With training camp on the horizon, the New Jersey Devils are preparing for a 2025-26 season filled with both anticipation and pressure. The Metropolitan Division remains as unforgiving as ever, and the Devils must prove that the balance of speed, youth, and veteran leadership can push them back into contention.
The addition of defenseman Brenden Dillon is central to that effort. Known for his physical edge, shot blocking, and ability to stabilize a defensive unit, Dillon brings the grit New Jersey lacked last season. At six-foot-four, he gives the Devils a presence who can clear the crease, win battles in the corners, and set a tone for a roster that often leaned too heavily on its offensive stars. His experience will also be a guiding force for younger defensemen as the team looks to build a sturdier blue line.
The Devils have also injected competition into training camp with the signing of four players to professional tryout contracts. Forwards Kevin Rooney and Luke Glendening bring depth, versatility, and penalty-killing ability, while goaltenders Georgi Romanov and Adam Scheel will look to make their case in a crowded crease. These moves highlight the organization’s commitment to ensuring no position is guaranteed, with performance being the deciding factor.
The release of the 2025-26 regular-season schedule gives fans plenty to circle, with rivalry matchups against the Rangers, Islanders, Flyers, and Hurricanes poised to carry extra weight. Every game in the Metropolitan Division matters, and the Devils cannot afford to stumble early if they want to secure a playoff berth. The Prudential Center in Newark is expected to be rocking from opening night, as the fan base looks for this group to rebound from last year’s disappointments.
Off the ice, the team made news by naming Don La Greca as the new play-by-play voice of the Devils. A native of Hawthorne, New Jersey, La Greca’s arrival in the booth brings a respected and familiar voice to broadcasts, deepening the connection between the team and its fans. His hiring marks the beginning of a new era in the way Devils hockey will be called and experienced.
The organization also celebrated the accomplishments of two former players this summer, as Zach Parise and Scott Gomez were inducted into the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. Both men played vital roles in Devils history, with Parise remembered as a captain and offensive force and Gomez celebrated as a Stanley Cup champion in 2000. Their recognition is another reminder of the franchise’s impact on American hockey and its tradition of producing elite talent.
As training camp nears, all of these developments converge into one of the most important seasons in recent Devils history. Dillon’s presence on defense is expected to toughen the team’s structure. The PTO signings raise the stakes for roster battles. The schedule will test the Devils early and often. La Greca’s voice will accompany fans through the highs and lows. The Hall of Fame honors tie the present back to the franchise’s proud history. It all points toward a year where the New Jersey Devils will be measured not by potential but by results.
