New Jersey Devils depth scoring slump 2025-26 season: What’s causing the bottom-six drought?

The New Jersey Devils depth scoring slump 2025-26 season has become the franchise’s most pressing concern as they navigate another campaign with championship aspirations. After addressing goaltending and defensive stability in previous offseasons, general manager Tom Fitzgerald now confronts a stark reality: the team’s bottom six forwards have become an offensive black hole that’s threatening to derail their entire season. What began as a concerning trend in late 2024 has evolved into a full-blown systemic crisis, with depth players consistently failing to chip in during crucial moments.

While the Devils boast one of the league’s most dangerous top-line trios, their inability to generate offense from lines three and four has created a predictable and stoppable attack. Opponents can key in on neutralizing Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, and Jesper Bratt, knowing that the remaining forward corps poses minimal scoring threat. This imbalance has transformed what should be a deep, dangerous roster into a top-heavy unit that’s one injury away from catastrophe.

The bottom-six offensive black hole: A statistical nightmare

The numbers paint a damning picture of New Jersey’s forward depth crisis. Since the Christmas break, the Devils’ bottom-six forwards have combined for just 12 even-strength goals, a figure that places them 29th in the NHL over that span. When Dawson Mercer leads your depth scoring with a modest 7 goals in 40 games, you have a fundamental problem with roster construction and execution.

The underlying metrics are even more alarming. Natural Stat Trick data reveals that Devils depth forwards have generated a paltry 1.89 expected goals per 60 minutes at 5-on-5 play, the third-worst rate among playoff contenders. Their combined shooting percentage sits at 5.4 percent, suggesting both poor finishing talent and a lack of high-quality scoring chances. The team’s fourth line, typically centered by Curtis Lazar or Justin Dowling, has been outscored 2-9 in their limited minutes, turning what should be energy shifts into defensive liabilities.

Key underperformers in the depth lines

Paul Cotter’s regression represents the most disappointing development in the Devils depth scoring slump 2025-26 season. After a promising 15-goal campaign in 2023-24, the 25-year-old forward has managed just 3 goals in 38 games, seeing his ice time dwindle from 14 minutes per game to under 10. His underlying numbers show a player who’s lost confidence, passing up shooting opportunities and forcing plays that aren’t there.

Tomas Tatar, signed as a veteran presence who could pot 15 goals, has been invisible for months. The 34-year-old winger has just 4 goals on the season and looks every bit his age, unable to separate from defenders or win puck battles along the boards. His expected goals total of 6.2 suggests he’s not even generating quality looks anymore, a death sentence for a player whose salary cap hit could be allocated elsewhere.

The fourth line has been particularly problematic. Nathan Bastian and Kurtis MacDermid were supposed to provide physicality with occasional offense, but they’ve combined for 1 goal in 45 games while consistently hemorrhaging shot attempts against. MacDermid’s presence has become especially curious—his zero fights since mid-November and constant defensive zone starts have made him a liability that head coach Sheldon Keefe can ill afford.

Why the Devils depth scoring slump 2025-26 season is more than just bad luck

While shooting percentage variance certainly plays a role in any prolonged scoring drought, the New Jersey Devils depth scoring slump 2025-26 season stems from deeper organizational failings. The front office’s philosophy of pairing aging veterans with unproven youth has created a “competency gap” where neither group complements the other’s strengths. Veterans like Tatar and Haula lack the speed to keep up with the Devils’ transition game, while younger players like Cotter and Brian Halonen haven’t developed the hockey IQ to make smart plays in the offensive zone.

The system’s demands on bottom-six players have also created a catch-22 situation. Sheldon Keefe asks his third and fourth lines to play responsible, low-event hockey, focusing on dump-ins and board battles rather than creative zone entries. This conservative approach suppresses offense by design, yet when these players inevitably fail to score, they’re criticized for lacking finish. It’s a no-win scenario that has crushed player confidence and made lineup changes feel like rearranging deck chairs.

The aging roster construction problem

The Devils depth scoring slump 2025-26 season reflects a broader roster construction philosophy that prioritized experience over upside. With an average age of 29.4 years, New Jersey ranks as the fifth-oldest team in the NHL—a dramatic shift from their 2023-24 roster that averaged just 26.8 years old. This veteran-heavy approach was supposed to provide stability and playoff experience, but it’s instead created a logjam of declining players on immovable contracts.

Eleven Devils skaters are age 30 or older, including all three of their primary third-line options. This aging core has shown little ability to adapt to the league’s increasing emphasis on speed and skill from depth lines. While teams like Buffalo and Detroit run out youthful bottom sixes that skate opponents into the ground, the Devils trot out plodding veterans whose best hockey is clearly behind them.

Even more concerning is the opportunity cost. Every roster spot occupied by a declining veteran is one less chance to develop a potential solution from within. The Devils cope with an early-season injury wave by leaning on organizational depth and a resilient lineup to continue winning, but this resilience has masked the underlying scoring deficiency that becomes apparent when everyone is healthy.

Potential solutions for New Jersey’s depth scoring woes

Addressing the New Jersey Devils depth scoring slump 2025-26 season requires a multi-pronged approach that acknowledges both short-term playoff pressures and long-term organizational health. The trade deadline looms as the most obvious intervention point, but internal adjustments could provide immediate relief while the front office explores external options.

Internal options and prospect integration

The most pragmatic solution involves finally trusting the organization’s prospect pipeline. Utica Comets leading scorer Brian Halonen has earned an extended NHL look after posting 18 goals in 32 AHL games. His north-south playing style and willingness to shoot could provide the offensive spark the fourth line desperately needs. Similarly, 22-year-old winger Tyler Powell, acquired in last season’s Palmieri deal, has shown improved two-way play and might benefit from sheltered NHL minutes.

Simon Nemec’s development presents another intriguing internal option. While primarily a defenseman, his offensive instincts and ability to jump into the rush could make him a candidate for limited forward experiments, particularly on the power play where the Devils could use another shooting threat. Simon Nemec’s breakout season with the 2025-26 New Jersey Devils marks a significant turnaround from his sophomore slump, and tapping into his offensive creativity might help unlock depth scoring from unexpected sources.

The Devils must also consider tactical adjustments. Allowing their third line to play with more aggression—emphasizing zone entries over dump-ins and giving them power-play time to build confidence—could unlock latent offensive potential. The current system’s rigidity has stifled creativity, and a more permissive approach might be necessary to salvage the season.

Trade targets and external acquisitions

If internal solutions prove insufficient, the trade market offers several intriguing possibilities. Seattle’s Eeli Tolvanen represents the ideal depth addition—he’s a 26-year-old winger on a reasonable $3.475 million cap hit who has posted consecutive 20-goal seasons while playing primarily third-line minutes. His combination of size, shooting ability, and defensive responsibility would immediately upgrade the Devils’ bottom six.

Buffalo’s Alex Tuch looms as the dream acquisition, though his availability remains questionable. The 28-year-old power forward has three years remaining at $4.75 million annually and would provide the exact blend of scoring touch and physicality the Devils’ third line lacks. His ability to win puck battles and drive to the net would complement New Jersey’s skill players while providing standalone offensive production.

More realistic options include Anaheim’s Mason Morelli, a pending unrestricted free agent having a breakout season, or Edmonton’s Warren Foegele, who could be squeezed out by the Oilers’ cap constraints. Both players would cost minimal assets while providing the 15-20 goal upside the Devils desperately need from their depth.

What the Devils depth scoring slump means for 2025-26 playoff hopes

The New Jersey Devils depth scoring slump 2025-26 season has transformed the team’s playoff trajectory from confident contender to precarious participant. With the Metropolitan Division tighter than ever, the Devils’ inability to get secondary scoring has dropped them from potential division winners to wildcard scrappers. Their current pace projects to 92 points—typically enough for postseason qualification but hardly the championship foundation they envisioned.

The scoring imbalance creates a domino effect that impacts every facet of the game. Opponents can超载 their top defensive pairings against Hughes and Hischier, knowing that even if they give up some offense, the Devils’ bottom lines won’t capitalize on easier matchups. This concentration of defensive attention has also suppressed the top line’s production, as Jack Hughes’s point-per-game pace has dipped to 0.87 since Christmas, down from his torrid 1.15 start to the season.

Perhaps most concerning is the physical toll this imbalance takes on the stars. With the bottom six providing no offensive relief, Hughes, Hischier, and Bratt are averaging 22+ minutes per night, increasing their injury risk as the season wears on. The 2025 playoffs promise to be more physically demanding than ever with the revised scheduling format, and burning out the stars before mid-April would be organizational malpractice.

The Devils have scheduled 16 more games before the trade deadline, a stretch that will define their season. If the bottom six can provide even league-average production during this period, New Jersey can maintain their playoff positioning and approach the deadline as buyers rather than desperate sellers. If the slump continues, Fitzgerald may be forced to overpay for marginal upgrades, mortgaging future assets to salvage a season that’s slipping away.

The New Jersey Devils depth scoring slump 2025-26 season represents a critical test for the franchise’s entire developmental and evaluation philosophy. While top-heavy rosters can succeed in the regular season, championship teams consistently receive postseason contributions from unexpected sources. The Devils must find solutions—whether through prospect promotion, tactical overhaul, or targeted trades—or risk wasting another year of their young core’s prime. With the Metropolitan Division’s competitive landscape showing no signs of mercy, the time for experimentation has passed. New Jersey needs production from lines three and four, and they need it immediately.