The 2025-26 NHL regular season begins on Oct. 7. Leading up to the season opener, NHL.com is identifying six things to watch for each team. Today, the New Jersey Devils.

Last season: 42-33-7, third in Metropolitan Division; lost in Eastern Conference First Round

Coach: Sheldon Keefe (second season)

Biggest challenge

Icing a healthy lineup is paramount if the Devils are to advance beyond the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs, something they've done just once (2022-23) in the past 13 seasons. Last season, forwards Jack Hughes and Ondrej Palat and defensemen Dougie Hamilton , Jonas Siegenthaler , Luke Hughes , Johnathan Kovacevic and Brenden Dillon all sustained significant injuries. Kovacevic had knee surgery in May and won't be ready for the start of the regular se

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