NEWARK — As training camp approaches, the New Jersey Devils are confronting two clear, interlinked questions that will shape their season: can their franchise center remain on the ice, and will the team find dependable goaltending after moving on from Jacob Markström?
Hughes’ availability defines the ceiling
Jack Hughes, 25, remains the central figure for a Devils roster that is built around his playmaking and offensive drive. When Hughes is available, New Jersey’s offense looks markedly different; when he’s absent, results have suffered.
Last season Hughes recorded 77 points (27 goals, 50 assists) in 61 games, but the club compiled an 8-13-0 record without him. Durability has been an issue across multiple campaigns: he missed 21 games last season, including an 18-game stretch caused by a hand injury, and then sat out an additional three games due to a lower-body issue before the 2026 Winter Olympics. The season before that he missed 25 games after shoulder surgery, and he has played more than 62 regular-season contests only once since entering the NHL in 2019-20.
The lone full-ish season that showed the upside came in 2022-23, when Hughes posted 99 points in 78 games as the Devils reached the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. That campaign is the template coaches and executives point to when discussing what New Jersey can become if Hughes can stay healthy through the regular season and into the postseason.
What does ‘healthy’ mean for the Devils?
Management and coaches do not necessarily need Hughes to play every game, but there is a practical threshold: availability for roughly 70 games and entering the playoffs in good condition. With linemates and teammates such as Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, Luke Hughes and addition Anthony Mantha, the Devils have secondary scoring and depth to support their star. But the difference between being a marginal playoff team and a legitimate contender, according to the club’s own performance splits, tracks directly to Hughes’ presence.
Crease questions after Markström trade
New Jersey’s decision to trade veteran goaltender Jacob Markström has left a notable vacancy in net. The move removed the experienced stabilizer, shifting responsibility to a group featuring Jake Allen, Nico Daws and David Rittich. At 36, Allen is expected to open the season as the starter and offers know-how; the bigger uncertainty centers on Daws, a younger netminder who represents the potential swing factor for the Devils’ goals-against profile.
General manager Sunny Mehta has signaled confidence in the current mix, but the unit no longer carries the same built-in steadiness Markström provided. How the goaltending rotation performs over the first months will influence roster moves and possible deadline activity.
How these two issues connect
The health of Hughes and reliability in goal are not independent problems. A team that can consistently roll four lines and protect leads relies on both offensive firepower and a dependable crease. If Hughes misses time, the margin for error shrinks and the pressure on the defense and goaltenders grows. Conversely, if goaltending is inconsistent, the club will need greater scoring output from its forwards to compensate.
- Key offensive contributors: Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, Luke Hughes, Anthony Mantha.
- Primary goaltenders: Jake Allen (expected starter), Nico Daws, David Rittich.
- Management: General manager Sunny Mehta.
Season benchmarks to watch
Several measurable indicators will tell whether the Devils are trending toward contention or mediocrity:
| Benchmark | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Jack Hughes games played (target ~70) | Availability of the team’s primary playmaker; correlates with team wins |
| Team save percentage | Reflects goaltending competence after Markström’s departure |
| Record without Hughes | Measures depth and ability to withstand absences |
If the Devils can keep Hughes healthy for the bulk of the campaign and if one of Allen or Daws can provide reliable netminding, New Jersey’s roster construction suggests a team capable of pushing deeper into the playoffs. If either of those pieces falters, the club risks slipping back into a stretch of inconsistent results that blunt the impact of its offensive talent.
The early weeks of the season — and the health reports that come from practice and medical staff — will offer the clearest signals about where the Devils stand. For fans in Newark and across New Jersey, those updates will determine whether optimism remains hopeful or becomes cautious.
— Rohan Iyer, State Correspondent
