New Jersey Devils’ Top 5 Bounce-Back Candidates for 2026-27 – The Hockey Writers – New Jersey Devils

The New Jersey Devils’ season might have ended on a sour note, but preparations have already begun for 2026-27. After hiring new general manager (GM) Sunny Mehta, the organization signed defenseman Anton Silayev to an entry-level contract and is now on the verge of making critical first and second-round selections in the 2026 NHL Draft. A few items on their offseason to-do list include adding depth scoring, re-signing certain players, and sorting out their inconsistent goaltending.

It’s clear that the team will look slightly different heading into next season. But their road to playoff contention begins with the redemption arc of a few key players. Here’s a list of five Devils who could have a bounce-back campaign in 2026-27.

Timo Meier

Even though he finished fourth in points for the club, Timo Meier struggled throughout the season. His 44-point total and 8.9 shooting percentage (S%) marked his lowest numbers since 2020-21. But on the bright side, he surpassed the 20-goal threshold for the eighth time in his career, along with scoring five game-winning goals and six on the power play.

When taking a closer look at the numbers, it’s clear that Meier’s minor decline did not stem from a lack of effort. He ranked ninth overall in the NHL with 269 shots on goal. His 5-on-5 metrics were also impressive, featuring 28 points and 415 shot attempts. Meier simply had a hard time finishing, which also explains why he ended the season with a career-worst negative-10.9 goals above expected.

However, there’s a good chance that a solution could be hiding in plain sight. Despite being a right winger, reshuffling and line changes placed him on left wing for the majority of the season. Meier’s impact when playing on his dominant side cannot be understated. During his time with Switzerland at both the Olympics and the IIHF World Championship, he mainly played right wing — resulting in a combined total of six goals, 18 points, and a plus-16 rating in only 14 games.

The good news is that he still has plenty of time for redemption. With five years left in his current contract, it’s time for Meier to prove himself as an elite member of the Devils’ top six.

Dawson Mercer

Dawson Mercer is the second candidate who needs to bounce back. After earning a career-high of 56 points during the Devils’ record-breaking 2022-23 season, his production has been steadily rising. He finished with 20 goals and 42 points this season, including a new personal best of three shorthanded goals.

Much like the rest of the roster, he might have struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities, but he still generated them at an impressive rate. Per Natural Stat Trick, he contributed a career-high of 248 unblocked shot attempts, 212 scoring chances, and 35 rebound attempts. Likewise, he was on the ice for an average of 2.81 goals and 30.15 shots every 60 minutes.

What makes Mercer invaluable to the team is his durability. Throughout all five seasons of his NHL career, he’s played in all 82 games — which is even more impressive given the Devils’ rotten luck with injuries in recent years. His streak of 410 consecutive games even marks a new franchise record, after surpassing Travis Zajac at the end of March.

He also excels at moving within the lineup, frequently switching between center and wing depending on the team’s needs. For example, Mercer filled in at second-line center when Jack Hughes was injured. He also found success with a wide variety of linemates, skating anywhere from a middle-six slot to a top-line wing.

For next season, Mercer will likely continue his role as a versatile forward, but he must focus on consistently driving play. He needs to become a reliable depth scorer and make an impact during the final year of his contract.

Johnathan Kovacevic

Heading into next season, Johnathan Kovacevic certainly has a lot to prove. After signing a five-year extension worth $20 million last March, he suffered a knee injury in Game 3 of the 2025 Stanley Cup Playoffs and spent the offseason recovering from surgery. As a result, he was placed on long-term injured reserve (LTIR) and did not rejoin the team until January.

He posted eight assists across 34 games this season, but clearly struggled in his own end. For instance, he was on the ice for more goals against than for in 5-on-5 scenarios, while also ranking below the league average in offensive zone time, maximum skating speed, and shots on goal among all defensemen.

But Kovacevic’s absence also hindered his primary partner, Jonas Siegenthaler. The two formed an elite shutdown pairing last season, but failed to re-find that chemistry in 2025-26. He also struggled to generate chemistry with other players, which certainly didn’t help the team’s ongoing defensive breakdowns.

The hope is that Kovacevic will enter training camp with a blank slate, ready to cement his place in the Devils’ defensive core. His status as a physical, shutdown blueliner will be crucial moving forward — especially now that Dougie Hamilton and Simon Nemec’s futures in New Jersey are in question.

Moving forward, the Devils need Kovacevic to play significant minutes on the penalty kill, block shots, and be more reliable at even strength. This season was filled with injuries and obstacles, but he’ll need to rise above in 2026-27.

Stefan Noesen

Another player who’s no stranger to injuries is Stefan Noesen. The veteran right wing aggravated a previous groin injury, underwent a procedure, and missed the start of the season. He went on to put up seven points across 38 games, but was forced to address a lingering knee injury in January.

In the end, he was shut down by head coach Sheldon Keefe and underwent surgery once more, causing him to miss the remainder of the season. During his exit interview in April, he shared how the difficult campaign affected him, then stressed the importance of looking ahead and finding consistency for next season.

With one year left in his contract, the stakes will be even higher for Noesen. He was brought on as an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in 2024, and his second tenure with the Devils quickly went from career highs to all-time lows. After a 22-goal performance last season, fans’ expectations were sky-high, but Noesen’s injuries hindered his potential.

He spent all season dealing with one injury after another, so it’s only fair that he gets to start anew in 2026-27. As long as he stays healthy, he’ll fill a key spot in the Devils’ bottom six and will hopefully return to his previous status as a dependable veteran scorer.

Jacob Markstrom

My final bounce-back candidate, who is also one of the Devils’ biggest uncertainties right now, is Jacob Markstrom. His struggles began back in October, when a lower-body injury caused him to miss time. Even after returning to the lineup, his performance was a mixed bag, allowing four or more goals in 11 of his starts this season.

The issue is that when Markstrom played well, he showed flashes of being the top-notch starter the Devils needed. But other times, his numbers rapidly regressed, like when he allowed eight goals against the Colorado Avalanche or nine against the New York Islanders.

Just as he was starting to find his groove again with a few win streaks in March, Markstrom was shut down by the organization. He missed the final three games of the season to rehab nagging injuries and get a head start on the recovery process. And now, the Devils are reportedly gauging interest in the veteran goaltender, based on a report from ESPN’s Kevin Weekes.

Markstrom is entering the first season of his two-year extension, which has a 20-team no-trade list beginning July 1. The $12 million deal resulted in significant backlash for former GM Tom Fitzgerald, and it seems that Mehta is already looking to make the most of the situation.

If he’s still on the roster come opening night, the Devils will need Markstrom to have a top-tier season. His save percentage and goals-against average have been on a steady decline, so a bounce-back season could prove once and for all whether he deserves to be New Jersey’s starter.

What’s Next for the Devils?

There’s no denying that the Devils are hungry for redemption, and that expectations will be higher than ever once their roster is fully healthy. Armed with ample talent and an offseason restructure already in the works, there’s no telling what can happen next season. But if they want to be successful in making it to the playoffs, the team needs to adopt a mindset of resilience and consistency.