New Jersey Devils overcome injuries with depth and resilience in 2025-26

The New Jersey Devils entered the 2025-26 season with high expectations and a roster built for contention. But just a few weeks into the campaign, the injury bug has tested this team in ways few could have anticipated. From key defensemen to depth forwards and even their starting goaltender, the Devils have been forced to navigate a minefield of absences. Yet instead of crumbling under the pressure, New Jersey has demonstrated something far more valuable than health: depth and resilience.

What makes the Devils’ response to adversity so impressive isn’t just that they’ve survived the early onslaught of injuries—it’s that they’ve thrived. With four consecutive wins and contributions coming from every corner of the roster, New Jersey is proving that championship teams aren’t defined by perfect health, but by their ability to adapt, compete, and find ways to win no matter who’s in the lineup.

The New Jersey Devils’ defensive corps showing strength amid injuries

Perhaps the most significant challenge facing the Devils has been on the blue line, where injuries have forced the team to lean heavily on their remaining defensemen. The long-term absence of Johnathan Kovacevic, who underwent knee surgery over the summer and isn’t expected to return until January 2026, left an immediate hole in the defensive structure. After tallying 99 blocked shots and 102 hits in his first season with New Jersey, Kovacevic had established himself as a steady, reliable presence who brought balance and composure to the right side.

Adding to the complications, promising rookie Seamus Casey was also placed on injured reserve with a lower-body injury. Casey was expected to serve as a dependable extra defenseman, providing valuable depth and taking some pressure off other young players like Simon Nemec. Instead, Nemec has been thrust into a more prominent role, logging significant minutes and facing increased responsibility.

Despite these setbacks, the Devils’ blue line has responded admirably. The defense has done an exceptional job limiting opponents’ scoring chances, particularly on the penalty kill, where New Jersey ranks among the league’s best early in the season. Players like Nemec have embraced their expanded roles, showing maturity beyond their years and accelerating their development in the process.

The defensive group’s collective effort has been crucial in keeping the Devils competitive. While there’s a legitimate concern about overextending the remaining defensemen and risking fatigue or additional injuries, the unit has held strong through the early stretch. The communication, positioning, and willingness to sacrifice their bodies have all been on display, creating a defensive identity built on trust and accountability.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe deserves credit for managing the defensive rotations effectively, ensuring that no single player is overwhelmed by the increased workload. The coaching staff has also made smart adjustments to the team’s system, emphasizing defensive zone coverage and limiting high-danger chances. This systematic approach has allowed the Devils to weather the storm while maintaining their competitive edge.

Forward group depth tested by New Jersey Devils injury woes

The Devils’ forward corps has faced its own share of adversity, with multiple key contributors sidelined at various points during the early season. Veteran winger Evgenii Dadonov suffered a hand injury during the home opener on October 9, forcing him out of the lineup just as he was building chemistry on the top line alongside Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt. Dadonov’s absence not only removed an experienced scoring option but also triggered a domino effect of lineup adjustments throughout the forward group.

Ondrej Palat initially moved up to fill Dadonov’s spot on the top line, but the chemistry proved inconsistent. The trio of Palat, Hughes, and Bratt posted an expected goals share of just 47.78 percent before Keefe wisely decided to shake things up. This type of mid-game tactical flexibility has become a hallmark of how the Devils are overcoming injuries with depth and resilience, refusing to force combinations that aren’t working.

The bottom-six forward group has been pieced together with a combination of role players and call-ups. Zack MacEwen remains on injured reserve with an upper-body injury and is expected to miss an extended period. The gritty forward brought toughness and physicality to the bottom six, and his absence has left a noticeable void in the team’s physical game. Marc McLaughlin has also been out since training camp with an undisclosed injury, further thinning the Devils’ depth options.

Stefan Noesen, who missed the start of the season, provided a major boost upon his return. Before his injury, Noesen was coming off a career year and was expected to bring energy, net-front presence, and secondary scoring to the middle six. His eventual return to the lineup gave the Devils another versatile option who can play up and down the forward ranks.

Centers Juho Lammikko and Luke Glendening have been filling third and fourth-line roles, though both have struggled at five-on-five. Lammikko has posted an expected goals share of just 37.14 percent in limited action, while Glendening sits at 35.14 percent despite winning 53.4 percent of his faceoffs. The underlying numbers suggest that the Devils have been getting outplayed in these matchups, underscoring the importance of getting healthier bodies back in the lineup.

What’s encouraging is how players like Cody Glass—when healthy—have stepped up to provide stability down the middle. The acquisition of depth pieces and the development of young forwards in the system have given New Jersey options when injuries strike. This organizational depth has been years in the making, and it’s now paying dividends when the team needs it most.

Goaltending stability crucial for New Jersey Devils overcoming injuries

The most recent and perhaps most concerning injury involves starting goaltender Jacob Markstrom, who suffered a lower-body injury during the October 13 game against the Columbus Blue Jackets. While the Devils haven’t disclosed an exact timeline, the expectation is that Markstrom will miss several weeks. For a team already dealing with injuries up and down the roster, losing your starting netminder could have been catastrophic.

Instead, the goaltending tandem of Jake Allen and Nico Daws has stepped up in impressive fashion. Allen, in particular, has been outstanding, delivering back-to-back wins against the two-time defending Stanley Cup champion Florida Panthers and the Western Conference champion Edmonton Oilers. Over that span, Allen posted a .927 save percentage, providing steady, confident goaltending that has kept the Devils competitive during a critical stretch.

This isn’t the first time Allen and Daws have been called upon to carry the load. Last season, the Devils relied on this same tandem under similar circumstances, and while the duo held their own, the team struggled to maintain consistency. This year feels different. The defense in front of them is playing with more structure and discipline, minimizing high-danger chances and making life easier for whoever is between the pipes.

Daws made his season debut in the second half of a back-to-back against the Minnesota Wild, while Allen drew the start against the Toronto Maple Leafs the night before. The tandem approach allows the Devils to manage the workload and keep both goaltenders fresh, which is crucial during a stretch where they’re playing frequently and dealing with a compressed schedule.

The defensive structure implemented by Keefe has been instrumental in supporting the goaltending depth. The Devils have tightened up their defensive zone coverage, eliminated costly turnovers, and been more disciplined in their own end. This systematic approach has created an environment where Allen and Daws can thrive, making the saves they should while getting help on the difficult chances.

Markstrom’s eventual return will be a welcome boost, but the confidence the team has built in their backup goaltenders cannot be understated. Knowing that they can win games regardless of who’s in net is a powerful psychological advantage, and it’s one of the key reasons the Devils have maintained their momentum despite the adversity.

Role players and organizational depth stepping up for the Devils

One of the most encouraging aspects of how the New Jersey Devils are overcoming injuries with depth and resilience has been the contributions from unexpected sources. When stars go down, championship contenders find secondary scoring and reliable minutes from players who might otherwise be on the fringe of the roster. The Devils have gotten exactly that kind of production throughout the early season.

Players called up from the Utica Comets have seamlessly integrated into the NHL lineup, bringing energy and a hunger to prove they belong. The organizational depth that general manager Tom Fitzgerald has built over the past several seasons is now on full display. Whether it’s a defenseman stepping into a larger role or a forward contributing on the penalty kill, the next man up mentality has become more than a cliche—it’s the team’s identity.

Simon Nemec’s accelerated development is a prime example. The young defenseman has been thrust into significant minutes due to the injuries on the blue line, and he’s responded with poise and maturity. His ability to move the puck, defend against top competition, and play in all situations has been crucial. While there were questions about whether Nemec was ready for this level of responsibility, he’s answered them emphatically.

The Devils’ success in weathering this storm also speaks to the culture that’s been established in the locker room. Veterans like Ondrej Palat, Curtis Lazar, and Jake Allen have provided steady leadership, while younger players have embraced the challenge of expanded roles. There’s a collective understanding that everyone needs to contribute, and that mentality has translated into consistent effort and execution on the ice.

The team’s recent overtime win against the Montreal Canadiens exemplified this resilience, with multiple players contributing key moments in a game that could have easily slipped away. These are the types of wins that build confidence and strengthen team chemistry, creating a foundation that will serve the Devils well as they navigate the long season ahead.

Special teams have also played a critical role in the Devils’ success during this stretch. The penalty kill has been exceptional, ranking among the league’s best and providing momentum swings when the team needs them most. The power play has generated chances and scored timely goals, keeping the Devils competitive even in games where they’ve been outplayed at five-on-five.

Looking ahead: New Jersey Devils building championship resilience

The true test of a contender isn’t how they perform when everything is going right—it’s how they respond when adversity strikes. Through the first few weeks of the 2025-26 season, the New Jersey Devils have proven they possess the depth, character, and resilience required to compete at the highest level. The injuries to key players across every position group could have derailed their season before it truly began, but instead, the Devils have reeled off four consecutive wins and established themselves as a legitimate threat in the Metropolitan Division.

What makes this stretch so impressive is that it’s sustainable. The Devils aren’t relying on career years from unlikely sources or goaltenders standing on their heads every night. Instead, they’re playing structured, disciplined hockey that emphasizes team defense, timely scoring, and special teams execution. This is a system that works regardless of who’s in the lineup, and it’s exactly the kind of foundation championship teams are built on.

As players like Kovacevic, Dadonov, and Markstrom work their way back to health, the Devils will only get stronger. The experience gained by younger players like Nemec, the confidence built by goaltenders like Allen and Daws, and the chemistry developed by new line combinations will all be valuable assets as the season progresses. Rather than viewing this injury-plagued stretch as a setback, the Devils can look at it as an opportunity to discover what they’re truly capable of.

The Metropolitan Division is as competitive as any in the NHL, with multiple teams capable of making deep playoff runs. The Devils’ ability to bank points during this challenging stretch could prove crucial come playoff time. Every win matters, and the resilience this team is showing now is building the mental toughness required for postseason success.

If the New Jersey Devils can maintain this level of play and continue to find contributions from throughout the roster, they won’t just survive the injury bug—they’ll emerge as a more complete, battle-tested team ready to make a serious run at the Stanley Cup. The depth is there, the talent is there, and now the Devils are proving the resilience is there too. That’s a dangerous combination for the rest of the league.