The long, often tedious journey of the NHL preseason has concluded, and with the New Jersey Devils’ regular season opener just days away, a sense of clarity has finally settled over the Garden State. While the exhibition schedule, capped by a recent shootout loss to the Philadelphia Flyers, might feel like a necessary evil to most fans, it offered invaluable insight into the team’s planned configuration. Coming into training camp, the Devils’ lineup had several major question marks, especially in the bottom half of the roster. Now, following a full slate of practices and tune-up games, we have a much clearer picture of the personnel and pairings that will define the 2025-26 campaign.

Goaltending Relief: Nico Daws Clears Waivers

In an important organizational development that occurred just as the preseason wrapped, the Devils received a significant break regarding their goaltending depth. Goaltender Nico Daws, 24, was placed on waivers with the intention of assigning him to the Utica Comets of the American Hockey League (AHL). The concern was that a rival team, needing help between the pipes, might claim the young netminder, who showed flashes of high-level play last season in the NHL. Fortunately for New Jersey, Daws went unclaimed on Monday, October 6th, and can now be assigned to Utica. This move ensures the organization retains its third-string goalie, a crucial piece of insurance behind the veteran tandem of Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen, especially considering Daws’ recent solid NHL performance where he posted a 1.60 Goals Against Average and a .939 Save Percentage in a short stint. This depth is vital for any team hoping to make a deep run. You can find more comprehensive details on the Devils’ organization and its news here: https://explorenewjersey.org/new-jersey-devils/

Forward Combinations Take Shape

One of the biggest offseason initiatives was finding a better fit for the top line alongside Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt after Ondrej Palat’s previous run in that role proved less than ideal. The search involved internal candidates and new acquisitions, but the first opportunity for the 2025-26 season will go to veteran forward Evgenii Dadonov.

The 36-year-old Russian winger, who tallied 20 goals and 40 points with the Dallas Stars last season, brings smarts and surprising speed to the trio. The hope is his finishing ability complements the dynamic playmaking of Hughes and Bratt. While the preseason sample is small, their initial 5-on-5 expected goals for percentage (xGF%) sat at 43.31% over 22:12 of play. Despite this lower analytical start, they did manage to out-attempt their opposition 19-14, suggesting the potential for offensive generation is there.

Meanwhile, the familiar and effective second line of Timo Meier, Nico Hischier, and Dawson Mercer will remain intact. The trio dominated their exhibition opponents, posting a massive 80.32% xGF% in 25:19 of 5-on-5 ice time, out-shooting and outscoring them handily. Even with the necessary “preseason caveat,” this strong showing builds on a promising regular-season track record. Last year, the line recorded a decent 51% xGF%, CF%, and SCF% over 264 minutes of 5-on-5 action, and more importantly, outscored their opponents 9-4, establishing themselves as a reliable shutdown and secondary scoring unit.

The crucial search for a capable third-line center appears to have settled on Cody Glass. Glass will center wingers Palat and new signing Connor Brown. On paper, this line, with its mix of Brown’s speed and defensive work, Palat’s veteran presence, and Glass’s potential, could serve as a valuable defensive and checking unit. While the offensive ceiling might be a concern, their primary value may come from taking on tough matchups.

Further down the depth chart, a potentially exciting fourth line has emerged featuring Paul Cotter and newcomer Arseny Gritsyuk on the wings, likely centered by PTO-turned-roster-player Luke Glendening. Gritsyuk impressed in his preseason showings, with his underlying numbers showing a promising performance: his 5-on-5 xGF% was over 55%. If the chemistry between Gritsyuk and Cotter—who brings speed and grit—translates to the regular season, they could provide a much-needed injection of secondary scoring, an area where the team struggled significantly last season.

Defensive Alignments and Opportunities

On the blue line, head coach Sheldon Keefe has returned to the tried-and-true pairing of Jonas Siegenthaler and Dougie Hamilton. The pair has a history of success in New Jersey, having played over 1345 minutes at 5-on-5 together in the past three seasons, registering an excellent 54.75% xGF% and outscoring opponents 73-53. With Johnathan Kovacevic sidelined by injury, reuniting the “Old Reliable” pair is a logical move to stabilize the top defensive pairing.

Meanwhile, the partnership between Luke Hughes and Brett Pesce is expected to resume, despite a contract holdout and a minor preseason injury, respectively. Pesce is anticipated to be ready for the season opener, allowing the pairing to rekindle their chemistry as the second defensive duo.

Finally, an opportunity has opened up for young blueliner Simon Nemec. With Kovacevic injured, Nemec is set to start the season on the third pair, likely alongside veteran Brenden Dillon. Nemec, who battled a shoulder injury last season, has looked noticeably sharper in camp. In the preseason, he showcased significant improvement, with his main underlying statistics (xGF%, CF%, SCF%, and High Danger CF%) all hovering around 60% in his 78 minutes of 5-on-5 ice time, and his pairing outscored the opposition 4-2. If Nemec can successfully handle sheltered minutes and dominate that assignment, much like Damon Severson did during the team’s record-setting 2022-23 campaign, it will be a major boost to the team’s defensive depth.

Roster Wrap-Up and Injury Updates

The final roster decisions have also solidified the team’s depth. Luke Glendening secured a contract following his professional tryout (PTO), cementing his role as the likely fourth-line center. Additionally, it has been reported that Shane Lachance, a big-bodied forward, has made the team and will serve as an extra forward. On the injury front, Stefan Noesen is expected to miss the start of the season due to an aggravated groin injury, but his return is expected to be relatively soon. The battle for the seventh defense spot appears to have gone to Dennis Cholowski over Seamus Casey, a decision that prioritizes giving Casey major minutes in the AHL rather than having him as a healthy scratch in the NHL press box. The retention of Daws in the system only adds to the sense that General Manager Tom Fitzgerald has successfully navigated the complexities of roster construction to provide Coach Sheldon Keefe with a well-rounded and deep squad for the season ahead.