Chayka in 2021.

It is safe to say that it was a learning experience for HBSE.

Chayka’s appointment is being heavily criticized in Toronto. One claim says the Maple Leafs are not acting like a serious hockey team.

This conclusion was reached because the Maple Leafs are heading into one of the most important offseasons in their franchise history – similar to the Devils – and can only come to terms with a manager who has been absent from an NHL front office for the past five years, and a fan favorite without front office experience.

Again allegations are coming from Toronto media

Steve Simmons of the Toronto Sun told Keith Pelley, “I’ve been in contact with about 20 people who work in the NHL, many of whom are major names we’ll all know.” “One of them supported and the other 19 thought it was a sham. Words like fraudster, liar and salesman were used.”

Pelé could only respond to that claim with “talking to different people”, while pointing to an overall process.

Suffice it to say, the Maple Leafs’ new direction is a surprise.

Granted, there were reports that the Devils were also interested in Chayka, but sources indicated the interest did not amount to anything more than that, and was derived from Chayka’s past history with HBSE.

Thus, it’s Chayka’s turn in Toronto, who hasn’t had much to do in his first managerial stint with the Arizona Coyotes. And it certainly feels like the Sundin hire is partly to help win over the doubters with the nostalgia that comes with being a Hall-of-Famer.

While the devils went in a different direction. Of course, it’s true that Mehta is a good fit because he was previously in the Devils organization.

However, Mehta’s resume – which landed him the Devils GM position – has earned HBSE a universally A-grade in terms of recruiting.

He helped build the Devils’ hockey analytics department, exposed Jesper Bratt in the 2016 NHL Draft, moved to the Washington Capitals — and also helped build their analytics department before being employed by the Florida Panthers and helping them win two Stanley Cups.

Certainly, Chayka – CEO of JKC Capital, a family-run business that reportedly owns 50 Wendy’s franchises and five Tim Hortons franchises in Ontario and Quebec – has plenty of runway to prove us all wrong.

However, as it stands, the Devils appear to be the adults in the room with home run fare, while the Maple Leafs fanned the flames in Toronto despite their intentions to stop the burning.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Atalanta’s Ederson appears closer than ever to going away, and Manchester United Now he is at the forefront of the midfielder race.

From 2024, sports witness The Red Devils’ interest in the midfielder has been covered. They have made initial contact for that but no formal proposal ever came forward.

Ederson remains at Bergamo and so far, there has been no progress on a new deal. Atletico Madrid are also keen, as the player’s current contract expires in 2027.

Manchester United have sensed this as an opportunity and have made a move to the Spanish side for the Brazil international.

Murtaugh can order transfer

tutomercatoweb Note that Ederson has an agreement with Atlético Madrid on personal terms. He agreed to sign a deal worth €4m per season but problems arose during club-to-club negotiations.

Los Rojiblancos made an offer in January but it did not match Atalanta’s valuation.

This has given Manchester United a chance to make their efforts. Discussions have intensified with Ederson’s squad, with John Murtaugh’s presence in Bergamo likely to help the Red Devils.

It is believed an offer of €50m could seal a deal for Michael Carrick’s side. The exact structure of the deal La Dea wants is unknown but Manchester United are now the leading candidates for Ederson.

Rumors are increasing that the 26-year-old will leave in the summer.

Sunny Mehta already has the option to pick up the phone and negotiate a potential New Jersey Devils trade and improve his top six.

After failing to make the playoffs for the 10th consecutive season, the Detroit Red Wings are now the longest-serving team to miss the postseason after the Buffalo Sabers punched their ticket this spring.

Expressing his disappointment with Steve Yzerman declaring a disappointing season, he described the Red Wings as “needing better players” and said that no one in the organization is untouched.

“We will certainly look at any ways we can improve our team to take the next step,” Yzerman said. “Definitely ready to do that. We’re absolutely ready to do that.”

While it’s unclear what direction Detroit’s GM will choose to go this summer, the Red Wings certainly have some players that would benefit New Jersey in a potential Devils trade.

In his introductory press conference, Mehta explained that he wanted to “make smart, objective and educated decisions… again and again, again and again.”

He later clarified that although he has a background in analytics as a former professional poker player, stock trader, and NHL executive, he finds value in blending analytics with his hockey knowledge.

“The reason I ever cared about analytics, statistical probability, is because it helped me win. It helped me win in poker. It helped me win on the trading floor, and it helped me win in hockey. And that’s why I care about it.

“And blending, of course, is important in the same way as in poker it’s not just the numbers. You have to get a feel for your opponent. You have to understand the subjectivity of bluffing. And, you have to understand psychology. And the same is true in trading, right? You have to have a feel for the markets. You have to understand how news affects things, how subjectivity and human emotions affect things.”

So, who can the Devils target in Detroit to improve their roster?

alex debrincat

Who is better than Alex DeBrincat for goals?

DeBrincat is the Red Wings’ leading goal scorer over the past two seasons, with 41 and 39 goals respectively. 2025-26 was the third time in the 28-year-old’s nine-year career that he reached or surpassed the 40-goal mark. He has also scored more than 30 goals in five seasons in his career.

DeBrincat scores in a lot of different ways. He can finish off the rush, shoot from a different zone on offense, he scored 15 power play goals last season, and added eight assists on the man advantage.

DeBrincat is coming off a career-best 85-point season, which will certainly increase his trade value.

However, the Devils have assets to deal with.

DeBrincat – a regular running-back with Patrick Kane – would ultimately be a strong fit next to Devils stars Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt to complete that line.

He has one year remaining on his contract in 2026-27 with $7.875 million before a new contract becomes due next summer.

The Devils need to score more goals and that’s what DeBrincat does best.

lucas raymond

If the Devils want a younger option, Mehta could target Lucas Raymond.

One of the criticisms of Raymond in 2025–26 was that he needed to shoot more. Nevertheless, he scored 25 goals on 173 shots – a shooting percentage of 14.5%.

In four of Raymond’s five seasons in the NHL, he has scored 20 or more goals. In 2023–24, Raymond scored a career-high 31 goals, and the following season scored a career-high 80 points.

Raymond is a skilled all-around forward who should be spending a little more time in the prime years of his career at the age of 24.

On the downside, Raymond was trusted as the driver of his line, rather than being a complimentary piece next to Hughes or Bratt.

The Devils have assets to deal with, their first-round selection Simon Nemec and perhaps one of their young rising forward players, Lenny Haminaho.

Raymond is heading into a third, very favorable eight-year contract with a cap hit of $8.075 million.

Hey, David Blitzer gave Mehta his blessing to spend the cap. He can also swing for the fences.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

There was no chance that the New Jersey Devils were going to let Sunny Mehta slip through their fingers.

Sunny Mehta is eight days into his Devils tenure and has already endeared himself to the New Jersey organization and fans in his introductory press conference.

Yet, just nine days ago, there was real interest and possibility that Mehta could be the next one in charge of the Toronto Maple Leafs.

According to Elliotte Friedman, David Blitzer and Josh Harris weren’t going to let that happen.

“The interesting thing about it is I didn’t think New Jersey was going to make their change (Tom Fitzgerald’s firing) until the end of the season,” Friedman told NHL Radio Network’s Morning Skate. “And then they did. I think they knew Toronto was interested, and then they said, ‘No, he’s our guy.'”

“I heard that the Devils had either reached out to other people or asked for permission to be interviewed. And then when Toronto got interested, they said, ‘No, we’re just ending this search, and he’s our guy.'”

Of course, the timing of Tom Fitzgerald’s firing is a little more obvious.

The Devils fired the ex-GM with six games remaining in the regular season, calling it a mutual decision to part ways.

Yet, going into the negotiations, Blitzer seemed to know all along that he was letting Fitzgerald go, whether the former Devils GM agreed or not.

“Talking to Josh [Harris] And sometimes talking out loud to ourselves, but ultimately, we came to the conclusion that we felt like this was the time when it made sense to separate,” Blitzer explained. ‘And as soon as that happened, that’s actually when I sat down with Tom to have a very open discussion. And we both kind of left that discussion agreeing that, you know, it would be appropriate to make that decision as the time required.”

Mehta’s fitness matters the world over. The nostalgia of growing up in Wyckoff, New Jersey and playing high school hockey at Ramapo is all well and good. Of course, on top of that he grew up a Devils fan and watched them practice at the Meadowlands.

But Mehta’s qualifications as a GM go beyond his background growing up.

The former two-time Stanley Cup-winning assistant GM is a wealth of knowledge as a former professional poker player, stock trader, two-time best-selling author and a musician. His analytical approach helped the Florida Panthers add guys like Matthew Tkachuk, while having the foresight to part ways with Johnathan Huberdeau and remove Gustav Forsling from waivers.

Heck, in his first stint with the Devils, he ranked Jesper Bratt as the third-best forward in the draft, helping New Jersey hit a home run in the 2016 NHL Draft with the current fifth-leading point collector in the draft year.

After missing out on acquiring Quinn Hughes earlier this season, the Devils were not going to miss out on another desirable asset.

As soon as they realized they might lose their man, they made the aggressive decision to move on from Fitzgerald and pull the rug out from under the Maple Leafs’ feet.

Mehta loved the devils, and the devils loved Mehta.

However, nothing was guaranteed. If the Devils had waited a little longer, Mehta might have been suiting up for the blue and white instead of the red and black.

Thus, the Devils got their guy, while the Maple Leafs are still looking for their guy.

There may have been no “eureka moment” in Fitzgerald’s dismissal. Still, there was obviously someone who hired Mehta.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Manchester United Elche is one of the clubs pursuing CF’s David Affengruber for the summer.

After a spell at Sturm Graz, the Austria international joins the La Liga team on a free transfer in 2024.

At the time, Elche were in the second division and the centre-back played a key role in helping them secure promotion. He played 40 matches in the Segunda División last season

The defender has continued to shine for Elche this season and has attracted the attention of Manchester United.

His La Liga statistics this season are as follows:

• Appearances: 30
• Start: 27
• Total minutes: 2,442
• Minutes per game: 82
• Interceptions per game: 1.4
• Tackles per game: 2.1
• Balls recovered per game: 4.4
• Clearances per game: 4.8
• Duels won per game: 5.0

Manchester United joins La Liga

Many clubs in Spain and abroad are keeping a close eye on David Affengruber. is according to sports worldAnd Manchester United belongs to the latter category.

The Elche CF manager takes a liking to the 25-year-old and insists he has to represent Austria at the World Cup.

“If he doesn’t go to the World Cup, it will be one of the biggest injustices in football history,” He said.

“We were on the bench, we had the last substitution, and I could see he was tired. But I told him he has fighting spirit and hunger. When the football isn’t enough, Affengruber is there. He motivates the team, especially when you have that animal behind you. It’s a team win, but given their league-leading position, it was especially important.”

The newspaper then looks at Atletico Madrid’s interest in the defender. Earlier this week, he scored a goal and assisted in his team’s 3–2 win over Los Rojiblancos.

He impressed Diego Simeone’s team, who could include him on their target list for the summer.

The Austrian has already proven himself in La Liga and has ‘great international potential’, which makes him attractive in the market.

Atletico are not the only club to show interest in him, with Manchester United, Villarreal, Real Betis and Sevilla also keen. These clubs are now keeping a close eye on the player.

Elche, for their part, value Affengruber at around €20m. This should certainly be fair to the Premier League side.

There are other central defenders on Manchester United’s radar. Earlier this week, Sport Witness Covered claims from Portugal The Red Devils are keen on Sporting’s Goncalo Inácio.

Contract, price and agent information

The player will have one year remaining on his contract after this season. Without renewal, the summer window will be the last chance for Elche to earn good fees from its sales.

Value, according to David Affengruber transfer market€9m, and 11Wins are managing it.

This may be the most important offseason in New Jersey Devils franchise history.

Sunny Mehta has an extensive list of tasks to get the Devils back on track as playoff and Stanley Cup contenders this summer.

He began his introductory press conference by stating that he was extremely optimistic about the roster as currently constructed.

“I am extremely optimistic about this team,” Mehta began. “We have a lot of talented players, and I really believe that these talented players are going to reach a turning point and get over that hurdle. It’s my job to make sure this roster is consistently filled with the amount of talent needed to be a championship team, and I intend to do that.”

However, that doesn’t mean New Jersey shouldn’t make changes, on and off the ice.

To reach that hit point, Mehta will have to press all the right buttons.

True to his poker player nature, Mehta didn’t reveal his hand as to what was going to happen through the rebuild. He explained anything and everything is being evaluated.

This leaves us with several key questions regarding the important offseason.

Will Sheldon Keefe stay?

When Mehta was introduced at the Prudential Center earlier this week, head coach Sheldon Keefe was in attendance. Mehta thanked Keefe and the Devils players in attendance for their hospitality.

The new Devils GM explained that he and Keefe have already had several conversations, emphasizing that Keefe is a “fantastic guy” while reminding everyone that everything will still be up for evaluation.

Still, when discussing the team’s identity and roster construction, Mehta admitted he hadn’t given it much thought on his second day on the job. However, he clarified that he would talk to Keefe to get a better idea on how to move forward with building his team.

So, will Keef return? We don’t know for sure. However, his attendance at the introductory conference and his involvement towards the settlement indicate that Keefe may be behind the Devils’ bench again next season.

What happens to Dougie Hamilton?

Certainly, this is no mess that Mehta has created. However, it has to be cleaned up somehow.

Dougie Hamilton’s situation is a strange one for Mehta. By now, you know that Hamilton has not been made available to the media since December, refusing to speak on multiple occasions after his agent made public his mockery of the former regime.

His reluctance to speak in exit interviews indicates that tensions remain despite Tom Fitzgerald’s absence.

This is an important part of what happens with the Devils this offseason. Will Mehta decide that a fresh start is best for everyone for Hamilton and waive his $9 million cap hit?

Or, will Mehta see Hamilton’s 28 points in the final 37 games speak loudly for the Devils GM as part of the solution moving forward?

Either way, once Hamilton’s situation is resolved, it may have little impact.

What is Simon Nemec’s influence?

One of the key questions hinged on the Hamiltonian situation is, whichever way it works, what impact does it have on Simon Nemec?

Nemec is a pending restricted free-agent who has shown positive growth from the blueline this season.

The 22-year-old defenseman got a clutch gene en route to an 11-goal year. His offensive touch also gets him top power play minutes.

What Nemec lacks, however, is his defensive game. In their region, they have shown slower growth than anticipated. Nemec is still a green banana that may take a while to ripen. Still, for the Devils to return to the playoffs, can they afford the No. 17 pick to develop his defensive game at the NHL level?

Either way, it feels like whether Hamilton stays or goes, Nemec will have an adverse impact.

Trade or keep the 2026 first round pick?

The Devils’ chances of moving up in the Draft Lottery are quite slim. Right now, they are 12th from the bottom in the league-wide standings and are only eligible to reach second place overall.

We’ll find out in two weeks where the Devils are going to select. Still, unless they have a chance at Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg, the Devils should plan on moving this selection in favor of a top-six forward to play with Jack Hughes.

How aggressive will Mehta be in pursuing reforms?

Leaving aside the trade discussion regarding their 2026 first-round pick, we wonder how aggressive Mehta will be in improving the team.

Devils have certain needs. First of all, as I said earlier, the Devils need a top six forward to pair with Jack and Jesper Bratt. If Mehta is going to do this, it’s more than likely he’ll use the first-round pick they currently have.

However, could Mehta also have decided that he needed to shake up the culture? If a big-name player like Brady Tkachuk or Jason Robertson becomes available on the trade market, would Mehta be included as a serious trade partner? If Mehta feels that the current core has not worked, and perhaps they are not aligned with his analytical thinking, then it is not far-fetched to think that he would make a deal that would break a piece off from the core.

After all, Mehta has no attachment to anyone on the roster as of now. While Fitzgerald probably had a lot of love for his own roster, there should be no strings attached to Mehta in terms of making a trade.

And let’s not forget that the bottom six needs work too. The Devils rank 27th in goals scored this season. There was no reduction in their depth which impacted the top six.

How many new faces will we see in September?

Can Mehta fix the goaltending?

The Devils’ goaltending was structured as the last line of defense. Obviously, right? You have to beat the goaltender to score.

However, Jacob Markstrom was brought in for his high-threat defensive pedigree. Fitzgerald locked down Allen as a reliable 1B/backup. Only one of those two things happened in 2025-26.

The problem is that both goaltenders are on the wrong side of 35. Mehta could work with Allen who is on the hook for just $1.8 million for the next four seasons.

However, Markstrom’s new two-year contract begins on July 1 and runs through 2027–28.

Markstrom has shown signs of decline this season, and if it gets even worse, the Devils are going nowhere fast. Is there any solution this summer? They don’t have a 20-team trade list, so Mehta’s only option is to go with 11 other teams.

Otherwise, perhaps Mehta should reconsider Dave Rogalski as the goaltending coach.

Big ticket for Nico Hischier?

Perhaps the biggest question of the offseason. Will the Devils extend Nico Hischier when he becomes eligible on July 1?

When asked about his pending contract during the regular season, Hischier stated in his exit interview that he wanted to win a Cup in New Jersey.

However, if Mehta cannot resolve his contract with Hischier as soon as possible, it could put a halt to the crucial 2026-27 season. Allowing Hischier to reach unrestricted free agency would be an obvious mistake.

Coming from Florida, one of the comparisons to Hischier would definitely be Sasha Barkov. Could Hischier sign the same 8x$10M contract that Florida’s captain signed in 2021?

Five years later, you’ll have to account for the cost of inflation in an era of rising salary caps.

Short or long term extension for Arseniy Gritsyuk?

Arseniy Gritsyuk’s rookie season could only have been better if he had not been injured in the final stages of the season.

The 25-year-old first-year NHLer scored 13 goals and 31 points in 66 games this season, and is an outside candidate to receive a Calder Trophy nomination.

Everything about Gritsyuk screams core player.

Still, the Devils have been burned by KHL-imports before. Looking at you, Nikita Gusev.

So will Mehta commit to Gritsyuk long-term? Or is the bridge contract ready?

Everyone, including Jack Hughes, wants Gritsyuk to stay long term. But, again, Mehta has no relation to the player.

Gritsyuk has passed both eye tests and his analysis is impressive. It seems like he is a player Mehta would like to keep around for a long time.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

One of the things New Jersey Devils fans are hoping for is a first-round exit from the Minnesota Wild.

Why?

Because some people are still holding out hope that the Devils might take Hughes’ older brother if he is hesitant to commit to his new team. When the calendar turns to July 1, Hughes has one year left on his contract. So whether it’s a deal this summer or via free agency next offseason, the less successful Minnesota is, the more likely it is that Quinn won’t commit.

Personally, I see Quinn staying in Minnesota. But never say never. Especially when there are no results.

At the Links, a slow burn by Devils ownership before eventually firing Tom Fitzgerald.

Elsewhere, chaos in Philly, Alexis Lafreniere’s big deal, and goalie crisis in Buffalo?

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: Why didn’t Devils ownership fire Tom Fitzgerald sooner? At Sunny Mehta’s introductory press conference, managing partner David Blitzer explained that “there was no eureka moment.”

📺 devil’s rink report: So, what priorities will Mehta face as he steps into his new role as general manager in New Jersey? We break it down in the latest Devils Rink report.

Full episode here 👇🏼

Please like and subscribe our Youtube channel And turn on those notifications when we go live every Friday!

For podcast listeners, we have officially launched on multiple platforms. Listen to Devil’s Rink Report on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Amazon Music.

Too! Devil’s Rink Report is now on TikTok – follow us here.

sign up for new jersey hockey now Newsletter for daily Devils intel straight to your inbox.

NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Buffalo hockey now: Yes, that’s my name in the byline. I’m helping with our Buffalo Sabers coverage while they’re in the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs. First, after heading into Game 2, does Buffalo already have a goaltender crisis?

Forever Blueshirts: The New York Rangers knew their top six wasn’t scaring anyone. Part of the issue is that Alexis Lafreniere hasn’t taken the step forward expected. The former No. 1 overall pick explained that he knows he can get even better, and wants to maintain his strong position in 2025-26.

Athletic ($): Devils fans are expecting it to be bad, but after the Minnesota Wild’s loss to the Dallas Stars last night, their reaction in Game 4 while falling behind 2-1 in the series will really tell us all if they are any different.

If not, maybe Quinn Hughes isn’t ready to live in Minnie.

Boston Hockey Now: As for the Boston Bruins, they do not have a captain in this Stanley Cup playoffs. However, Jeremy Swayman is establishing himself as a leader.

Philly hockey now: What a series this is shaping up to be for the Philadelphia Flyers. Amidst massive chaos last night they took a 3-0 series lead over their rivals from Pennsylvania. More from Will James here.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

newark – There was no dramatic wake-up call. No single game, no blowout loss, no locker-room explosion that flipped the switch for the New Jersey Devils to fire Tom Fitzgerald.

The Devils introduced new general manager Sunny Mehta on Tuesday. The 48-year-old first-time GM has endeared himself to the media and fans and pointed to an optimistic future under a new regime.

However, this was the first time Devils ownership was available to talk over a split with Fitzgerald.

When Devils managing partner David Blitzer sat down to explain why the organization parted ways with longtime general manager and president of hockey operations Fitzgerald on April 6, his words painted a far more humane and perhaps revealing picture than the usual polished NHL response.

“It’s a complicated [answer],” Blitzer said. “There was never a moment when I woke up in the morning and said, ‘This needs to change.’ I think the reality is that I’ve worked with Tom for 11 years. Tom and his team are excellent and my relationship with them was very strong, and we talked all the time.

“It was a really tough season, but last year wasn’t an easy season either. This year was extremely disappointing. And so there was no eureka moment. I was evaluating the organization and talking with my guys, OK? So talking with Josh. [Harris] And sometimes talking to myself out loud… Eventually, we came to the conclusion that it felt like this was the time when separation made sense.

“And as soon as that happened, I sat down with Tom to have a really open discussion. And we both left that discussion agreeing that it would be appropriate to make that decision as time required [to part ways]”

These words echo the statement Blitzer made when the Devils publicly announced they were firing Fitzgerald.

“Tom and I had a thoughtful conversation today and agreed that now is the time to move in a new direction,” Blitzer said. “Tom changed the direction of our team here, including setting the franchise record for points in a season and helping make New Jersey a hockey destination. He is a respected leader in the Devils organization and in the NHL, and I am grateful for our friendship. I wish Tom and his family all the best. As we prepare to move forward, it is important that I thank our fans. I recognize that we have not performed as well as you expect and “I understand and share your frustration. This is an important offseason for our franchise, and we will explore all avenues that best position the Devils to compete for the Stanley Cup once again.”

The Devils finished the 2025–26 season with a 42–37–3 record and 87 points, good for 7th in the Metropolitan Division and 13th in the Eastern Conference – seven points out of the final wild-card spot when Fitzgerald’s departure was announced with five games remaining. He was officially fired the next day. This marked the second time in three seasons the team missed the playoffs, despite entering the year with expectations of legitimate contention around Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and a young core and many believing the roster was ready to take the next step.

11 year old weight

Fitzgerald joined the Devils organization in 2015 and became GM in 2020, while later assuming the duties of President of Hockey Operations duties. His tenure included real highs — a franchise-record 112-point season in 2022-23 that brought playoff hockey back to Newark and reestablished the Devils as a relevant, exciting team. He helped build around the Hughes brothers and guided post-COVID roster construction.

But the last two seasons told a different story. The 2024–25 campaign was already “not the easiest”, admitting that inconsistencies prevented a deeper post-season campaign. The 2025–26 season exacerbated those issues: defensive lapses, goalscoring questions, and an inability to score consistently at Championship level – as they had previously – forced the team to once again look on the outside.

Blitzer was careful to praise Fitzgerald and his staff as “excellent,” while acknowledging the bottom line: Results matter. In a results-driven league, even strong relationships and competent management have an expiration date when wins don’t materialize.

What makes this departure feel different from many NHL firings is the apparent lack of acrimony. Blitzer described sitting down with Fitzgerald for an “open discussion” after the decision became clear, after which both men agreed on the timing. Fitzgerald reiterated that sentiment in his own statement, noting that it was “clear to everyone that the best course of action is to move forward for the benefit of the team.”

This was no mid-season scandal or public power struggle. It was ownership’s recognition that, after more than a decade of collaboration, fresh eyes and new ideas were needed in a critical off-season.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Bridging the NHL and KHL worlds, former New Jersey Devils superstar forward Ilya Kovalchuk has been named president of the Shanghai Dragons.

The Chinese KHL club made the announcement Tuesday morning, creating a new president role and selecting the 43-year-old Russian veteran to fill it. Joining him in the front office is fellow retired NHL forward Evgeny Artyukhin, who has been named general manager, replacing Igor Veritsky.

Long before he stepped into management, Kovalchuk thrilled Devils and NHL fans alike as one of the most dynamic goal-scorers of his generation – especially during his standout years in New Jersey.

However, his focus has now shifted to becoming part of a front office now operating out of Shanghai.

In his first remarks as president, Kovalchuk expressed enthusiasm:

“Hello to all Shanghai Dragons fans! I’m excited to be a part of the Dragons family! We have an exciting journey ahead of us. There will be significant changes to our playing approach, and we will continue to actively engage with our fans. We look forward to seeing you all at the SKA Arena in St. Petersburg next season!”

Kovalchuk also praised his new general manager, citing Artyukhin’s three years as a scout for the Vegas Golden Knights:

“Evgeny knows the game inside out and brings with him a wealth of experience. The Vegas Golden Knights have been one of the most successful organizations in recent years… I wish him all the best and am confident he will help take our hockey operations to the level we are striving for.”

Shanghai Dragons is the rebranded and relocated successor to Kunlun Red Star, relocating to Shanghai in August 2025 to enter one of Asia’s most vibrant markets. As the KHL continues its push into China, the addition of high-profile names like Kovalchuk and Artyukhin signals serious ambition.

Kovalchuk’s global recognition—particularly his NHL pedigree as a former Devils star—could help attract former NHL talent to the franchise.

Long term, perhaps Kovalchuk’s new role in Shanghai could lead to a future front office position in the NHL.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Sunny Mehta is living his dream as the general manager of the New Jersey Devils.

He himself had said this in his opening statement.

“First and foremost, I really want to thank David Blitzer, all of Devils ownership, Josh Harris and Bob Myers, Tad Brown for hiring me not only today, but 12 years ago,” Mehta began. “I can definitely tell you that my career wouldn’t be the same without these people. And it’s a thrill. To be honest, it’s a dream to be back here.”

The local boy has come home – where he previously worked as Director of Analytics – but now in a very different role.

However, he has returned before. When the Florida Panthers won the Stanley Cup — in both 2024 and 2025 — Mehta brought Lord Stanley back to his days in New Jersey with the trophy.

For Mehta, it’s always been New Jersey.

It was here that he fell in love with hockey. It was here that he fell in love with devils. And that is why he is in this position today.

There was not a single revelation in Mehta’s initial press conference. This is the 48-year-old officers’ second day on the job. He revealed that he has had at least one conversation with everyone in the organization, including the coaching staff and every player on the roster.

What it revealed was that their optimism stemmed from some of the parts the Devils already had.

“I’m extremely optimistic about this team,” Mehta said. “We have a lot of talented players, and I really believe that these talented players are going to reach a turning point and get over that hurdle. It’s my job to make sure this roster continues to be filled with the amount of talent needed to be a championship team, and I intend to do that.”

And while that’s all well and good, it’s the results that will speak the loudest.

So, what was the biggest takeaway from his introductory press conference?

Everything is under evaluation

Mehta decapitated the snake at the beginning of his introductory press conference. He explained to everyone and everything working under him is for evaluation.

It starts with Sheldon Keefe – who was present at Mehta’s introductory press conference – and extends to Nico Hischier, Simon Nemec and Arseny Gritsyuk.

This also extends to his personal cabinet, assistant coaching staff and scouting department.

“As far as the short term is concerned, moving forward, there is going to be a period of evaluation for all the players, coaches and staff,” Mehta said. “No decisions are made on anything related to him. As for David.” [Blitzer] As indicated, this is literally day two for me.”

So, there is no answer today as to who will be the head coach when the puck drops in September. And no, we don’t know the level of urgency to lock down some key pending free agents.

However, we will soon find out.

Worth noting is that when he was asked who he wanted to be like as GM, Mehta said, “I want to be like Sunny Mehta.”

In a copycat league, that’s definitely the right mindset to have going into this position.

expense for cap

The story is that the Devils owners are cheap and don’t spend where necessary.

Uh, have you seen the net worth of Harris Blitzer Sports & Entertainment Enterprises?

With Devils co-owner David Blitzer in attendance, he answered the question everyone, including Mehta, wanted to hear.

In fact, Mehta sat on his chair as soon as he heard the answer. There is no bond on the new Devils GM. He is free to spend as he sees fit.

“It’s fair to say that we intend to spend up to the limit,” Blitzer explained.

We’ll see how it looks in the offseason. However, this is not the strongest crop of free agents. This does not mean that Mehta cannot work for top talents in the trade market. It is interesting to note that there is no restriction on this.

However, Mehta’s gutted reaction to Blitzer’s answer was obvious. It’s clear he’s excited to scout the Devils roster and put his fingerprints on it.

familiar territory

Yes, Mehta grew up in Wyckoff, New Jersey, after moving to the Garden State at the age of four. Sure, he played high school hockey in Ramapo, New Jersey.

However, that’s not why Mehta is in familiar territory as the Devils’ new GM.

Mehta arrived in the Florida Panthers organization in 2020 as vice president of hockey strategy and an analyst. The Panthers were still in turmoil. They finished the season with a 35–26–8 record, and lost in the qualifying round of the playoffs during the second half of the COVID cutoff season.

However, since that time Mehta has helped the Panthers become two-time Stanley Cup champions. Still, not without some changes. Mehta is looking to do the same thing for the Devils.

“I see a lot of similarities [in New Jersey’s roster] Because when I got to Florida, they were going through some tough times recently,” Mehta said. “But they had some very talented players. There are some things we need to keep and some things we need to change.”

After consecutive first and second round exits, Mehta played a hand in sending key players Jonathan Huberdeau and McKenzie Weegar to the Calgary Flames in exchange for Matthew Tkachuk in a blockbuster deal.

That’s when the culture of Florida changed.

The Panthers then made their second appearance in the Finals, but ultimately lost to the Vegas Golden Knights in 2023. And then, they became consecutive Stanley Cup champions in 2024 and 2025.

“I think the biggest thing is that I was already involved in that decision-making process, I was fortunate that I got a chance to work under my last boss, Bill Zito. Our backgrounds were a little different, in the sense that he went into law, I went into finance. But, he’s also a guy who grew up in hockey like me, and he’s also a guy who never played professionally. But I think that’s Bill’s biggest strength, and the fact that he’s a group of guys in Florida. Our biggest strength was the idea of having a diverse group of different people with hockey backgrounds and different perspectives. Bill did a phenomenal job of gathering those different perspectives and coming to a decision, and that’s what I intend to do here.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Juventus is preparing a fresh attempt Manchester United Forward Joshua Zirkzee is looking to leave England this summer.

CM.it reports that the Manchester United forward It’s once again a solid goal for the Italian giants. The return to Serie A is confirmed.

Why is Juventus moving now?

CM.it reports that Joshua Zirkzee’s situation at Manchester United has now changed. They are prepared to listen to offers for the Dutchman, who is believed to be worth €30m.

Juventus see an opening they cannot afford to miss. This is especially the case as Zirkzee cost Manchester United €42m in 2024. The current price is a big downtrend and may be pushed further lower.

Inside Juventus, there is alignment. Luciano Spalletti has already approved the move, with the club set to make major changes especially in his attacking department. Many of the current options are likely to leave, with only Kenan Yildiz guaranteed to remain.

The striker is looking for a revival

Joshua Zirkzee also considers time as good. He has endured a difficult and disappointing two years in England. Now he is actively seeking to leave Manchester United.

He wants to join a club where he can play regularly, rebuild confidence and rediscover the form that made him one of Serie A’s most exciting attackers when he was at Bologna. Juventus believe they can give him what he wants.

Manchester United are also ready to ‘listen to offers’ for the 24-year-old, it now seems Ideal time to finalize a deal.

However, €30 million may still be too much of the asking price. Having spent big on players like Francisco Conceição, Douglas Luiz and others for little return, Juventus will want to be cautious and avoid a repeat of that.

However, Manchester United hold the cards. Zirkzee’s current deal runs until 2029 and includes the option of a further year. They do not have to sell at a price they do not consider acceptable. But there is an openness to a deal, which means Juventus have an opportunity.

New Jersey Devils win general manager free agent frenzy.

Sunny Mehta was named Devils GM on Thursday evening. Mehta wanted devils. And the devils wanted him.

The stars aligned with it.

Mehta, an analytical guru, will bring a fresh perspective to the position left by former GM Tom Fitzgerald. Said approach begins immediately.

The Devils have a long list of things to address ahead of the 2026 NHL Draft and free agent frenzy.

So, where does he start?

Decision on Sheldon Keefe and coaching staff

First and foremost, Mehta will have to decide whether Sheldon Keefe will remain as head coach.

Keefe made a case for himself during the 2025–26 regular season with a healthy Jack Hughes in the lineup. New Jersey went 14-10-1 after the Olympic break. Before Hughes’ injury, the Devils were 11–4–1. If you remove the sandwich from the season when Hughes was injured that’s a combined 104-point pace.

Did he rely sufficiently on the powers of New Jersey? Certainly not when Hughes was out, nor when he was less than 100%.

The question becomes, can they get enough value from the rest of their roster if Hughes gets injured again in the future?

It depends on Mehta.

The rest of the coaching staff is also not in trouble. The power play and penalty kill were mediocre. The goaltender, namely Jacob Markstrom, was hit or miss – and most of the time, Markstrom missed.

Most, if not all, of the support staff were working on expiring contracts. Mehta will soon evaluate the work and decide whether to renew or not.

strengthen his cabinet

Mehta joins fellow assistant general managers Martin Brodeur, Dan MacKinnon and Kate Madigan.

It is unlikely that Brodeur—perhaps the most famous devil of all time—will be relieved of his duties. However, would Mehta want to surround himself with forward thinkers like him?

These are decisions that can come later. We know there are GM positions open in Nashville, Toronto, and as of this morning, Vancouver.

With only so many positions to fill, candidates can remain in their current roles, or look for something new if they wish.

Would Jamie Langenbrunner like to work for the organization he used to captain? How about Brett Pietersen? Does he want to continue working with Mehta after working together with the Florida Panthers?

If true change is going to happen, bringing in like-minded managers like Mehta will definitely turn things around.

Evaluate the scouting department

Fitzgerald has a poor track record in the draft.

They performed well alongside names like Luke Hughes, Lenny Haminaho and potential stud goaltender Mikhail Yegorov.

Simon Nemec is still in question as to his draft status, but it looks like this could work out. However, players like Logan Cooley and Cutter Gauthier—who had just scored 40 goals—were there for the taking. An argument can be made that he still misses out on the second overall pick in 2022.

And that’s exactly it. A large number of upsets and misses by Fitzgerald in key draft positions, such as when he selected Alexander Holtz and Chase Stillman, have hurt today’s roster.

What is depth scoring? Well, substitute Logan Stankoven for Stillman or Seth Jarvis for Holtz and maybe you’ll find out.

Mehta needs scouts he can trust to find gems outside the first handful of players. And he knows how to find them himself, advocating for Jesper Bratt when the Devils drafted him in 2016, when Mehta was head of the analytics department.

Sort out the major pending free agents

The Devils have three major contract issues they can address this summer.

Two, they have no choice. Arseniy Gritsyuk is a pending restricted free-agent. He is another man who chose to come to the devils and the devils chose to have him. His first NHL season after making a name for himself in the KHL was spectacular. In fact, it got so good, even Jack Hughes sees it as an original part.

He loves New Jersey, and New Jersey loves him. This should be easy to solve.

Perhaps the namecheck will be a little more difficult to sort out. The 22-year-old defenseman took a step forward this season, but you can still see where he lacks.

Offensively, the touch is there. He scored 11 goals in 68 games this season and found a clutch level the Devils could use.

However, there are still questions over his play defensively. It is reported that he could start by asking for a contract similar to Luke. Sure, he won’t be able to do that, but how far can Mehta bring down Namek and his camp?

And, of course, the captain needs a new deal on July 1, 2027. Does Mehta want to let that narrative continue for an entire season? Find out how far Hischier does or doesn’t want to commit to New Jersey and that decision will be made as soon as possible. The longer this goes on, the worse it will be for the devils.

address dougie hamilton

And finally, Mehta will have to address the Dougie Hamilton situation.

The Devils defenseman has not spoken publicly since December 17, when speculation arose that he had rejected a trade, and then allegations of a trade being made public by his agent.

It was later confirmed that Hamilton declined a deal that would have sent him to the San Jose Sharks.

It seems quite clear that Hamilton is unhappy with the current situation. Can Mehta improve it?

Or, does it give him a reason to move out of the $9 million cap hit that will give him the flexibility he needs to be a top-six forward?

One thing is certain. Clarity is needed with Hamilton. Either he is staying or he is going. Any uncertainty will only increase tension.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The New Jersey Devils on Thursday named Sunny Mehta as their new general manager.

Mehta, 48, returns to the organization where he led the NHL’s first full-time hockey analysis department. The move follows the firing of previous GM Tom Fitzgerald following a disappointing season in which the Devils were eliminated from playoff contention.

Mehta, a native of Wyckoff, New Jersey, previously served as the Devils’ director of hockey analytics from 2014 to 2018. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he grew up in the area, played varsity hockey at Ramapo High School, and has a long association with the franchise.

He left the Devils to join the Florida Panthers in 2020 as Vice President of Hockey Strategy and Intelligence, later being promoted to Assistant General Manager and Head of Analytics in 2023. At Florida, Mehta contributed to back-to-back Stanley Cup championships in 2024 and 2025.

In a statement following his appointment, Mehta said: “This is a dream come true for a kid from New Jersey who grew up watching Devils practices just 20 minutes away in Totowa. After meeting David Blitzer, Josh Harris, Bob Myers and other members of the organization, I knew this was where I wanted to be.

“Thank you to Vinny Viola, Bill Zito, and the entire Florida Panthers organization for a wonderful six years and for giving me the opportunity to take the next step in my professional career. New Jersey has a tremendous young core that wants to get back to being a contender, a complement of young assets and draft picks, and a passionate fan base hungry for success. I was fortunate enough to watch the New Jersey Devils lift three Stanley Cups and am excited to work to return to that level. “I am.”

Mehta’s background includes a master’s degree in data science and prior experience as a professional poker player and musician. He consulted with the Phoenix Coyotes in 2010 before joining the Devils.

Ownership, led by David Blitzer and Josh Harris, sees their analytics-driven approach and championship experience as key to rebuilding contention around the team’s young core, including assets and draft capital. The appointment signals a data-centric shift in hockey operations.

Despite belief that the Devils may also be interested in hiring a president of hockey operations, Mehta performs those duties as well.

There has been no immediate decision yet on head coach Sheldon Keefe.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The biggest takeaway from the New Jersey Devils exit interviews is that it didn’t happen.

Star defenseman Dougie Hamilton “politely declined” to interview with the media after his agent went public this winter with his displeasure over a healthy scratch he had been keeping under wraps.

This is not the first time that Hamilton has refused an interview. New Jersey Hockey Now has requested him on three prior occasions, and he has declined to speak each time.

In fact, the last we heard from Hamilton publicly was December 17, 2025.

Amidst speculation regarding a Quinn Hughes trade, news surfaced that a deal or two of Devils players were made in Tom Fitzgerald’s efforts to free up cap space.

“I believe the Devils have vetoed some deals. OK? I believe it. I don’t know who, I don’t know what, but I believe it happened,” Elliotte Friedman said at the time on an episode of 32 Thoughts. “There’s too much noise for that to happen.”

It was later confirmed that Hamilton had blocked at least one trade with the San Jose Sharks.

Sitting at his locker after practice on December 17, New Jersey Hockey Now asked Hamilton if he had been contacted about waiving the no-move clause. Hamilton’s response sidestepped the question.

“You know, nothing has changed for me from the beginning,” Hamilton told New Jersey Hockey Now. “I had the same comments at the beginning of the year. So, I’ll stick to what I said at the beginning and it’s as simple as that.”

Then, things reached a crescendo.

The Devils made it known that Hamilton was to sit as a healthy scratch on January 11 against the Winnipeg Jets.

Hamilton’s agent—JP Barrie—issued a fiery statement, criticizing the way the Devils tried to force a trade.

Barrie said, “In our view, this decision right now is about his business rather than his game. It seems a very deliberate decision to step aside at this stage.” “Dougie has a 10-team trade list, and there have been attempts to trade him going back to the draft last year. We have made it clear to the Devils that we will look at teams off our list and other creative ways to reach a mutually acceptable team.”

Fitzgerald denied the allegations, stating that it was performance related and just “the business of our lineup”.

Ultimately, Hamilton was never transferred. At the 2026 NHL trade deadline, Fitzgerald even said he was never thinking about moving the star defenseman, making the mess he created even more confusing.

In the remaining 37 games of the season, Hamilton’s play improved with seven goals and 28 points.

Nevertheless, he has remained silent since then and is unwilling to comment on any matter.

make no mistake. That’s squarely on Fitzgerald, who was fired as Devils GM 10 days ago.

However, Hamilton’s silence since the defeat indicates his unhappiness with his current position. In fact, it signals the near end of his Devils tenure.

Hamilton has two years remaining on his contract, which has a cap hit of $9 million. He will be given a $7 million signing bonus on July 1.

The Devils will soon have a new general manager in charge. Maybe he can mend the relationship.

However, that seems unlikely, as New Jersey Hockey is now reported to be open to a new opportunity.

Hamilton has a 10-team trade list, which has potentially been expanded as his agent has indicated he is open to more possibilities.

The silence speaks volumes as it appears Hamilton’s future with the Devils is all but over.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The New Jersey Devils (41-36-3, 85 points) will conclude their 2025-26 home game against the Ottawa Senators (43-27-10, 96 points) on Sunday night at the Prudential Centre.

The Senators will make their first trip to Newark a day after clinching a spot in the Stanley Cup playoffs with a 3-0 win over the New York Islanders at UBS Arena. Ottawa has won four consecutive games and currently holds the No. 1 Eastern Conference wild-card spot due to a regulation-win tiebreaker against the Boston Bruins.

The Devils won in Detroit on Saturday afternoon and eliminated the Red Wings from playoff contention. New Jersey is 7-4-1 in its last 12 home games but has lost two in a row at the Prudential Center.

What to know vs senator

• The Devils are 20-17-3 at the Prudential Center this season
• Defenseman Jonas Seigenthaler has a team-best three-game point streak (0 goals, 3 assists) entering Sunday’s game
• Devils goaltender Nico Dawes will make his third career start on Sunday against the Senators. He’s 1-1 with a .882 save% and 3.00 GAA in his last two
• Jack Hughes leads the team with 17 goals and 41 points at the Prudential Center, despite missing 11 home games due to injury.
• The Senators qualified for the playoffs in back-to-back seasons for the first time since 2012–13.
• Ottawa forward Claude Giroux has 16 goals and 63 points in 74 career games against the Devils
• Goalie Linus Ullmark is 1-1 with a .915 save% against the Devils this season
• Senators coach Travis Green coached the Devils for 21 games in 2023–24 and compiled an 8–12–1 record after replacing Lindy Ruff.

2025-26 vs. Senators

12/9/25: W 4-3 Canadian Tire Center

1/31/26: L4-1 Canadian Tire Center

4/12/26: 7:00 PM ET Prudential Center

devils vs senators

All-time record: 65-36-5-7

All-time home record: 32-19-2-2

All-time road record: 33-17-3-5

Projected Devils Lineup*

Ahead

Timo Meyer – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Jasper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Connor Brown

Lenny Haminaho – Cody Glass – Nick Bjugstad

Evgeny Dadonov – Mark McLaughlin – Brian Halonen

defenseman

Jonas Seigenthaler – Dougie Hamilton

Brendan Dillon – Simon Nemec

Dennis Cholowski – Jonathan Kovacevic

goalkeeper

nico doves

jake allen

Projected Senator Lineup*

Ahead

Drake Batherson – Tim Stutzle – Claude Giroux

Brady Tkachuk – Dylan Cozens – Ridley Gregg

Nick Cousins ​​- Shane Pinto – Michael Amadio

Warren Foegele – Lars Eller – Fabian Zetterlund

defenseman

Jake Sanderson – Artem Zab

Thomas Chabot – Jordan Spence

Lassie Thomson – Nicholas Matinpalo

goalkeeper

James Reimer

Linus Ullmark

How to watch the Devils game — (7:00 p.m. ET)

Watch: MSGSN2/ESPN+

radio: devils hockey net

next up

Tuesday, April 14, BOS 7:00 PM ET

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

Just days after being officially eliminated from the Stanley Cup playoffs, the New Jersey Devils played spoiler on Saturday.

The Devils scored three third period goals and eliminated the Detroit Red Wings from postseason contention with a 5–3 victory at Little Caesars Arena.

Jesper Bratt had two goals and an assist, and Jack Hughes had a goal and an assist. The Devils snapped a two-game losing streak, taking the season series 2–1 from the Wings and winning for the ninth time in their last 15 games.

Devils rally to defeat Detroit Red Wings on Saturday

The Wings entered the game desperate, hoping to keep their playoff hopes alive. Detroit recorded the game’s first 10 shots on goal, the last of which was Justin Faulk’s 15th goal of the season to put the Wings up 1–0 at 9:41 of the first.

Less than a minute after Hughes’ goal, on the Devils’ first shot on goal, both tied the score and helped the Devils find their game. Nevertheless, the Devils were 13 minutes away from their third consecutive loss after Detroit forward Emmitt Finney scored his 13th goal of the season on a rebound at 7:00 of the final frame.

“He definitely had a lot to play for,” Bratt said. “They had to go for it and win.”

Still, Cody Glass added to his career year by scoring a spectacular goal, his 19th, at 11:18. Bratt then executed a perfect two-on-one off a turnover created by Hughes, and his 22nd of the year with just 3:34 left in regulation to give the Devils a 4–3 lead.

“We were just patient and waiting for them to make mistakes,” Bratt said. “We just took advantage of it to a certain extent.”

With Detroit’s season at stake – with a win it could have kept pace with the Ottawa Senators, who had defeated the New York Islanders earlier in the day – the Devils outscored them 12–7 in the final frame. New Jersey sealed its 41st win on an empty net goal by Dawson Mercer.

“I’m very proud of the group right now,” Bratt said. “I thought we played very well, a very solid road game.”

The second period was dominated by devils

Devils coach Sheldon Keefe attributed their early game struggles to Dougie Hamilton’s first-period tripping penalty, which “caught us off guard.” But after surviving that and Detroit’s early pressure, the Devils dominated the second period.

The Devils outshot the Red Wings 13–8 in the second and took the second-period shot-attempt count 33–13. According to Natural Stat Trick, New Jersey had a total expected goals total of 1.72 in the second period, and recorded 21 scoring chances and nine high-danger chances.

“I really liked our game today,” Keefe said. “It took us a while to get going on offense… Once we learned how to cook, I thought we were pretty good the rest of the way.

“Key second period, which is what we were looking for.”

The Devils nearly trailed 2–1 heading into the third, as David Perron gave the Red Wings the lead with his 12th goal of the season at 11:59. But Bratt’s sight-seeing shot from the high slot beat Gibson and gave the Devils the rare puck luck they had sorely lacked all year.

Keefe said, “We weren’t necessarily rewarded. It took a while.” “[The Devils’ play] “Probably got some mileage out of their top defenseman in that second period, which probably worked to our advantage later in the game.”

Jake Allen was solid in goal

Faulk’s goal was a stoppable shot, but Devils goaltender Jake Allen was difficult to stop when he was under for most of the first period.

Allen made 25 saves, 12 of which came in the first period where he allowed one goal but according to Natural Stat Trick, the Red Wings had a 1.91 expected goals against. The Wings finished with 3.78 xG, and Allen blocked six of seven high-danger shots (.857 save%) while outscoring Gibson at the other end.

Allen will likely start the Devils’ season finale at Boston on Tuesday, as Nico Douse will start Sunday against Ottawa and No. 1 goaltender Jacob Markstrom was shut down on Friday. He has been playing well all season long and has improved his numbers to 17-17-2 with a .904 save% and 2.74 GAA this season.

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

There has been much speculation as to who is a candidate for the position of general manager of the New Jersey Devils. There was some talk that Jamie Langenbrunner could be among the candidates, and New Jersey Hockey Now confirmed that is indeed the case.

In the link, why pairing the rumored president with a hot GM candidate is the right move for the Devils, another player being locked up in New Jersey, and much more.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: We know the Devils are ready to talk to Sunny Mehta for their vacant general manager position. Rumblings suggest Brendan Shanahan could be president of hockey operations. That’s why Pat Pickens says it’s a good pairing.

More news on the injury front tomorrow. The Devils have locked up Jacob Markstrom. Nico Dodge will start tonight against the Detroit Red Wings.

📺 devil’s rink report: Greg Wyschinski returned to Devils Rink Report yesterday to discuss the firing of GM Tom Fitzgerald, how he should be replaced moving forward, and New Jersey’s ideal offseason.

Full episode here 👇🏼

Please like and subscribe our Youtube channel And turn on those notifications when we go live every Friday! At 1K subscribers, we’ll start publishing on your favorite podcast platform!

Too! Devil’s Rink Report is now on TikTok – follow us here.

sign up for new jersey hockey now Newsletter for daily Devils intel straight to your inbox.

Athletic ($): Here’s who the experts thought was the Devils’ MVP and most disappointing player in 2025-26, along with 31 other clubs.

NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Forever Blueshirts: Could the Devils have more competition for Mehta than they think? That’s why the Forever Blueshirts say the New York Rangers should hire Florida Panthers AGM to work with Chris Drury.

Pittsburgh hockey now: The Pittsburgh Penguins added one of the NCAA’s premier blueline free agents yesterday.

Montreal hockey now: If Michael Hayes decides to turn professional, what is the ideal spot for him in the Montreal Canadiens lineup?

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The New Jersey Devils announced Friday that they are sidelining goaltender Jacob Markstrom for the remainder of the season due to a serious injury.

Markstrom last played Tuesday in the Devils’ 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, stopping just 15 of 19 shots. That loss eliminated New Jersey from contention for the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Markstrom is 23-19-1 with an .883 save% and 3.07 goals-against average and one shutout in 44 games for the Devils this season. He became the second Devils player to be ruled out, as defenseman Luke Hughes was also placed on injured reserve on Thursday.

The Devils have three games remaining. They will play against the Detroit Red Wings at Little Caesars Arena on Saturday, then play their final home game of the season on Sunday against the Ottawa Senators, before closing out the year on Tuesday against the Boston Bruins.

The Devils are closing in on Jacob Markstrom

Markstrom and Jake Allen have teamed up for the No. 1/1A goalie duo this year. For the most part, Allen has been the better option, as he is 16-17-2 despite better numbers with a .903 save% and 2.73 GAA.

But Markstrom’s struggles, especially recently, may be injury related. Coach Sheldon Keefe said Markstrom was being shut down with multiple nagging injuries.

Those injuries didn’t stop Markstrom from fighting Igor Shesterkin against the New York Rangers last week.

Markstrom, who signed a two-year contract extension on Halloween, was the primary starter for the Devils and Sweden at both the Milan/Cortina Olympics. Sweden had the better defense in front of him, as he went 2-0-1 with a .933 save%.

But in New Jersey, Markstrom was one of the NHL’s worst statistical goaltenders this season. He had a minus-13.71 goals-against average in all situations and a .892 save percentage at 5-on-5 this season.

Nevertheless, Markstrom was shut out with his only shutout of the season in just two starts. He stopped 18 of 18 shots in a 3-0 win against the Montreal Canadiens on Sunday. But it was their only appearance to allow fewer than four goals in their final four appearances in 2025–26.

Nico Dodge will start Sunday against the Senators

Allen is expected to start Saturday night in Detroit, but the Devils’ goaltender’s move was to call up Nico Dawes from Utica of the American Hockey League.

Dodge made his only start this season on October 22 against the Minnesota Wild. He made 30 saves on 31 shots in New Jersey’s 4–1 win at the Prudential Center.

Dodge has been the primary starter for the Comets this season and went 15-16-8 with an .891 save% and 2.84 GAA in 42 games. Dodge’s numbers are far better in the NHL, as he is 23-23-1 with a save% of .899 in 53 games with the Devils.

Look for the Dodgers to open Sunday at home against Ottawa on fan-appreciation night at the Rock.

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

Obviously, the New Jersey Devils need a general manager. However, could they split the position and name a president of hockey operations first?

The noise around Brendan Shanahan has intensified, with the latest coming yesterday.

In the link, the Devils’ first name is linked to their GM position, a defenseman for the season and more.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: That’s why the Devils are shutting down Luke Hughes for the remainder of the season as he prepares to undergo surgery.

I’ve said it once, I’ll say it again, and again, and again. The Devils definitely need to get their next general manager right. Here are the five interview essentials for GM candidates.

And speaking of those candidates, the Devils have already received permission to speak with one of them as their GM search is firmly underway.

Last night in Newark, the Devils looked like a team with nothing to play for, while the Pittsburgh Penguins—who scored five—definitely handed New Jersey another loss.

📺 devil’s rink report:X A hot topic that was discussed on the last Devils Rink Report was, is Jack Hughes a Top 10 NHLer?

Full episode here 👇🏼

Please like and subscribe our Youtube channel And turn on those notifications when we go live every Friday! At 1K subscribers, we’ll start publishing on your favorite podcast platform!

Too! Devil’s Rink Report is now on TikTok – follow us here.

sign up for new jersey hockey now Newsletter for daily Devils intel straight to your inbox.

NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Forever Blueshirts: The New York Rangers will not be playing for the Stanley Cup in the near future. So, here are the players they should be training. Maybe, as soon as this summer.

Boston hockey now: So, James Hagens has been signed with the Boston Bruins. However, in his next game, Marco Sturm says there is no guarantee he will play. here’s why.

Toronto Hockey Now: Rumors have begun to swirl about Toronto Maple Leafs captain Auston Matthews. One insider adds one team would be a “big player” for the former 60-goal scorer, while naming the other as a fit that “makes sense.”

Montreal hockey now: Cole Coffield is a 50 goal scorer. The Montreal Canadiens forward achieved the milestone for the first time in his career last night against the Tampa Bay Lightning. See the highlights inside.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The New Jersey Devils (40-35-3, 83 points) will try to prevent the Pittsburgh Penguins (40-22-16) from making the Stanley Cup playoffs when the Metropolitan Division rivals face off at the Prudential Center on Thursday.

The Devils fell out of playoff contention with a 5-1 loss to the Philadelphia Flyers at the Rock on Tuesday. Still, New Jersey is 12-6-1 in their last 19 games.

The Penguins are 5-2 in their last seven games and have been dominant on offense. Pittsburgh has 36 goals in that span and has never scored fewer than three goals in any game.

Here’s what could turn out to be a high-scoring affair in Newark on Thursday.

What to Know vs Penguins

• The Devils are 1-2 against Pittsburgh this season and have gone 9-3 in their last three games.
• Devils forward Cody Glass will enter Thursday’s game on a two-game goal streak and has three goals heading into the April 4 game
• Jake Allen is 1-1 with a .921 save% and 2.40 goals against average against the Penguins this season.
• Sidney Crosby has 99 points (42 goals, 57 assists) in 91 career games against the Devils
• Erik Karlsson has 29 points in his last 21 games, the most of any NHL defenseman over that span.
• Penguins center Rickard Rakell has the NHL’s longest active point streak (eight games) and has 13 points in that span.

2025-26 vs penguins

11/8/25: SOW 2-1 Prudential Center

1/8/26: L 4-1 PPG Paints Arena

2/26/26: L 4-1 PPG Paints Arena

4/9/26: 7:00 PM ET Prudential Center

devils vs penguins

All-time record: 131-113-17-6

All-time home record: 70-49-13-3

All-time road record: 61-64-4-3

Projected Devils Lineup*

Ahead

Timo Meyer – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Jasper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Connor Brown

Lenny Haminaho – Cody Glass – Nick Bjugstad

Evgeny Dadonov – Mark McLaughlin – Brian Halonen

defenseman

Jonas Seigenthaler – Dougie Hamilton

Luke Hughes – Jonathan Kovacevic

Brendan Dillon – Simon Nemec

goalkeeper

jacob markstrom

jake allen

Projected Penguins Lineup*

Ahead

Igor Chinakov-Sidney Crosby-Bryan Rust

Tommy Novak – Ricard Raquel – Evgeni Malkin

Anthony Mantha – Ben Kindel – Justin Brazeau

Elmer Soderblom – Connor Dewar – Noel Acciari

defenseman

Parker Wotherspoon – Rasmus Ristolainen

Samuel Girard – Kris Letang

Ryan Shea – Connor Clifton

goalkeeper

artur silov

sergei murashov

How to watch the Devils game – (7:30 p.m. ET)

Watch: MSGN/ESPN+

radio: devils hockey net

next up

Saturday, April 11, 5:00 pm ET

Sunday, April 12 vs. OTT, 7:00 PM ET

Tuesday, April 14, BOS 7:00 PM ET

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

The New Jersey Devils have announced that defenseman Luke Hughes will be shut down for the remainder of the season so he can undergo the process to begin his offseason rehabilitation early.

The 22-year-old blueliner has appeared in 68 games this season, recording six goals and 35 points.

Hughes suffered a shoulder injury on January 19 on the road against the Calgary Flames. In the second period, he tangled with Flames forward Justin Kirkland on the boards, dislocating his shoulder in the process. The injury took him out of the game shortly thereafter, placing him on long-term injured reserve.

A source confirmed that Hughes had surgery related to a shoulder injury.

At the time, ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that Hughes would not go under the knife to repair a shoulder injury.

“After consulting with doctors, Luke Hughes will not undergo surgery at this time and will instead rehabilitate his upper body injury.

“Devils placed Hughes on LTIR today; expected to sideline him during Olympic break [it’s to be determined]”

Hughes returned on February 28 against the St. Louis Blues – missing only 10 games with the Olympic break in between.

The Devils are officially out of the 2026 Stanley Cup playoffs on Tuesday after losing to the Philadelphia Flyers and the Ottawa Senators beat the Tampa Bay Lightning.

It makes perfect sense for Hughes to begin his rehab as soon as possible, with a source also confirming that Hughes is expected to be ready for training camp in September.

The Devils will face the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday night, with Simon Nemec set to take over No. 1 power play duties.

Dennis Cholowski is stepping into Hughes’ shoes on the blueline. No other recalls are expected at this time.

The Devils have four games remaining on their schedule for the remainder of the 2025–26 season.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

In fact, the New Jersey Devils are interviewing one of the hottest free agent general manager candidates.

On Thursday, a source confirmed to New Jersey Hockey Now that the Devils have received permission from the Florida Panthers to talk to Sunny Mehta about their open GM position.

Mehta is one of two assistant Panthers GMs who are attracting interest for several vacancies, including Brett Peterson.

At this point, there is no indication that the Devils have even asked to speak to Peterson.

Mehta is one of New Jersey Hockey Now’s “must interview” candidates after the Devils fired Tom Fitzgerald on Monday evening.

Mehta is one of Bill Zito’s right-hand men who helped the Panthers capture back-to-back Stanley Cups the past two seasons.

Mehta, a former Wyckoff, New Jersey resident, also has ties to the Devils as the former director of hockey analytics from 2014 to 2017.

The Devils would not be alone in interviewing Mehta. The Toronto Maple Leafs, who fired Brad Treliving on March 30, are also interviewing the Panthers’ assistant GM for their vacant position.

Due to his analytical approach, Mehta is one of the leading candidates for GM Markets. He was one of the major factors in the Panthers finding Gustav Forsling on the waiver wire, trading forward Spencer Knight for Seth Jones and trading out Matthew Tkachuk.

Mehta, a big Devils fan, revealed in 2021 that his love affair with hockey began in New Jersey.

“He just practiced in public,” Mehta told NHL.com five years ago. “This was in the mid-’80s. It was very, very different. Like there would be more people watching the Devils practice at the public skate than there would be. But I, a little 7-year-old kid, was mesmerized by it. I would just stand in front of the mirror and watch the Devils practice, day after day.”

It would be great to see that come full circle if he takes the GM seat as the next assistant GM and is ready to become a full-time general manager.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The New Jersey Devils need to make the right choice for their next general manager.

The question is, will he retain both the positions of GM and President of Hockey Operations? Or will those roles be divided?

Rumors are circulating with the belief that the former Devils forward and Toronto Maple Leafs POHO could step into New Jersey as the next president.

We’ll see if it works out, but don’t believe he’ll take on the GM role.

Tom Fitzgerald leaves behind a very capable roster. Despite the setbacks in 2025-26, Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier and company could be a playoff threat next season.

The problem is that the core of the Devils—though still young—is not getting any younger. The idea should be that the move to the next GM will last as long as the Devils’ core can compete for a Stanley Cup in New Jersey.

So, who should be the “must interview” for Devils owners, David Blitzer and Josh Harris, as well as the rest of the search committee?

Sunny Mehta-Florida Panthers Assistant GM

The NHL is a copycat league, so obviously the teams with vacant GM positions are going to be the most successful organizations over the last two seasons.

Sunny Mehta is the assistant GM and head of analytics for the Florida Panthers, joining the Devils as the former director of hockey analytics from 2014 to 2017, and a former resident of Wyckoff, New Jersey.

Mehta is a unique mind as a data scientist, musician, two-time best-selling author, and a former professional poker player. Additionally, he is an options trader, all these things show his talent.

Now the two-time Stanley Cup assistant general manager is one of the rising names in the NHL managerial world. He is said to be one of the minds that uncovered Jesper Bratt during his time with the Devils and it appears he is ready to take a seat as a full-time GM in the NHL.

Brett Peterson-Florida Panthers Assistant GM

While in Florida, we’re talking about another Panthers assistant GM who is a similarly hot name.

Like Mehta, Peterson has also been a part of the last two Stanley Cup championships. However, there is one thing in his toolkit that Mehta doesn’t have. Pietersen is a former player agent – ​​meaning he knows what to expect and deal with both the management and player sides.

In fact, Peterson is already in line to serve as GM for the 2026 U.S. Men’s World Championship team, which begins next month. If the Devils decide to name a president and then take their time looking for a GM, we can get a taste of how Peterson builds the roster as an appetizer.

John Chayka-Former Arizona Coyotes GM

Well, the Devils wanted John Chayka at first. And although it’s a bit messed up, it was six years ago at this point. It’s time for everyone to move on from the past and give Chayka another chance.

The youngest appointed NHL GM in history, Chayka built an Arizona Coyotes roster that clinched a Stanley Cup playoff berth for the first time in eight seasons by the end of the 2019–20 season. His sudden end in Arizona doesn’t change his track record of good drafting, the ability to make free-agent signings and scoring in trades.

After all, he’s the same guy who acquired Taylor Hall from the Devils and drafted studs like Clayton Keller and Jacob Chykrun.

Certainly, proceed with caution given Chayka’s past, but if Shanahan is indeed going to be president, there will be a level of stability over Chayka. If the Devils are determined to move forward with an analytical approach, look no further than Chayka.

Jason Spezza-Pittsburgh Penguins assistant GM

It seems like wherever Kyle Dubas has gone, Jason Spezza is following him. Well, Dubas is considered one of the smartest young minds in hockey.

Spezza has been Dubas’ right-hand man with the Maple Leafs since 2022-23, and over the past two seasons he served as assistant GM of the Pittsburgh Penguins and general manager of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

Spezza retired in 2022 following an illustrious 19-year NHL career, in which he served as captain of the Ottawa Senators in 2013–14. He soon moved up to the assistant GM position under Dubas and has remained there ever since.

With Spezza’s help, the Penguins have overturned the narrative that followed them from 2023 to 2025 as an old and slow team that needs to break it out to the studs. In 2025-26, they are all but a playoff lock.

After the Devils’ disappointment this season, they could use a mind at the top who knows how to revive the Roosters’ winning ways.

JAmy Langenbrunner-Boston Bruins Assistantt gm

And last, but certainly not least, is a familiar face and name. From 2007–08 to 2010–11, ex-Devils captain Jaime Langenbrunner worked with the Boston Bruins under Don Sweeney as their assistant GM.

Langenbrunner is a two-time Stanley Cup champion in New Jersey in 2003 and an Olympic silver medalist who has served in Boston’s management since 2015.

Langenbrunner’s duties also include managing the Providence Bruins, and if you look at their last few seasons, they have been one of the best teams in the AHL.

Langenbrunner is said to be one of the smartest players in emerging hockey management. Sweeney is said to be leaning on Langenbrunner for the Bruins GM role.

Bringing in Langenbrunner is about more than just nostalgia. His ability to climb the managerial ladder over the past 11 years has been remarkable, and the Devils could give him the opportunity to reach the top.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Ask anyone in and around the New Jersey Devils who their favorite person to chat with is, and most people will say Brendan Dillon.

He is a commanding presence off the ice and that is why so many people look to him as a leader.

As of Wednesday morning, the New Jersey chapter of the Professional Hockey Writers Association nominates a Devils defenseman for the Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy.

The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is an annual award under the trusteeship of the Professional Hockey Writers Association and is given “to the National Hockey League player who best exemplifies the qualities of perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to hockey.”

According to the United Views of the New Jersey chapter:

“After suffering a catastrophic neck injury in Game 1 of the 2025 playoffs that required artificial disc replacement surgery, Brendan Dillon relied on the advice of NHL and UFC athletes during a rigorous offseason recovery. He bounced back strong in 2025-26, and presented the Devils’ blue line with significantly improved defensive play while continuing to sacrifice his body for the well-being of his team. A true warrior, the 35-year-old The veteran reached his 1,000th NHL game on December 1, 2025. Dillon suffered a scary injury in that milestone, however, he came back for a shift in an unimaginable effort, and earned widespread respect from coaches and teammates for his tenacity – despite missing the third period as a precaution, Dillon is a vocal leader who holds teammates accountable, encouraging them. Stands up, and mentors younger players, inspiring the entire Devils locker room with his selfless commitment and dedication to the game.

On the ice, Dillon has been a mainstay partner for young Simon Nemec, who is completing his first year as an established NHLer, and where he has reached new heights.

Part of that success can be attributed to Dillon, who has been a steady presence next to Nemec on the ice, but also off the ice and in the locker room.

And he’s finally recovered from the summer, bouncing back from a season scare, and has been a consistent presence on the Devils blueline.

Voting on the 32 nominees for the Masterton Prize is now officially underway.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

An unlucky day in Newark got even worse when the New Jersey Devils were officially eliminated from the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs by the Philadelphia Flyers following the firing of general manager Tom Fitzgerald.

Philly had a ton on the line coming into the Prudential Center on Tuesday as a win would raise their hopes for the Stanley Cup Playoffs to 70.3%, while a loss would cut their hopes in half to 36.6%.

Well, the Devils have officially been eliminated from the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.

New Jersey got off to a bad start Tuesday night, allowing the Flyers to take control of the pace of the game early.

As a result, the Devils’ defensive zone coverage was caught sleeping, and Travis Sanheim found Trevor Zegras on an open backdoor pass to Jacob Markstrom to give Philly an early 1–0 lead.

About 30 seconds later, Jack Hughes was whistled for tripping Owen Power, giving the Flyers their first power play of the game.

One minute into the Flyers man advantage, Porter Martone fed a streaking Zegras at the top of Markstrom’s crease while handling the puck along the far wall, redirecting the puck to Markstrom to give the Flyers an instant 2–0 lead.

The Devils began to swing the ice back their way in the latter half of the opening frame. Hughes and company finally pressured Flyers goaltender Dan Vlader with several chances.

Cody Glass eventually cut the Flyers’ lead in half to 2–1 when Jonas Seigenthaler found open ice, fired a shot on net that went past the Devils and past Vladar.

The Devils scored on a power play early in the second period after the Flyers were caught with too many men on the ice.

As the penalty ended, Tyson Foerster gained control of the puck at the Philly blueline, headed a 2-on-1 opportunity toward the Devils’ zone, and opted to shoot past Markstrom to extend the Flyers’ lead to 3–1.

Jesper Bratt had a chance to make a comeback against the Flyers when he found himself alone on a breakaway against Vladar. Still, his backhand chance went over the net, starting the Flyers odd-man rush to the other side.

In a tic-tac-toe game, Foerster scored his second goal of the night on a feed from Zegras, increasing the Flyers’ lead to 4–1.

An uneventful third period made no difference for the Devils.

Nick Seiler scored an empty net goal, a dagger on the game and the 2025–26 season, sealing a 5–1 defeat, the Devils’ 35th defeat of the season.

Markstrom made 13 saves on 17 shots, leading to his 19th loss of the season.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

Nico Hischier’s uncertainty over his future with the New Jersey Devils must be troubling.

In light of the Devils firing general manager Tom Fitzgerald, Hischier was asked if he would be willing to sign an extension under a new arrangement when he became eligible on July 1.

His answer doesn’t give any confidence about his future in New Jersey.

“I’m just focused on playing hockey here,” Hischier said. “I still have another year. I’m with the Devils right now, and then we’ll see what happens.”

There is no way the Devils should trade Hischier if they have a feeling he wants to stay in New Jersey. However, if they get any suggestion that they want a change, there are ways for devils to come out of it with little or no loss.

First, the Devils will need a new GM. Whoever that GM is, he should be fired in the same manner as Vegas Golden Knights GM Kelly McCrimmon – an offensive-minded manager who isn’t afraid to make a move for the betterment of his roster.

Once a GM’s name comes out and if there is any hesitation from Hischier to commit, the Devils should explore trade options.

Of course, that leaves New Jersey without a 2C. However, when they get there they will have to cross that bridge.

The Devils have two viable options to extract something in return for Hischier.

minnesota wild

On any other team that doesn’t have a top-10 player in the league like Jack Hughes, Hischier is a 1C. Well, the Minnesota Wild are hungry for a first-line center, and Hischier could be their solution.

In return?

The Devils are going to need Quinn Hughes.

New Jersey did not have a clear No. 1 defenseman heading into the 2025–26 season, something that ultimately led to their demise.

Recently, Luke Hughes and Dougie Hamilton have played better, and as a result, the Devils have improved.

Still, Quinn is the ultimate No. 1 defenseman, and transformed the Devils from the playoffs to a Stanley Cup contender.

Yes, Fitzgerald nails that situation in the 2025-26 season. Yet, he has yet to put pen to paper in Minnesota. If the Devils are adamant about uniting the Hughes tri-force in New Jersey, Hischier might be their best bargaining chip to do so.

It’s not over until it’s over. A new, aggressive GM should definitely explore this option.

ottawa senators

If not Quinn, Brady Tkachuk is the next best thing.

Up north, there is now speculation over Tkachuk’s future with the Ottawa Senators after some controversial comments on a podcast by Tkachuk and his brother Matthew Tkachuk.

Well, if there’s any reason to believe Tkachuk could be on his way out of Ottawa, he’s undoubtedly the next best thing to Jack Hughes, if it wouldn’t be Quinn.

Tkachuk and Jack have remained close through the United States Hockey Development Program. However, their friendship has grown to another level after Hughes and Tkachuk won gold medals at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan.

Tkachuk would finally give the Devils a legitimate first line with Jack and Jesper Bratt.

On the contract side of things, both Tkachuk and Hischier’s contracts expire on July 1, 2027. The Senators captain has a full no-move clause, while there is a 10-team no-trade list.

Still, it’s hard to see a situation where Tkachuk refuses to be traded to New Jersey, a team that has the Jacks as the face of their franchise and is close enough to contend.

If the Devils captain indicates at all that he is not committed to remaining in New Jersey, a new GM should be aggressive but make sure he maximizes his return.

Quinn or Tkachuk certainly mitigate the damage of losing Hischier, though they will need to find a new 2C.

There’s still plenty of time to figure this out, but buckle up. It could be a bumpy ride.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

A new direction is coming for the New Jersey Devils and there are a few reasons that have gotten us here.

Tom Fitzgerald is out as general manager, however, his identity has been established. Fitzgerald has been with the New Jersey organization for the past 10 years, serving as general manager for the past six. They have made some bold moves such as acquiring Timo Meier and signing Dougie Hamilton as the first premiership free agent in several seasons. They’ve also made surprising mistakes, like trading Tyler Toffoli, who was a perfect fit at the time, and perhaps extending Johnathan Kovacevic a little earlier than anticipated.

However, in the 2025–26 season alone, several mistakes were made by the now former Devils GM, which ultimately led to the decision to fire him, and he started at the beginning of the year.

Jacob Markstrom Extension

Acquiring Jacob Markstrom was one thing. Fitzgerald gave up a first-round pick for an aging goaltender, but he at least came in with the makings of a legitimate starting goaltender. However, at age 35 and amid a long stretch of questionable games, Markstrom’s desire to extend was puzzling. Markstrom’s history suggests inconsistency. When he’s good, he’s great. And when he’s bad, it can be really questionable. That has often been the case in 2025-26, and entering the age 36 season, it’s hard to see how it will get any better. Fitzgerald had the entire season to evaluate what he was going to do with Markstrom, but instead he went into a new extension that hasn’t even started yet, while Markstrom hasn’t trusted anyone.

dougie hamilton debacle

Hamilton’s situation was handled poorly. News leaked that the Devils were shopping out the veteran defenseman, then benched him for “performance reasons”, only to see his agent call out Fitzgerald to try to force him to accept a trade. He then denied this notion, and later denied it when asked about it, despite knowing that Hamilton had canceled a trade or two.

quinn hughes is missing

Certainly, learning that Hamilton canceled a trade despite his improved play caused some tension. And that’s because the Devils were on Quinn Hughes, and couldn’t hold on to him. Not seeing his franchise brother’s face when he was available for trade was a huge mistake that could have turned the season 180°. Instead, he lost to a more aggressive GM who was willing to take big swings, show too much patience, and ultimately create an environment of uncertainty for players who felt they could be on the chopping block at any time.

too much business protection

Fitzgerald rejected another claim that the amount of business protection it provided hindered its ability to grow. However, as we know Hamilton did, the deals were voided due to the trade protections he offered, and the Devils GM himself was handcuffed. Thus, even when Jack Hughes was injured he could not make the necessary additions to improve the team.

Inactivity at trade deadline

The inactivity at the 2026 NHL trade deadline was perhaps the final straw. The Devils had pieces they could move this summer to improve their arsenal of possessions to take an even bigger swing. Instead, Fitzgerald stood quietly and did nothing. He also mentioned having the opportunity to explore the Hamilton business, and stated that this was something he was not interested in doing. In fact, their acquisition of Nick Bjugstad becomes even more intriguing in the weeks leading up to the deadline, with it appearing that there is a foot on each side of the fence as either a buyer or a seller. After all, the direction was unclear.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

The New Jersey Devils (40-34-3, 83 points) will try to bolster their slim Stanley Cup playoff hopes when they host the Philadelphia Flyers (39-26-12, 90 points) on Tuesday.

The Devils are 8-3-1 in their last 12 games at home and 4-0-1 in their last five games at the Prudential Center. They are within seven points of the Flyers for the final playoff spot with only four games left.

The Flyers are extremely bullish and have moved up to third place in the Metropolitan Division. They are 14-6-1 since the Olympic break and 9-1 in their last 10 road games.

Here’s what to expect from Tuesday’s huge game at the Rock.

What to Know vs Flyers

• The Devils are 0-2 against the Flyers and have gone 11-6 against them this season.
• Captain Nico Hischier has 12 points in the Devils’ last 10 games and has four points (2 goals, 2 assists) against the Flyers this year.
• Devils goaltender Jacob Markstrom has a .930 save%, 2.17 GAA and one shutout in 14 career games against the Flyers.
• Jack Hughes has 36 points (13 goals, 23 assists) in the Devils’ last 20 games and has 17 points in 11 home games since the Olympic break.
• The Flyers have 10 players scoring at least 10 goals this season, including Owen Tippett’s 28 goals.
• Porter Martone scored his first NHL goal in overtime in Philadelphia’s 2-1 win over the Boston Bruins on Sunday.
• Goalie Dan Vladar is 2-0-0 with a 3.00 GAA and .910 save% against the Devils this season
• Matvei Michkov has scored four goals in six games against the Devils and has 11 goals and 27 points in 38 road games this year.

2025-26 vs flyers

11/22/25: L6-3 Xfinity Mobile Arena

11/29/25: L5-3 Prudential Center

4/7/26: 7:30 PM ET Prudential Center

devils vs flyers

All-time record: 126-121-18-9

All-time home record: 77-47-8-5

All-time road record: 49-74-10-4

Projected Devils Lineup*

Ahead

Timo Meyer – Nico Hischier – Dawson Mercer

Jasper Bratt – Jack Hughes – Connor Brown

Lenny Haminaho – Cody Glass – Nick Bjugstad

Evgeny Dadonov – Mark McLaughlin – Brian Halonen

defenseman

Jonas Seigenthaler – Dougie Hamilton

Luke Hughes – Jonathan Kovacevic

Brendan Dillon – Simon Nemec

goalkeeper

jacob markstrom

jake allen

Projected Flyers Lineup*

Ahead

Tyson Foster – Trevor Zegras – Owen Tippett

Travis Konecny ​​- Christian Dvorak – Porter Martone

Alex Bump – Noah Cates – Matvei Mitchkov

Shawn Couturier – Luke Glendening – Carl Grundstrom

defenseman

Travis Sanheim- Rasmus Ristolainen

Cam York – Jamie Drysdale

Nick Seiler – Emile Andre

goalkeeper

and vlader

samuel irson

How to watch the Devils game – (7:30 p.m. ET)

Watch: ESPN+/Hulu

radio: devils hockey net

next up

Thu, Apr 9 vs PIT 7:00 PM ET

Saturday, April 11, 5:00 pm ET

Sunday, April 12 vs. OTT, 7:00 PM ET

Tuesday, April 14, BOS 7:00 PM ET

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

The New Jersey Devils are going in a new direction. They will have a new head of the table, however, we don’t know yet who that will be.

There is growing speculation that there will be not only a new general manager, but also a new president of hockey operations. One name that has been coming up repeatedly for the latter position is Brendan Shanahan. I guess we’ll see where it goes.

Elsewhere, is the head coach safe? Breaking from Florida? and more.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: The Devils fired Tom Fitzgerald as general manager in New Jersey. He and David Blitzer made a statement in the announcement.

Earlier in the day, the news was much more positive. Jack Hughes earned second star of the week honors in the NHL.

📺 devil’s rink report: It’s ironic that the Devils fired Fitzgerald on Monday because earlier, Johnny Lazarus and I talked on the latest Devils Rink Report about whether Sheldon Keefe has done enough to keep his job during the regular season with New Jersey’s improved play.

Full episode here 👇🏼

Please like and subscribe our Youtube channel And turn on those notifications when we go live every Friday! At 1K subscribers, we’ll start publishing on your favorite podcast platform!

Too! Devil’s Rink Report is now on TikTok – follow us here.

sign up for new jersey hockey now Newsletter for daily Devils intel straight to your inbox.

NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Pittsburgh hockey now: Here’s why the Pittsburgh Penguins should bring back Evgeni Malkin, and what’s changed.

Florida hockey now: Now some NHL teams, including the Devils, are seeking additional features in their front offices. The Florida Panthers could suffer a blowout as a result.

NYI Hockey Now: Pete DeBoer explains why he decided to go back behind the bench now, and why the New York Islanders were the team that got him there.

Montreal hockey now: A lot has gone right for the Montreal Canadiens this season, however, here are the unsung heroes who have helped get them there.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

After an unsuccessful season in 2025-26, the New Jersey Devils have fired general manager Tom Fitzgerald.

Managing partner David Blitzer made the decision after conversations with the now former Devils GM.

Via Devils PR, Blitzer says “Tom and I had a thoughtful conversation today and agreed that it is time to move in a new direction,” Blitzer says. “Tom changed the direction of our team here, including setting the franchise record for points in a season and helping make New Jersey a hockey destination. He is a respected leader in the Devils organization and in the NHL, and I am grateful for our friendship. I wish Tom and his family all the best. As we prepare to move forward, it is important that I thank our fans. I recognize that we have not performed as well as you expect and “I understand and share your frustration. This is an important offseason for our franchise, and we will explore all avenues that best position the Devils to compete for the Stanley Cup once again.”

“After speaking with David Blitzer, it became clear to everyone that moving on was the best move for the benefit of the team,” Fitzgerald said. “I am incredibly appreciative of David, Josh Harris, and the entire New Jersey Devils organization for being a part of my life for the past decade. The Devils are fortunate to have a group of great players, vocal and passionate fans, but most importantly, to have tremendous people who worked with me toward a common goal. I have always said that New Jersey is a hidden gem and I am proud of the effort we have made to raise the bar and make it a destination. I am proud of my hockey fans.” “Looking forward to the next step in my career and will always look back fondly on my time with the Devils.”

Fitzgerald had one year remaining on his contract with New Jersey.

*This is an ongoing story and will be updated as more information becomes available.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

If the New Jersey Devils had made the playoffs this season, the series against the Montreal Canadiens could have been really fun.

The Devils hosted the Habs at the Prudential Center on Saturday in the first match of a home-and-home situation of the weekend, losing 4-3 in the first game via a shootout.

Canadian fans arrived in large numbers in Newark, New Jersey, and were unruly before warmups even began.

That’s partly because it looks like Montreal will go to the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs, and partly because it’s to see Cole Caufield score his 50th goal of the season.

When the puck dropped, Caufield was pounded on the half break – an early opportunity to reach the 50-goal plateau. However, Johnathan Kovacevic’s backcheck was too much for the Habs forward, and he never got a shot on goal.

The Devils then pressed Jacob Dobbs in waves, pushing the Canadiens into their own zone.

However, it was the Canadiens who struck first when Jaden Struble drove into the Devils slot and received a pass from Caufield to give Montreal a 1–0 lead.

The second period also started like the first. The Devils were heavy in the Montreal zone, pressuring Dobbs with abundant zone time and opportunities during the first seven minutes of the middle frame.

However, Jonas Seigenthaler’s tripping penalty at the 7:40 mark of the period sent the Devils to their first penalty kill. Ivan Demidov doubled the Habs’ lead on another Caufield primary assist, receiving a back door pass and making the game 2–0 on a one-time chance.

Just over a minute later, as the power was restored, Lane Hutson tripled Montreal’s lead to give the Habs a 3–0 lead.

However, the Devils finally struck back at the 6:52 mark of the second. Dawson Mercer drove the Devils’ net, and from an impossible angle, sliced ​​the puck over Dobbs’ left shoulder and past his left ear, cutting the Canadiens’ lead to 3–1 with very little visible twine.

Despite the Devils being at a disadvantage, Jack Hughes and Jasper Bratt lined up for a 2-on-1 in the Montreal end.

The Devils suffered a prolonged loss after high-sticking Zachary Bolduc left Brendan Dillon whistled for a double minor.

Although Dobbs made the save, Jack and Bratt quickly went on another 2-on-1 breakaway after a bad Montreal turnover and this time, Jack scored his 25th shorthanded goal of the season to cut Montreal’s lead to 3–2.

The Dillon penalty went over, as did one shortly afterward in the second period, and New Jersey entered the third period trailing by a goal.

The Devils put the pedal to the metal in the third period. It took 17:44 to get going on offense, but Timo Meier finally made the breakthrough and erased the three-goal deficit to tie the game with three minutes to go at the end of the third period.

The lead was not enough in regulation in Game 76 of the season, and the Devils and Canadiens went to overtime. And despite an entertaining extra period, it was not enough and the game required a shootout.

After five rounds, the Canadiens won extra points 4–3 on the stick of Zachary Bolduc.

Jake Allen made 26 saves on 29 shots through 65 minutes of regulation and overtime, handing them their 17th loss of the season.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

There are a lot of good things about both the New Jersey Devils and the league in today’s newsletter.

Starting from the player comps the Devils’ young defensemen just received, to Jack Hughes’ big day in the Bronx, there’s a lot to dive into.

Despite my hoarse voice, we still got back to the microphone yesterday. Johnny Lazarus joins me for a great discussion, and you won’t want to miss it.

Plus, Matthew Neese’s trade request revealed, Blueshirts trade talks and the controversy in Ottawa.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

Athletic ($): This was meant to be a power rankings article, but the interesting thing people seem to be developing in New Jersey is the development of 22-year-old blueliners Luke Hughes and Simon Nemec and the players they are being compared to. More inside.

New Jersey Hockey Now: Yesterday, Devils superstar Jack Hughes was joined by fellow USA women’s team gold medalist Erin Frankel to throw out the first pitch at Yankee Stadium before the tilt with the Miami Marlins. More from Pat Pickens on Jack’s eventful day.

📺 devil’s rink report: In the latest Devils Rink Report, I’m joined by Johnny Lazarus, host of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast and Morning Cuppa’ Hockey, to discuss the goalie battle, Jack Hughes’ reign, offseason speculation and much more.

Full episode here 👇🏼

Please like and subscribe our Youtube channel And turn on those notifications when we go live every Friday! At 1K subscribers, we’ll start publishing on your favorite podcast platform!

Too! Devil’s Rink Report is now on TikTok – follow us here.

sign up for new jersey hockey now Newsletter for daily Devils intel straight to your inbox.

NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Forever Blueshirts: We know the New York Rangers tried to trade Vincent Trocheck at the 2026 NHL trade deadline. However, is it necessary that they move him again in the summer? More from Jim Cerny here.

Toronto Hockey Now: OK, so we know the Devils were interested in Matthew Nease. Well, Nick Kyprios asks the Toronto Maple Leafs to trade him out, he’ll take one of these three trade packages.

Vegas Hockey Now: John Tortorella is off to a fast start with the Vegas Golden Knights. But, will it last?

More confirmed ($): Some controversial comments from Keith Tkachuk on his sons’ podcast have many wondering about Brady Tkachuk’s future in Ottawa. Senators dismissed the comments, turning the online controversy into “white noise”.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

今天的时事通讯中有很多关于新泽西魔鬼队和整个联盟的好东西。

从魔鬼队年轻后卫刚刚收到的球员名单开始，到杰克·休斯在布朗克斯的重要日子，有很多东西值得深入研究。

昨天我们也重新打开麦克风，尽管我的声音沙哑。乔尼·拉扎勒斯 (Jonny Lazarus) 和我一起讨论了很多内容，您一定不想错过。

此外，马修·奈斯的交易要求、蓝衫军的交易谈话以及渥太华的争议也被曝光。

魔鬼交易谣言和新闻

运动（$）： 这篇文章本来是一篇实力排名文章，但人们在新泽西州看到的有趣的事情是 22 岁的蓝线球员卢克·休斯和西蒙·内梅克，以及与他们进行比较的球员。里面还有更多。

现在新泽西州曲棍球： 昨天，魔鬼队巨星杰克·休斯 (Jack Hughes) 与美国女队金牌得主艾琳·弗兰克尔 (Aerin Frankel) 一起在洋基体育场与迈阿密马林鱼队的比赛中投出了第一球。帕特·皮肯斯 (Pat Pickens) 讲述了杰克这一重要日子的更多内幕。

📺 魔鬼溜冰场报告：在最新的 Devils Rink 报道中，我与三州曲棍球播客和早间杯曲棍球主持人 Jonny Lazarus 一起讨论了百老汇的守门员之争、杰克·休斯的统治、offssason 的猜测等等。

完整剧集在这里👇🏼

请一定要喜欢并订阅我们的 YouTube 频道 并在我们每周五上线时打开这些通知！当订阅者达到 1K 时，我们将开始在您最喜爱的播客平台上发布内容！

还！ Devils Rink 报告现已在 TikTok 上发布 – 请在此处关注我们。

报名参加 现在新泽西州曲棍球 每日魔鬼情报通讯直接发送到您的收件箱。

NHL 贸易谈话、新闻和国家冰球现在

永远的蓝衫军：我们知道纽约游骑兵队试图在 2026 年 NHL 交易截止日期前交易文森特·特罗切克。然而，他们是否必须在夏天重新考虑搬走他？吉姆·塞尔尼提供了更多信息。

现在多伦多曲棍球： 好吧，我们知道魔鬼队对马修·奈斯感兴趣。好吧，尼克·凯普雷奥斯说，为了把他从多伦多枫叶队挖走，需要这三个交易方案之一。

现在维加斯曲棍球： 约翰·托托雷拉 (John Tortorella) 在维加斯黄金骑士队 (Vegas Golden Knights) 中快速起步。但是，能持续吗？

更具运动性（$）： 基思·特卡丘克 (Keith Tkachuk) 在他儿子的播客上发表的一些有争议的评论让许多人对布雷迪·特卡丘克 (Brady Tkachuk) 在渥太华的未来感到好奇。参议员们驳回了这些评论，将网上的争议归结为“白噪音”。

詹姆斯是一位完全合格的新泽西魔鬼队击败记者，为新泽西冰球现在在 Sportsnaut 和 … 更多关于詹姆斯·尼科尔斯

The New Jersey Devils have dominated their cross-Hudson-rivals the New York Rangers over the past two seasons.

But the Rangers finally struck back Tuesday, both literally and figuratively.

The Rangers dominated from the start of the game, then Igor Shesterkin dealt a blow to both Jacob Markstrom and the Devils by setting up a much-discussed goalie fight at MSG and winning the game 4–1.

The Devils lost for the second time in three games, with both losses coming against a Metropolitan Division opponent. Their sad number, where they will be eliminated from Stanley Cup playoff contention, is six.

devils were flat in msg

The Rangers have been one of the worst teams at home all season, and the Devils have skated circles around them the past two seasons.

But in a game the Devils needed to keep their faint playoff hopes alive, they were unprepared to play. New Jersey gave up nine high-danger chances in the first period and scored two goals, including JT Miller’s power-play goal, his second goal at the Garden all season.

Devils coach Sheldon Keefe said, “I thought they were really good tonight, and we weren’t nearly as good.” “Defensively, we weren’t as strong when it came time to defend.”

Devils captain Nico Hischier echoed Keefe’s sentiments.

“They played more tenaciously,” Hischier said. “They wanted it more, and they worked harder. … We couldn’t find a way.”

Markstrom made five saves in the first-period and stopped just 18 shots in the game. But the Devils got just eight high-danger scoring chances at 5-on-5 and surrendered 20 in all situations in the game.

“We have made life really difficult [Markstrom]Even when we didn’t need to,” Keefe said. “We’ve got to play better defense, and we’ve got to find ways to execute on offense.”

Jacob Markstrom tried to shock his team by fighting Igor Shesterkin

The much-publicized goaltender battle between Markstrom and Shesterkin will be talked about for years to come. Rangers members applauded their goalkeeper for fending off Markstrom’s challenge. But the Devils goalie explained why it was time for him to take on the 2022 Vezina Trophy winner.

“I felt like I needed to do something,” Markstrom said. “It’s disappointing to give up four goals, and you want to get involved, you want to do something. As a goalkeeper, that’s not really my job.

“We’re down 4-1, and I was just trying to get a spark or something.”

Keefe recognized Markstrom’s effort in trying to wake up his club by skating onto the rink and challenging Shesterkin to drop his gear, even though he took the brunt of Shesterkin’s punches.

“It shows what a competitor he is,” Keefe said. “At a moment like this, where we are in the season, it takes a lot of courage, but it also shows that you are a competitor to skate on the rink without hesitation and go and do that, then put your stuff back out and go out and shoot a penalty, that’s a pretty extraordinary thing to do.

“I thought he’s a guy who has struggled throughout the game. If anything, a fight like this should send a message to the group about how much they’re invested in [Markstrom] And we need the rest of the group at all times.”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.

Well, the offseason has arrived somewhat early for some organizations. And I don’t mean because they’ve been mathematically eliminated. For the second time in as many nights, and the NHL organization has made a major change to its personnel, leaving New Jersey Devils fans wondering if they will follow through.

However, if I were you I wouldn’t hold my breath.

In the links, the latest discussion about the Devils head coaching situation, Tom Fitzgerald, and more.

Also, big mess in Toronto.

Devil’s Trade Rumors and News

New Jersey Hockey Now: As soon as Bruce Cassidy was let go on Sunday, a few people immediately messaged me asking if I thought he would be a good fit for the New Jersey bench. Well, here’s why I’m not so sure about it, as well as why Sheldon Keefe may not be going anywhere.

And there is a man who is going to take this decision. Or…is there? At this point, I’m not expecting Tom Fitzgerald to be fired as Devils GM. However, could he be stripped of his presidency?

On Sunday, not only did the Devils celebrate a win, but so did Nico Hischier. If you can believe it, the Devils captain has already skated in his 600th NHL game. Our own Pat Pickens captured the moment and received lots of praise from teammates and coaches.

📺 devil’s rink report: Here’s Jack Hughes on the Devils’ latest win, Hischier’s career and more.

Please like and subscribe our Youtube channel And turn on those notifications when we go live every Friday! At 1K subscribers, we’ll start publishing on your favorite podcast platform!

Too! Devil’s Rink Report is now on TikTok – follow us here.

sign up for new jersey hockey now Newsletter for daily Devils intel straight to your inbox.

NHL Trade Talk, News and National Hockey Now

Forever Blueshirts: Brennan Othman is happy that the New York Rangers traded him earlier this month. He revealed this during his debut for the Calgary Flames on Saturday.

Pittsburgh hockey now: Weren’t the New York Islanders winning this game 3-1 at some point? The scrappy Pittsburgh Penguins made a complete comeback and defeated them 8–3. Hear more from Dan Kingerski about what you need to get there.

San Jose Hockey Now: The scouting report on Michael Misa is that he is going to put up some interesting numbers in his NHL career. Not now. However, what can he do now to earn more minutes with the San Jose Sharks?

Philly hockey now: I think this should have been done earlier, but I believe its better late than never. The Philadelphia Flyers and Trevor Zegras are finally in the midst of extension talks.

Detroit hockey now: Whether they make the playoffs or not, this is why Bob Duff believes Steve Yzerman will remain the Detroit Red Wings GM.

Athletic ($): In a news dump late last night the Toronto Maple Leafs fired GM Brad Treliving before the season ended. And although it didn’t work out for him, James Myrtle says MLSE has made a big mess for the Leafs after three years of failure.

James is the fully certified New Jersey Devils beat reporter for New Jersey Hockey Now on SportsNote and … More about James Nicholls

It’s hard to believe that nine years have passed since the New Jersey Devils selected Nico Hischier with the No. 1 pick in the 2017 NHL Draft.

It’s even harder to believe that Hischier is already in the top 20 in games played in Devils history, despite the fact that he only has one Stanley Cup playoff series win to his name.

But the Devils captain crossed the 600-game threshold in New Jersey’s 5-3 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Sunday night.

“Everyone here plays for each other,” Hischier said. “Obviously, I wanted to win, and I know everyone here wanted to win, too.”

Hischier is already 19th on the Devils’ all-time games played list, despite the fact that he is still only 10 months away from his 30th birthday. He’s quietly having another great year by leading the Devils in goals (26) and is third on the team in points (58) with nine games played.

Nico Hischier is already a Devils all-time great through 600 games

He can fly under the radar, league-wide, and even in New Jersey. But through 600 games, Hischier is on his way to hanging his number from the rafters at the Prudential Center — and any potential future building in which the Devils play.

Hischier is four points behind Scott Gomez for sixth on the Devils’ all-time points list and is already fifth on the Devils’ all-time goals list with 197. With a hot finish he can hope to take sole possession of third place, as Travis Zajac and Bobby Holik share that mark with 202 goals in a Devils uniform.

If Hischier finished ahead of Zajac and Holik, or even tied with them, it would mean he reached his third 30-goal season and second in a row under Devils coach Sheldon Keefe. Keefe understands what an accomplishment that will be, especially with the defensive load that Hischier carries every night.

“I don’t give Nico Hischier a very easy transition,” Keefe said Sunday. “He is very carefree in areas where we need him to take extra charge for our team.

“To have those numbers and still be aggressive, is tremendous.”

Hischier often plays second fiddle to superstar center Jack Hughes. But even the Devils’ record holder for single-season points can appreciate Hischier’s accomplishment.

“He’s headed for 1,000 [games]. I think 1,000 is a big number, right?” Hughes said of Hischier. “But he’s very young, and has already played 600 games, he just has to keep going and he’ll have a great career.”

The Devils would be wise to lock up Nico Hischier after this season

Hischier is eligible for a contract extension on July 1, and adding New Jersey’s captain should be priority No. 1 this offseason – on par with hiring a coach and/or general manager if the Harris/Blitzer ownership group decides to make a change.

The key to any future success for the Devils is Hischier, even more so than Hughes. Hughes has shown himself to be an integral player as the last two seasons have been prematurely ended by injury to No. 86, but the Devils won’t smell a Cup without Hischier’s two-way play.

Not re-signing Hischier would be one of the first signs of the roster falling apart, which some Devils fans might be able to stomach based on how attractive the potential of this core is. The group headlined by Hischier and Hughes will ultimately win nothing more than a first-round series over the New York Rangers in 2023, but management should keep giving it a chance.

But Hischier will have to stay, too. For what it’s worth, he’s talking like a player who wants to wear No. 13 in New Jersey for years to come.

“I am extremely grateful for [playing 600 games with the Devils],” Hischier said. “To be honest, it happens pretty fast. But I am grateful to have reached that milestone and hope there are more to come.”

Pat Pickens is an award-winning sports writer and author who has covered the NHL since 2013. He reveals more about Pat Pickens.