The 2025-26 New Jersey Devils season is over, and it ended the same way it felt like it would from January onward: without a playoff appearance, with a roster that looks a year older and no closer to a Stanley Cup than it did after the 2023 run.
Here's my honest breakdown.
Special teams were a disaster
The power play ranked 26th in the league for most of the season. This isn't new — the Devils have consistently struggled to generate high-danger chances with the man advantage — but it's become an excuse that's worn thin. When you have the offensive talent on this roster and can't convert, that's a coaching and systems problem.
The Hischier injury changed everything
Nico Hischier going down in February didn't cause the collapse, but it accelerated it. Without him setting the tone in the defensive zone, the team leaked goals at a rate that buried them in the standings. His return next year is the single biggest variable for 2026-27.
What's next
The core of Hischier, Bratt, and Hughes (Jack) is still worth building around. The question is whether the front office can address special teams without mortgaging picks — and whether the goaltending situation stabilizes. Both are genuine uncertainties.
I'm cautiously optimistic, but I've been here before.