The New Jersey Devils have officially entered the Sunny Mehta era, and with that come all of the changes that accompany a new GM. The Devils have consistently struggled to reach the postseason, with only four playoff appearances in the last 15 years. Their recent history of incompatible GMs, head coaches, and players who don’t perform at their expected level has kept the team out of the playoffs, despite looking better on paper.
In an effort to reach playoff success, what should Mehta and head coach Sheldon Keefe focus on heading into next season?
Inconsistent Forward Lines
The Devils have frequently experimented with their lines to test team chemistry and see which pairings produce more consistently. The days of Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt being first-line powerhouses have now been replaced by Timo Meier and Dawson Mercer taking over the mantle.
Now that forwards Anthony Mantha and Luke Evangelista have been traded to the team, even more experimentation may be required at the beginning of the season to cement a new foundation. Hopefully, the team finds a place for these new additions quickly, allowing it to capitalize on the trades.
Need for New Goaltending
Following the trade of goalie Jacob Markstrom, Jake Allen and Nico Daws will defend the New Jersey net. Allen appeared in 37 games last season for the team, posting a .904 SV%. If the team chemistry of the star forwards is fixed, a different goalie could propel the team to the playoffs. With the recent trades for new forwards, perhaps one for a new goalie could be in the cards this season.
Player Health and Injuries
On paper, the Devils should be a higher-performing team given their talent. Jack Hughes was ranked as a top-10 center by NHL Network. He led the team in points with 77, despite only playing in 61 games. In fact, Hughes has never played a full NHL season and has missed more than a month at different points, including season-ending injuries. His most infamous injury is his most recent one, a freak accident that resulted in a major hand injury, leaving him out for weeks.
Many other players also faced serious injuries in recent seasons. Nico Hischier, Luke Hughes, Stefan Noesen, and Arseny Gritsyuk have faced injuries ranging from day-to-day to season-ending. The team and the league must pay more attention to player health and safety. When players come back and play injured, they not only don’t perform at their best. They also cause further long-term damage to their bodies.
2026-27 Season Prediction
There is no strong guarantee the Devils will make the playoffs this year. They are already in a better position to succeed under Metha’s leadership, though they still have a long way to go. The Šimon Nemec trade was the first of the big moves this offseason. The Devils will need a few more moves to reach their heights.
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