Following a frustrating 2025-26, the Devils made the wise move to replace Tom Fitzgerald with Sunny Mehta as the new team president and general manager. Since he took over, Mehta has overhauled the roster more to his liking.

By subtracting Jacob Markstrom, who the Panthers were willing to gamble on as their starting goalie, Mehta was able to address the team’s forward depth. After being able to pry Evan Rodriguez and Jesper Boqvist away from Florida to offset Markstrom’s $6 million salary, he signed free agent Anthony Mantha for a two-year deal worth $4.75 million AAV without trade protection. If he can flourish with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt on the number one line, pencil Mantha in for at least 25 goals and 50 points.

In a move that had to be made, Mehta moved on from Simon Nemec by dealing him to the Flames with Max Tsyplakov for Etienna Morin, a 2026 second round pick (Ryan Roobroeck), a 2027 first round pick and conditional 2028 first. A trade that established the Devils top six on the blue line. He added Declan Chisholm from Washington in a trade. Due to Jonathan Kovacevic starting the season on the injured reserve, Chisholm will start the season on the third pair with Brenden Dillon.

The remainder of the back end remains the same. Dougie Hamilton will be counted on to supply offense and log key minutes while teamed up with Jonas Siegenthaler, who plays more of a stay at home defensive game. Luke Hughes will look to bounce back from a tough season that saw him struggle defensively. At this stage, he must be more consistent for the money the Devils are paying him. A gifted player with great acceleration and skill, Hughes must deliver in order for the team to be successful.

Brett Pesce will again work with Hughes. Back fully healthy, he remains the team’s best defensive defenseman. A human eraser who’s very good at preventing goals, the former Hurricane can’t have another injury-riddled year. The Devils are already thin to begin with due to the injury to Kovacevic, who when he returns should be slotted on the third pair with Dillon.

One of Mehta’s best moves was stealing Luke Evangelista from the Predators, who for some reason were unwilling to extend the playmaking forward. Evangelista is coming off a breakthrough season that saw him notch career bests in assists (44) and points (56). He had the advantage of setting up Steven Stamkos, who scored 42 goals for Nashville.

However, the 24-year-old Toronto native is an emerging player who should solidify the top six. After Mehta signed Evangelista to a five-year extension for $7.25 million, he’s slotted to play with captain Nico Hischier and Timo Meier. Perhaps he can be the key to unlocking Meier, who hasn’t fulfilled expectations despite making close to $9 million. At some point, Meier must hit the 30-goal mark. Maybe it comes this season.

Mehta also acquired Amadeus Lombardi from the Red Wings at the 2026 NHL Draft for a fourth round pick (Adam Levac). If he can continue to show off the speed and skill that he displayed in training camp, the Devils could have a steal. Lombardi made the team, beating out Boqvist and Stefan Noesen to start on the fourth line. Cody Glass will anchor one of the better checking lines. Noesen looks much healthier entering the year. He’ll play on that line with Lombardi and Boqvist due to Connor Brown placed on the injured reserve.

Once Brown gets back, he’ll play with Glass and either Lombardi or Boqvist. The Devils might have to waive a forward. Noesen has a higher salary. He makes the most sense.

In net is where it gets interesting. For now, Jake Allen is the starter. A solid 1B goalie, he put up respectable numbers last season. However, he isn’t someone that can play daily. The Devils are hoping Nico Daws can fulfill his potential. He’s never really been given an opportunity to run with it. He was a bit shaky in the preseason. If he isn’t up to the challenge, we could see Remi Poirer in net later this month.

A waiver pickup, the 24-year-old netminder has never played an NHL game. He won 27 games and posted a 2.61 goals-against-average with a .912 save percentage in the American Hockey League for the Texas Stars last season. We’ll see if Poirier becomes an x-factor with so much uncertainty surrounding the Devils goaltending.

Sheldon Keefe returns for another season behind the bench. He isn’t Mehta’s guy. Considering the upgrades that were made to the offense, there’s considerable pressure on Keefe. If for some reason the Devils struggle early on, Keefe could become a coaching casualty.

The Devils should be able to score goals. An area that became problematic when Hughes went down to the steakhouse incident, which derailed 2025-26. A healthy Hughes is capable of eclipsing 40 goals and 100 points. He’ll need more help from Bratt, who’s been in a decline the past couple of years. Expect Bratt to return to form with Hughes up and running.

The keys to the season are how well the defense plays and what happens in net. It can’t be a repeat of last year.

PREDICTION: 3rd place in Metropolitan Division