The New Jersey Devils’ 2026-27 roster is pretty much set, like, already. Players just reported, and media day was yesterday, but honestly, forget the usual nail-biting drama of NHL training camps. This year, for the Devils, it’s looking more like a formality, a quick warm-up before the preseason even gets going, which is itself a warm-up for the regular season. It’s wild to think about, but the way this team is structured right now, with all their offseason moves, there’s just no room for any big, unexpected surprises. This is a far cry from past NHL camps where young guys would explode onto the scene or veterans would surprisingly miss the cut. Not this time, not for this squad.
Offseason Moves Slam the Door Shut on Roster Hopefuls
The Devils absolutely crushed it in the offseason, clearly making their moves to fill out both their forward and defense groups. It’s awesome for the team’s depth and skill, no doubt, but it means the door is practically slammed shut for anyone hoping to break out of nowhere and snag an opening night spot. Think about it: they signed Anthony Mantha in free agency, brought in Evan Rodrigues, and even pulled Jesper Boqvist back from Florida. Then, they went and acquired Luke Evangelista from Nashville. That’s a minimum of four new forwards, just like that! With a shorter, four-game preseason staring them down, the coaching staff probably isn’t looking to integrate too many *other* new faces. Their focus has to be on getting these core new guys up to speed and gelling with the existing talent, not on open tryouts.
Tiny Tweaks, Zero Shocks for the Final Spots
Sure, there might be a few small details that still need ironing out. Maybe a fourth-line or press box guy currently listed at the NHL level gets swapped with someone from the AHL. We could see Vladislav Kolyachonok become the seventh defender instead of Declan Chisholm. Or hey, perhaps the Devils choose to carry three goalies, which would mean one less forward on the roster, at least to start the season. But that’s literally it. There’s no room for any major surprises, which is a bit of a bummer if you love an underdog story. This means, unfortunately for anyone wanting Anton Silaev on the opening night roster, (barring a serious slew of injuries in preseason games), he’s gonna have to wait until at least the 2027-28 season. Even players who just appeared at the team’s rookie camp, like those who faced the Islanders, aren’t expected to crack this main lineup. Guys like David Rittich and Amadeus Lombardi? They were already basically penciled in. Teams just don’t sign or trade for waiver-eligible players if they don’t intend to play them, though sometimes a third goalie gets signed and placed on waivers purely for depth.
Camp’s Mission: Chemistry, Not Competition
So, for these Devils, training camp this year is actually going to be about, well, *training*. It’ll serve as an introduction for some of the younger players, absolutely, through practices and maybe the first or even first two preseason games. But beyond that, with a shorter preparation period and that four-game preseason schedule, the team will be laser-focused on just getting all of their new pieces to mesh. It’s all about figuring out who is going to play with who and exactly where everyone fits on the depth chart. The first preseason game is already slated for this coming Sunday, and for the Devils, there simply won’t be much to figure out regarding actual roster spots. It’s all about building that championship-level chemistry from day one.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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