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Devils Hot Seat: Three Pivotal Questions Heading into 2026
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- Devils Hot Seat: Three Pivotal Questions Heading into 2026
Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
Today officially begins the second half of the 2025-26 season. The New Jersey Devils currently sit on the outside of the playoff picture. If they plan to ensure they're not one of this season's disappointments, New Jersey has a handful of questions to answer to get back in the postseason conversation.
At this point last year, the Devils were coming out of the holiday break on a scorching hot pace.
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Yet, they fell from grace, falling from a top team in the NHL, to a middling team that played .500 hockey the rest of the way.
The Devils faced adversity, of course. Injuries are always a factor for this team, evidently.
However, that was then, this is now. On paper, at least, the Devils are supposed to be a better team this season. They've proven otherwise thus far.
Yet, there's lots of runway ahead of them to change the narrative.
The Devils face some pivotal questions for the remainder of the season that will make or break their playoff chances, and it will perhaps have major implications on the future of this roster.
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Let's dive in.
1. Can Jack Hughes Stay Healthy?
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The biggest question that faces the Devils, once again, is about their superstar.
Jack Hughes returned just before the holiday after hand surgery following a freak accident as the result of an off-ice injury. It's yet another season in which the 24-year-old forward will play at most in the 60-game range.
That is, if he can stay healthy the rest of the way. The question around Hughes has always been about his health. He's already missed a chunk of the season, but was sidelined by non-hockey related reasons.
Who is to say he won't become injured on the ice again?
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Jack has a lot to prove here. He was adamant at the start of 2025-26 the injuries were behind him, and he was determined to propel the Devils to new heights.
That has yet to happen, although, he looked excellent before he was shelved.
The Devils very clearly live and die by the status of Jack. The remainder of the season could very well be on his shoulders.
If he stays healthy the rest of the way, the Devils have a fighting chance.
2. Will the Scoring Woes End?
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The question at the beginning of the season was if the depth scoring woes were addressed.
The early returns from the offseason appeared to be paying dividends early. Connor Brown started strong, Arseny Gritsyuk showed encouraging capability, and even Cody Glass was impressive. In fact, that trio formed one of the more impactful lines in the forward group, giving the Devils an advantage in deployment mismatches.
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Yet, the injuries broke up that line at various different points so far.
Now, they're back together, but the scoring woes reach further than the depth.
The Devils' top players are even struggling to put the puck in the back of the net right now. Jesper Bratt , Nico Hischier , and Dawson Mercer are in notable droughts, and it's certainly evident in the scoresheet.
The Devils have scored two or fewer goals in each of their last five games, and are 2-3-0 as a result.
Sub .500 hockey won't cut it. In fact, they can't break even through the remaining 44 games in the schedule, either.
Otherwise, they'll sink in the tight Eastern Conference race.
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3. Can Special Teams Return to Form?
Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
Scoring at 5-on-5 has been a challenge, even before the 2025-26 season.
However, the power play has typically been pretty good. Yet, in their last 19 games—the stretch in which they've really been struggling—the man advantage has hardly given New Jersey the upper-hand.
In their last 45 opportunities, the Devils have scored just seven goals.
And on the other end of the ice, it's worse. In 46 opportunities, the penalty kill has allowed 16 goals. That's far different than the six they allowed during the first 48 opportunities during the first 15 games of the season when the PK looked suffocating.
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Case in point, they have the ability to be much better on special teams. It's about execution at this point.
If the special teams don't improve, they'll miss the postseason.
4. Can the Goaltending Stabilize?
Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
One of the biggest question marks all season has been the goaltending. That's something that perhaps not many saw coming.
Maybe we should have with two 35-year-old netminders in goal.
Jake Allen has been the stronger of the two goalies so far this season. Yet, Jacob Markstrom is finally coming to life, with a .923 SV% in his last five games.
Both Markstrom and Allen have had their blunders. But the expectation coming into 2025-25 was that things would be much more stable.
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Recent history is proving that perhaps the goaltending just stumbled out of the gate. If they can maintain average or better play the rest of the way, the Devils should be in good shape.
5. Will Fitzgerald Make the Right Add?
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The $1 million question (not literally) is whether New Jersey can make the right add.
Yet, before they can even do that, they have to move money out just to activate Johnathan Kovacevic off long-term injured reserve when he's ready.
New Jersey has been in the NHL trade market, connected to names such as Steven Stamkos and Ryan O'Reilly.
They came into this season with a need up the middle and on the wing in the top-six.
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Yet, GM Tom Fitzgerald has struggled to move money, reportedly dealing with at least one trade that was vetoed with Dougie Hamilton and Ondrej Palat 's names on the rumor mill.
The Devils are healthier now, which helps their ability to get back in the playoff conversation.
However, without the right reinforcements, they're bound for another early exit if they don't make the right add.
The Devils have some hoops to jump through regarding their salary cap. We'll see if Fitzgerald can pull a rabbit out of a hat.
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