# @puckempire on Instagram

- **Type:** Image
- **Original URL:** https://www.instagram.com/p/Ddb-CYSFLYr
- **Gondola URL:** https://gondola.cc/posts/70658612-puckempire-instagram
- **Thumbnail:** https://img.gondola.cc/tr:w-,h-,fo-auto/postThumbnails/c70d41ad27.jpg
- **Posted:** 2026-09-18T17:26:42.000+00:00
- **Account Owner:** Puck Empire 👑 (@puckempire) — https://gondola.cc/puckempire

## Caption

Continuing on with our 2026-27 season projections, we've got the New Jersey Devils at #10, finishing third in the Metro.

New Jersey's an interesting team. Sunny Mehta has done a lot this summer to address evident needs in their top-six, bringing in Anthony Mantha AND Luke Evangelista. Paired with Bratt, Hischier, Meier & hopefully a healthy Jack Hughes, I actually think this has the potential to be an elite offensive team. Even in their bottom-six, there's scoring threats as I expect Arseny Gritsyuk to take the next step, and I'm a big fan of Dawson Mercer & Connor Brown's abilities to provide depth scoring. This team is really set offensively.

Defensively, I'm torn. I'm a big fan of Jonas Siegenthaler and think he's an elite defensive defenseman when healthy. Dougie Hamilton had a resurgence after all his trade drama and is good as well. I've never been a big Luke Hughes fan, I think defensively he's still inctedibly raw, but if paired with Pesce, I like him. I like this D-core, I just don't love it, mainly due to the fact that there's no true #1D. I think at some point during the season, we'll see Anton Silaev & Seamus Casey in there as well... just not sure when or for how long.

In net is obviously the biggest question mark for New Jersey. They've essentially got two backup goaltenders as a tandem. Now this could all change if they decide to create a package of like Mercer + a top prospect + 1sts for Hellebuyck ... but for now, goaltending could make or break this Devils team. I'm willing to bet that their elite offense + solid defense is enough to soften the blow in net, and Jake Allen can be a league average guy if he's getting close to 50% of the games, he just can't be the true starter getting 50+ games. There will be frustrating games in net for Devils fans this season tho for sure.

In the end, this Devils team is really close to being a scary contender. They benefit from being in a bad Metro division right now, but if Jack Hughes can stay healthy and they can fill out that goaltending position... watch out.

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