Three reasons to be pessimistic about the New Jersey Devils in 2025-26

If the Devils don't reach their ceiling next season, these factors will likely play a big part.

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I recently dove into three reasons you should be optimistic about the New Jersey Devils and what they could accomplish in 2025-26.

Now, it’s time to flip the script and examine three reasons to be pessimistic about the Devils this coming season.

I lean more to the optimistic side but, if things don’t work out, these factors will likely play a big part.

5v5 offense

The Devils were not a good offensive team at 5v5 last year. They ranked 25th in goals per 60 minutes and in the bottom half of the league in expected goal generation.

Injuries to Jack Hughes and Dougie Hamilton didn’t help the cause, of course, but their struggles were more than just that.

Tom Fitzgerald did make several moves to try and address a lack of scoring depth. He cut plenty of dead weight when it came to generating offense and added several useful pieces in their stead.

However, the changes were quantity based more than quality based.

Fitzgerald did not add a player who ranked inside the top-110 in total 5v5 goals last season, nor did he add a player who cracked the top-150 in total 5v5 points.

Don’t get me wrong, Evgenii Dadonov and Connor Brown were solid additions; especially for the combined cost of $4 million on the cap.

Add in the arrival of well regarded prospect Arseniy Gritsyuk and the Devils’ depth certainly possesses a higher floor and ceiling offensively.

The team didn’t add a single impact piece to upgrade the offense, though, and the defense still isn’t equipped to compensate for that.

After all, Dougie Hamilton and Luke Hughes were the only defensemen on the team to produce more than 17 points.

While the 5v5 offense should be better, it’s possible the Devils don’t make as big of a leap there as needed.

A lack of center depth