The New Jersey Devils failed to make the playoffs in the 2025 season, leading to the firing of general manager Tom Fitzgerald. New hire Sunny Mehta faces critical decisions to revitalize the team for the 2026 offseason.
Key points
New Jersey Devils finished 42-37-3 in the 2025 season
Failed to make the playoffs due to injuries and player regression
Tom Fitzgerald was fired as general manager
Sunny Mehta is the new general manager
The team aims to improve for the 2026 offseason
Mentioned in this story
Tom FitzgeraldSunny MehtaJack Hughes
New Jersey DevilsFlorida PanthersEdmonton Oilers
The New Jersey Devils (42-37-3) tried to build off their Stanley Cup Playoff appearance in the 2024-25 season. With star talent such as Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt already on the roster, general manager Tom Fitzgerald didnât do much besides signing Edmonton Oilers middle-six center Connor Brown. The hope was that with the continued emergence of young talent, the Devils could compete for the Metropolitan Division lead.
Instead, the Devils failed to make the playoffs due to a stacked Eastern Conference, a mid-season injury to Jack Hughes, and regression from several key players. They became stuck in no-manâs land, resulting in the Devils firing Tom Fitzgerald. Theyâve already hired a replacement in Florida Panthers executive Sunny Mehta, but heâll have a pivotal offseason coming up to try to get the Devils back to playoff contention.
Whatâs Sheldon Keefeâs fate?
New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe speaks to media at Prudential Center
New Jersey Devils head coach Sheldon Keefe speaks to media at Prudential Center
The Devils hired Sheldon Keefe in the 2024 offseason to improve their sluggish scoring outputs. In the 2024-25 season, it worked. Nico Hischier scored a career-high 35 goals, and Jesper Bratt had a career-high 88 points. Unfortunately, with Jack Hughes suffering a season-ending injury on March 2, 2025, that dashed the Devilsâ Stanley Cup ambitions.
Q&A
Why did the New Jersey Devils miss the playoffs in 2025?
The Devils missed the playoffs due to a stacked Eastern Conference, a mid-season injury to Jack Hughes, and regression from key players.
Who is the new general manager of the New Jersey Devils?
The new general manager of the New Jersey Devils is Sunny Mehta, previously an executive with the Florida Panthers.
What changes are expected for the New Jersey Devils in the 2026 offseason?
The Devils are expected to undergo significant changes as Sunny Mehta aims to improve the team's performance and return to playoff contention.
What impact did Jack Hughes' injury have on the Devils' season?
Jack Hughes' injury was a significant factor in the Devils' inability to compete effectively, contributing to their failure to reach the playoffs.
Related Articles
Sports
Papers: Maresca in Man City talks as Pep emerges as candidate for Italy job
Enzo Maresca is in talks with Manchester City as Pep Guardiola emerges as a candidate for the Italy national team job.
Sky Sports··1 min read
NBA·Injury Update
Rockets star Kevin Durant sits out Game 3 vs. Lakers with ankle sprain
Kevin Durant misses Game 3 against Lakers due to ankle sprain.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
Soccer
El padre de Endrick: "En el Madrid le quitaron su parque de diversiones"
El padre de Endrick: 'En el Madrid le quitaron su parque de diversiones'
Marca··1 min read
NFL
Who should Packers pick in second round? Here's what you said
Fans suggest cornerback for Packers' second round pick in 2026 NFL Draft
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NFL
Who should Packers pick in second round? Here's what you said
Fans suggest Packers should pick a cornerback in the 2026 NFL Draft.
Yahoo Sports··1 min read
NFL
Jets prepared to benefit from Cowboys trade in NFL Draft
Jets set to gain from Cowboys trade during 2026 NFL Draft.
Unfortunately, the offense regressed in 2025-26. No one on the team notched over 30 goals, although Jack Hughes wouldâve definitely been on pace to reach it if he played a full 82 games. Guys like Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier regressed, and the youth didnât develop either.
With Keefeâs boss gone, does that mean he gets the axe too? New general managers usually like going with their own bench boss, but if Mehtaâs goal is to retool the Devils back to playoff contention, I could see him keeping Keefe around.
The Devils also acquired Jacob Markstrom from the Calgary Flames in the 2024 offseason to signify that they were in win-now mode. They signed a two-year, $12 million extension that begins next season too.
Markstrom performed well in his first year with the Devils, earning a .900 save percentage from the 2024-25 season. However, this season was a disaster in the net for him, falling to a .883 save percentage.
Markstrom is 36 years old, so the worry is that heâs lost a step due to age. Even then, his 35-year-old goaltender teammate Jake Allen is still performing well. He had a .903 save percentage last season.
Do the Devils find a replacement before Markstromâs extension kicks in? Theyâve had 25-year-old Nico Daws waiting in the wings. Heâll be a restricted free agent after this summer. They could also pivot to 2024 second-round pick Mikhail Yegorov when Markstromâs extension is done. Yegorov finished his second season at Boston University. Regardless, New Jersey will need to solve their goaltending quandary this offseason.
How do the Devils go all-in?
The Devils are in win-now mode, despite what last seasonâs record might suggest. They have the high-end talent in the forward core to compete with the best teams in the league, but they might need to go harder in that direction to achieve their true potential.
That will come in making difficult decisions about their draft capital and prospect pool. I could see the Devils dangling their first-round pick, which is more than likely going to be in the teens. There are some appealing prospects they could have a shot at drafting, such as Viggo Bjorck, who is undersized but talented enough to go in the top seven. Still, they should definitely find a way to trade that pick.
Guys like defenseman Simon Nemec and winger Dawson Mercer shouldnât be unprotected either. Nemec, whoâs just 24 made some great strides offensively, recording 11 goals and 15 assists through 68 games. However, he still hasnât found his defensive game yet, and heâd be tantalizing for any rebuilding team in need of young defenseman.
Mercer, still just 24, already has plenty of NHL experience. He is a consistent 20-goal, 40-point forward who has never missed a game and grinds his tail off. However, heâs plateaued since his sophomore season, where he scored 27 goals and notched 29 assists in 82 games.
A package of Mercer, Nemec, and the Devilsâ first-rounder should be enough to net them another talented, young forward. Matthew Knies, Robert Thomas, and Jordan Kyrou are the names that stand out to me immediately.
They could also look for a defenseman to headline their jumbled defense, especially with Dougie Hamilton potentially on the move. Vince Dunn of the Seattle Kraken would be an interesting trade target, depending on whether the Kraken embrace a full rebuild.
