The New Jersey Devils are a team on the cusp of greatness, but two massive questions loom over their 2025-26 season. The answers to these questions will determine whether they’re a playoff contender or a team left wondering what could have been. First, can superstar Jack Hughes finally shake the injury bug? Since his NHL debut, Hughes has been a force to be reckoned with, but his time on the ice has been limited. With both shoulders now surgically repaired, the hope is that he can stay healthy and lead this team to the promised land.
The second question is on the blue line. With Johnathan Kovacevic sidelined, who will step up to fill the void? The Devils have two promising young defensemen in Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey, but can they handle the pressure of the NHL spotlight? The answers to these questions, along with the ever-present Quinn Hughes trade rumors, make for a must-watch season in New Jersey.
Can Jack Hughes Finally Stay Healthy?
It’s the question on every Devils fan’s mind: can Jack Hughes stay healthy for a full season? The dynamic forward is the engine that drives this team, but he’s been plagued by injuries throughout his career. Since entering the league in 2019-20, Hughes has only played more than 62 games in a season once. That was in 2022-23 when he put up a staggering 99 points and led the Devils to the second round of the playoffs.
Last season, he missed 25 games, and the season before that, it was 16. The bottom line is, the Devils need their superstar on the ice if they want to compete for a Stanley Cup. The good news is that Hughes has had surgery on both shoulders, and the team is optimistic that this will solve the problem. As assistant GM Dan MacKinnon said, “once they’re done, they’re a little bit stronger than they were before.”
Who Fills the Void on the Blue Line?
The second major question facing the Devils is who will replace the injured Johnathan Kovacevic. The defenseman is out indefinitely after knee surgery, leaving a big hole on the blue line. The two leading candidates to fill that role are a couple of promising youngsters: Simon Nemec and Seamus Casey. Nemec, the second overall pick in the 2022 draft, showed flashes of brilliance at the end of last season. Casey, another 2022 draftee, is a smart, puck-moving defenseman with a high ceiling.
GM Tom Fitzgerald has made it clear that Nemec will have to earn his spot in training camp, but the organization is high on both players. And of course, we can’t forget the Quinn Hughes trade rumors that are always swirling around the Devils. Could a blockbuster trade be in the works to reunite the Hughes brothers in New Jersey?
Here is the full 2025-26 New Jersey Devils pre-season schedule:
- Sunday, Sept. 21 vs. NY Rangers at Prudential Center, 1 p.m.
- Tuesday, Sept. 23 vs. NY Islanders at Prudential Center, 7 p.m.
- Friday, Sept. 26 @ NY Islanders at UBS Arena, 7 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 28 (Split Squad) @ Ottawa Senators at Videotron Centre, Quebec City, Que., 3 p.m.
- Sunday, Sept. 28 (Split Squad) vs. Washington Capitals at Prudential Center, 3 p.m.
- Thursday, Oct. 2 @ NY Rangers at Madison Square Garden, 7 p.m.
- Saturday, Oct. 4 @ Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center, 3 p.m.
Your Home for New Jersey Devils News
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