The 2025-26 NHL season has already kicked off. The New Jersey Devils, specifically, dropped the puck Thursday evening. In the spirit of the beginning of the season, let’s run through some superlative predictions.
The Awards
MVP – Nico Hischier
The Devils have no shortage of talent up front. Between Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, Nico Hischier, and Timo Meier, those are the big guns that the club will rely on for offense. Hughesis clearly the easy answer for the team’s most valuable player. Him being healthy goes a very long way for this team having success and fulfilling their goal of winning the Stanley Cup. However, the team’s captain is a strong choice as well.
Hischier has been the definition of consistency, as he has had 60-plus points in each of the last four seasons. During the 2024-25 year, he set a career-high in goals (35), while still being a premiere playmaker. He was a key cog in the machine on the power play, having 29 total points (career high). Hischier was an effective player last season, having a Corsi-for percentage (CF%) of 54.68, an expected goals for (xGF%) percentage of 54.80, and even a high danger Corsi-for percentage of 55.86. Only Bratt factored into more high-danger goals than Hischier.
This is a Devils team looking to get over the hump in the playoffs and they’ll lean on their captain to doing so. He put on size this offseason, so a big season is coming.
Defenseman of the Year – Dougie Hamilton
When the Devils signed Dougie Hamilton, it gave them a pillar on the back end they were sorely lacking. A veteran presence that could help lead the way on the back end and be the anchor. Sadly, injuries have plagued his tenure in The Garden State, but when he is healthy he is a weapon and a better defenseman than fans want to give him credit for.
His lone fully healthy season (2022-23) saw Hamilton score 22 goals and notch 74 points in what was a career-year. Hamilton has a cannon of a shot and played the hero more times than not with seven game-winning goals. He missed majority of the 2023-24 season and some of last year, but this is the year we get a healthy Hamilton and a stellar season because of it.
He’s also a decent defender. Maybe not Norris Trophy winning level, but serviceable in his own end. Outside last season, he usually ends the year about average in terms of defensiveon-ice impacts.
Hamilton will be a difference maker and for a blue line that definitely will welcome it. His health is a huge determining factor in the Devils 2025-26 season.
Breakout Player – Simon Nemec
What the team has in Luke Hughes is well documented. He is an offensive minded defenseman who excels greatly in transition. Good things can happen with the puck on his stick, but he needs to round out his game overall and really take the next step. Another defenseman, who is poised for a breakout, is the youngster Simon Nemec.
With Johnathan Kovacevic starting the year on the injured reserve, it opens the door for Nemec to slot in and further cement himself as an everyday player. Nemec was thrown to the wolves during the 2023-24 season, seeing him take on a larger role due to the injuries that piled up. During the 2024-25 season, he played just 27 games. However, toward the end of the year, his game took meaningful strides as he delivered a game-winning goal during the Stanley Cup Playoffs against the Hurricanes.
Nemec does have the offensive tools to be an effective player and if he can hone in his defensive skills it’ll go a long ways for his development. Last season as a whole was certainly a disappointing one. However, if the end of the year was any type of foreshadow, he may take a massive leap this year.
Most Improved Player – Dawson Mercer
This feels right. Dawson Mercer is a player that has captured the attention of Devils fans for numerous reasons. His rookie season he gave the coaching staff every reason to keep him on the roster. Also, he is the pure iron man, playing all 82 games over his four seasons as a professional. Even though this team has the horses up front, seeing an improved year from Mercer should be in the works.
The good news is he is a player that has at least surpassed 30 points in every season and set a career high in goals and points during the 2022-23 season. While he is a lock for at least 20 goals, seeing him produce more and more goes a long ways to having success in this lineup. Mercer is a lock for second line duties, while swapping to the third line if the team needs a jolt.
Mercer can play a huge role on this team. Fans have seen what he is capable of and effort is not a concern. Producing more and improving his overall game makes this team much deeper and less of a concern come trade deadline when searching for added scoring.
Biggest Addition – Arseny Gritsyuk
Evgenii Dadonov is going to be an underrated player for the top two lines this season. He is a player that has five 20 goal season and is coming off a 20 goal season a year ago. However, the Devils need a jolt when it comes to depth scoring and that’s why rookie Arseny Gritsyuk is going to be the clubs biggest addition. He’s finally here and it’s going to make a very big impact.
You saw what he’s made of during the preseason and checks off all the boxes that this club needs. He can skate, make plays, and most importantly has a lethal shot. During the preseason, Gritsyuk scored two goals and had three assists (all primary). Four of his five points came at five-on-five play, which is crucial.
While his CF% was evenly distributed at around 50%, he controlled the expected goals share when on the ice at 54.87 at five on five. Gristyuk will improve the depth scoring for this offense throughout the season and also help improve the power play. Sure, the Devils had the third ranked power play (28.2% success rate), but it slowed down with the Hughes injury. Adding another scoring threat goes a long ways and he will be their biggest addition.
Unsung Hero – Paul Cotter
Who doesn’t love the unsung hero? Every team has one and you always have those guys come through that you least expect. For the Devils, a potential unsung hero for the 2024-25 season could be Paul Cotter.
He got off to a rocking start last year, having 12 points in the team’s first 19 games. Then he went completely ice cold and was scoreless through the next 15. He never had more than three points in a calendar month, but he can bring something to the table.
Cotter is physical and he has shown in prior seasons that he has a scoring touch and can produce at the bottom of the lineup. He is a pest to play against, so if he can get off to a hot start like he did during the 2024-25 season, he’s a player I’m looking for to be the unsung hero of this roster.
An honorable mention would be Cody Glass. A solid depth guy that plays the game the right way and executes.