The New Jersey Devils' 2025-26 season ends disappointingly with another missed playoff opportunity. Despite the struggles, there were positive developments that could help the team improve in the next season.
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NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - APRIL 12: Jack Hughes #86 of the New Jersey Devils skates with the puck during the second period of a NHL game against the Ottawa Senators at Prudential Center on April 12, 2026 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Andrew Mordzynski/Getty Images) | Getty Images
The 2025-26 New Jersey Devils season will be another forgettable one in the teamās history.
With playoff aspirations and the hope of a deeper run than anything in the last decade, the team couldnāt build any consistency and as a result will miss the postseason again. Tom Fitzgerald was even let go as GM and President of Hockey Operations with part of the season still to be played due to his role in creating this mess. While the hope is that the team can turn things around with just some minor adjustments, the unfortunate fact is that until the games are played we simply donāt know how the 2026-27 Devils will be. They could look amazing on paper and be as bad as this year; conversely, they could look meh on paper and put together an amazing year.
While there will be plenty of time to forecast how 2026-27 will go, there were some things that went right in 2025-26. Today, I want to briefly acknowledge those things as well as how the Devils can build upon them to find more success next season.
Firstly, Jack Hughes was incredible after returning from the Olympics. His play from scoring the Golden Goal and beyond made it apparent that he was playing hurt upon returning from his freak dinner injury. 41 of his 77 points came in his final 25 contests. He was a point per game in the first 36 appearances, but played at a near 135 point (across 82 games) pace after the season resumed. He finished the season leading the team in points despite missing 21 games. It all goes to show how dangerous a healthy Jack is and how much the Devils need him to be healthy and in the lineup. Next season, do whatever it takes to keep him healthy. Bubble wrap him at team dinners, or when heās not on the ice, whatever it takes.
The Devils faced consistency problems and ultimately missed the playoffs, leading to the dismissal of GM Tom Fitzgerald.
Tom Fitzgerald was let go as GM and President of Hockey Operations due to the team's poor performance.
Despite the disappointing season, there were some bright spots that the Devils can leverage for improvement in the next season.
Expectations are uncertain as the team could either significantly improve or struggle again, depending on how they perform in the upcoming season.
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Next, I think Cody Glass should be acknowledged for having a strong season. Glass went through a weird situation this past summer where it was rumored the Devils wouldnāt extend him a qualifying offer, but wound up doing so and re-signed him on the second day of free agency. As a fixture of the Bottom Six, Glass provided the desired secondary offense, potting 19 goals in 70 contests, good for sixth on the team. For a guy who spent majority of the season on the third or fourth line while not necessarily having the best line mates, Glass came and did what the team needed him to do. For next season, keep him with Arseny Gritsyuk (and maybe Lenni Hameenaho if he can take a step forward developmentally) and see if a talented player (or two) being with him consistently helps to keep his offense flowing.
One last positive for today: while there are probably a couple of other players that could be highlighted (depending upon your opinions and definitions of success) Iām going to go with Jake Allen. In a season where team goaltending was bad, Allen at least gave the Devils a chance to win for most of his starts. Additionally, with save percentage down across the league, Allenās .904 was technically above league average. If the Devils got average to slightly above average goaltending nightly, theyāre probably a playoff team even with only 3/4 of a season from Jack. Next season, give Jake more than half of the games, especially if Jacob Markstrom continues to rock below average numbers. Heās obviously not a long term solution, but if the Devils canāt adjust their goaltending situation (highly unlikely that they can) they need to play the guy with better numbers more often than the guy with the higher salary.
2025-26 has mercifully drawn to a close. For the Devils organization once they figure out their management situation, they need to build around the positives. If these three keep performing as they did, and others on the team rebound, 2026-27 can be a whole lot better. Once again, it will all depends on what is done to adjust the failings and then getting out on the ice next season and playing the games.
What are your thoughts on any positives from this Devils season? Were you happy with the play of Jack, Glass and/or Allen? Does the disappointing result of the season overall wipe away any positives for you? Is there a bigger positive that you feel i missed, keeping in mind that I technically mentioned that Fitz got canned? Leave any and all comments down below and thanks as always for reading!