It’s eight games into the 2026-27 NHL season. So, how do we feel about the New Jersey Devils? No, really, how does everyone feel about this team? Honestly, it’s hard to read much into this team one way or another. 

It’s where this week’s Devils Notebook starts. The Devils look like an average team. It’s not good or bad, but it’s hard to make sense of this team. They look different from a roster perspective, with new players in key roles, yet they look like a similar team to the ones from the past: not good enough to compete for the Stanley Cup and not bad enough to be in a lottery spot. 

Eight Games In & The Devils Are Average: What Does That Mean In The Big Picture?

No matter how you dice or slice it, the Devils are, as the kids say, “mid” (if the kids are still saying that). It’s only eight games in, which is a small sample size. However, it’s enough to get a sense of how this team looks and where they might stack up by the end of the season. 

The Devils are 4-4 overall. They are 2-2 against their division, split the two games against their Western Conference opponents (the Utah Mammoth and Vancouver Canucks), and are 3-3 against the Eastern Conference. It doesn’t get more average than that. 

And it’s hard to deny that the Devils fit right into the middle of the NHL. Are they a top team in the league, one that can beat the best in a playoff series? No. Are they a bottom feeder, a team fighting with the Canucks, Calgary Flames, and Philadelphia Flyers for lottery position? Also, no. 

Devils Defensive Woes Are Becoming A Red Flag: Should Mehta Address It?The 4-2 loss on Saturday afternoon was another display of the shortcomings on the defensive end. The Devils must find fixes. The question is whether the fix comes from within or if a change is needed.

The Devils have an exciting forward group led by Jack Hughes, Jesper Bratt, and Nico Hischier that can take over games and carry them all season. Conversely, the defense has been a weakness, while the goaltending has disappointed. Add it all up, and the plusses cancel out the minuses, leaving the Devils in the middle of the pack. 

Based on how the season plays out, it will be fascinating to see where an average Devils team stacks up in the division, the conference, and the NHL. They aren’t better than the Carolina Hurricanes or the Washington Capitals (Saturday’s 4-2 drubbing was a case in point). That said, they’ll be in a fight with their New York rivals and the Pittsburgh Penguins for that third spot in the division, which someone might back their way into. 

The good news is that the Devils are only eight games into the season. It’s still early, and a lot will change. An average team is only a short-term issue for the Devils. If this trend continues, of course, then the big-picture questions must be asked about this roster, and the core specifically. 

Gritsyuk, Meier & A Handful Of Devils Are Heating Up At The Right Time

The line change at the start of the week changed everything for the Devils, specifically their offense. It’s not a coincidence that the Devils scored 19 goals in their last five games (3.80 per game) and have won games because of their forwards. 

Devils Offense Finally Sets The Tone: Can They Do So All Season? A seven-goal game against the New York Rangers, which they controlled from the start, suggests they can set the tone and control the play in games. Is their scoring surge sustainable throughout the season?

Arseny Gritsyuk moved to the Hughes line and started to find his footing. It makes sense since he’s a fast-skating winger who keeps up with Hughes and Bratt while feeding into their rush game. Gritsyuk has three goals in the last four games and has made the most of the open looks that come from playing alongside two skilled forwards. 

At the end of the recent game against the Capitals, Timo Meier found the back of the net for his first goal of the season. It’s viewed as a garbage-time goal or meaningless in a 4-2 defeat, but goals like those go a long way for a player like Meier. Like Gritsyuk, he’s building up his confidence, and as a scorer, goals come in bunches. A few more might be around the corner, and it will make a difference for the Devils' top six. 

It’s also fascinating to see whether the depth scoring remains or drops off. Anthony Mantha, who started the season on the Hughes line, was moved to the Evan Rodrigues line, and it gave the Devils a viable third line. Luke Evangelista, who was a pivotal part of the top six before he was sidelined with an illness, hopes to pick up where he left off as he looks to return to action this week. 

The Devils Reconfigured Lines Work & Might Change The Season’s Outlook The Devils saw their offense explode in recent games and it comes after some adjustments from head coach Sheldon Keefe. Not only do the lines work, but they might also change the outlook for the season.

Ideally, the Devils have scoring depth that can step up when the star players aren’t delivering. This season, it looks like they have it. 

Making Sense Of Some Devils Analytics 

One scout noted a few weeks into the season that the Devils are passing the puck and not shooting it on net. From a visual perspective, it looks that way more often than not, as the Devils will pass the puck through the offensive zone and into high-danger areas. 

According to NHL Edge, the Devils are tied with the Utah Mammoth for the second-most high-danger shots in the league with 88. That should result in more goals, right? After all, the Mammoth average 3.67 goals per game, the seventh-most in the NHL. 

The problem is that the Devils’ shooting percentage in high-danger areas is 13.6%, which is 26th in the NHL. The Devils' shooting percentage is also well below the league average in all areas, as they score on 8.9% of attempts, which is 28th in the NHL. It's why the Devils average 3.13 goals per game despite generating plenty of scoring chances on most nights (that's tied for 14th in the league for those wondering). 

In short, the Devils are creating their chances and not finishing them. It ties back to the same issues they’ve had in the past. They have the playmakers but not the finishers. They can pass the puck into high-danger areas, but they won’t shoot there. While Hischier sets the tone, as a center who gets to the net front and powers home goals (all four of his goals this season have come from high-danger areas), the rest of the team follow suit. So far, they haven’t, and it’s a big-picture issue with the Devils. 

Quick Hits

After playing half of their first eight games within the division, the Devils have a heavy Western Conference slate ahead. The next eight games are against Western Conference teams, including two meetings against the Colorado Avalanche. 

These are the teams that the Devils don’t see often and aren’t familiar with. It’s why this is the best time of the season to play them. They’ll wrap up their season series against the Avalanche while they are still figuring things out on their roster. It’s best for the Devils to face their divisional opponents later in the season, when the games are more consequential. 

The Utica Comets have only played four games so far and will only play seven in October. The American Hockey League affiliate for the Devils has a light start to the season, which is fascinating considering the heavy schedule most teams face early on. The contrast is the Hartford Wolf Pack, who already have eight games under their belt. 

One conversation at the arena was about how the rest of the NHL is getting better while the Devils have stayed in the same spot. While the offseason moves upgraded this team, there’s some truth to the rest of the league catching up with the Devils. Their strengths, notably their speed and skill, aren’t significant advantages anymore. The rest of the league has speed that can keep up with them. Likewise, teams are built to defend those burners like Bratt and Hughes. The game against the Capitals was another reminder of that. 

Hughes scored his second overtime winner of the season in the 5-4 win over the Red Wings. Interestingly, he has yet to score a five-on-five goal, or a goal in regulation, for that matter. Presumably, that will change soon. 

What’s on your mind from the past week? What will you keep an eye on in the upcoming matchups? Comment below!

Although they now have the first win of the season under their belts, it will be difficult for the Philadelphia Flyers to build or otherwise sustain momentum with the number of injuries they are dealing with.

Rasmus Ristolainen has been out since Oct. 3 with an upper-body injury, while Cam York and Travis Konecny have each been out of commission since the Oct. 8 game against the Ottawa Senators.

NBC Sports Philadelphia's Jordan Hall reported that Ristolainen and York skated separate from the rest of the team ahead of Sunday's Flyers practice, but the Flyers still don't have an update on Konecny.

Owen Tippett, who sat out Saturday night's 3-1 win against Ottawa with an upper-body injury, wasn't at practice on Sunday, and he wasn't the only one.

Although both players finished Saturday night's game, Sean Couturier and Tyson Foerster weren't on the ice for Sunday's practice, and Flyers head coach Rick Tocchet wouldn't commit to either player being available for Monday night's game against the visiting Colorado Avalanche.

Foerster blocked a shot off his hand in the first period against Ottawa and went down the tunnel immediately, but returned for the second period and toughed the night out.

"We evaluated him after, he couldn't have gone on the ice today. We'll see how he is tomorrow. Another game-time guy," Tocchet said.

The ailment Couturier is dealing with is less apparent, and the Flyers' captain conducted his postgame media availability on Saturday night as normal, something that is highly unusual for injured players or players who need treatment after a game.

"He got banged up, same thing. We're in that stretch right now. We're getting injuries. I don't know if they're playing tomorrow, so it's one of those things," Tocchet added. "We'll see how it goes tomorrow."

Flyers have nightmare matchup on tap

The Flyers were already struggling with and without injuries, and now they've gotten further injuries to add to what is now a CVS receipt.

On Monday, they'll have to face the high-flying Avalanche, the team with the third-most goals in the NHL (36) behind Edmonton (37) and Vegas (42).

The Avalanche, of course, boast star talents like Nathan MacKinnon, Martin Necas, and Cale Makar, and the Flyers will have to defend against them without two top-four defensemen in Ristolainen and York.

And, in terms of keeping the game within reach, both Dan Vladar and Joseph Woll have been good for the Flyers this season in goal, but will whoever starts against Colorado be good enough to buoy a team that ranks last in the NHL with 1.4 goals scored per game?

Having just earned their first victory of the season, the Flyers are back in business for now, but much work is still left to be done, starting on Monday night. 

It’s been a tough road trip for the Penguins, three games have resulted in three losses. Suddenly the type of adversity the team saw last December has showed up earlier in the season this time around.

“It’s on us. It’s on us together,” coach Dan Muse said after last night’s 6-2 loss to Vegas. “We can’t be feeling bad for ourselves. It’s on all of us, myself included. So, together as a group, we got to dig in. We have to find consistency in our game. There’s a lot coming off of tonight that we have to clean up from a structural standpoint, across the board, a number of things.”

Sidney Crosby repeated much the same sentiment.

“Nobody likes to lose,” Crosby said. “We know there’s areas we got to improve on. We’ve got to fix it quick.”

A 1-5-1 slide over the last seven games has sent the Penguins down towards the bottom of the standings. They better get to cleaning up soon.

The good news for the Pens is that after Monday night’s game against Utah, five of their following next six games will be at home. The home/road record splits speak for themselves on why that should be beneficial. Going back home could help get their season on track, perhaps at the right time in that department after a season start that will have seven of the first 10 games going on the road.

Beyond that, there’s something to be said that inconsistent teams in the middle of the pack this year. Some, like the Rangers right now, get hot and lift up towards the top of the heap. Then over time will drift back down when the back of the pack teams end up winning a few games and bunching back up.

Consternation might be the name of the game around the division right now. Aside from Carolina, anyways, where everything is on cruise control all the time. Here’s something everyone has to gripe about:

• Goaltending wasn’t the reason the Rangers lost a 1-0 game last night, but they’re 0-1-1 in the last two and the reality of losing Igor Shesterkin might be growing enough to cause concern about how they’re going to handle things in the long run.
• Washington has an illness sweeping through the team, which has kept PL Dubois out for four games and put four regulars on the shelf for last night. Never happy times when the an invisible opponent is laying waste to the team and more players are turning up sick.
• The Islanders don’t have too much to complain about right now, though injuries to forwards Cal Ritchie and Matias Macelli last night will bring some uncertainty and worry, especially since Macelli has been their second-highest scoring forward early in the season.
• New Jersey has had a trend of often giving up the first goal of a game, and often losing the game since the start of 2025-26 when they do give up that first goal. Then again, the Devils scored first yesterday against the Capitals, but the problem was the Caps scored second. And the third goal. And fourth. And fifth.
• The Penguins, well, we all know the issues they’re dealing with. Rickard Rakell hasn’t scored a goal this season. The team defense is poor at times and often forced to pay for it with goals flying into their net. As mentioned above, coach and captain have to find a way to get the team out of an early-season rut in a hurry.
• Columbus earned a 1-0 shutout win last night, badly needed since it sounds like Rick Bowness is itching to have a meltdown over his team’s performance. Between bashing some players summer conditioning and now going on about the defensive effort, it doesn’t seem like Bowness is having a good time professionally these days. However, with just six games in the books so far, the Blue Jackets have barely had the chance to do much to get in a rhythm.
• Any team is on a red alert when a winless streak to start the season goes into the 10th game. The Flyers finally got in the win column last night, the last team in the NHL to secure a victory. Philadelphia forwards, combined have 25 points on the season – that’s barely more than Connor McDavid having 23 all by his lonesome. Add in defensive issues and Rick Tocchet’s seat might be starting to get a little warm.

Early season blues and concerns almost all around. That’s NHL hockey for you, what looks in shambles today could show signs of improvement before too long. Many teams around the Metropolitan Division right now are hoping to settle things down and try to keep up with the Hurricanes who are already starting to pull away given their .833 points percentage putting them in smooth sailing territory to lead the pack.

ST. PAUL, Minn. — Daemon Hunt's journey with the Minnesota Wild has been anything but ordinary.

The 24-year-old defenseman was originally drafted by Minnesota in the third round of the 2020 NHL Draft before being traded to the Columbus Blue Jackets in November 2024 as part of the deal that brought David Jiricek to the Wild.

Less than a year later, Minnesota reclaimed Hunt off waivers from Columbus, bringing him back to the organization that drafted him.

Now, with the Wild dealing with several injuries on their blue line, Hunt is getting an opportunity to prove he belongs in the NHL. And fittingly enough, that opportunity continues Sunday when Minnesota hosts Columbus at Grand Casino Arena.

With Brock Faber, Jared Spurgeon and Olli Maatta sidelined, Hunt has been asked to take on additional responsibilities, including penalty-killing duties and an increased role at even strength.

For Hunt, it's an opportunity he doesn't intend to waste.

"I mean, I've come so far in the past three or so years," Hunt told The Hockey News in a one-on-one interview. "I think it's just like being comfortable out there, being comfortable with having the puck on your stick."

Hunt has spent considerable time developing his game in the American Hockey League, where he's become accustomed to playing significant minutes. But translating that experience to the NHL presents an entirely different challenge.

"I log a lot of minutes in the AHL, so I'm familiar with it. But obviously, this is another level," Hunt said. "I think over the past couple years, my skating has gotten even stronger and better."

The biggest adjustment, however, has been finding the consistency required to earn the trust of an NHL coaching staff.

"I think just trying to find that consistency of bringing it every night and having the coaches being able to rely on you has been big for me," Hunt said. "So every day I'm just kind of working at it, trying to be more consistent with everything."

That development was on display Thursday against the St. Louis Blues.

Hunt logged 16:27 of ice time, including 1:42 on the penalty kill, during Minnesota's 5-4 victory. It was his highest ice-time total of the young season.

He also recorded two shots on goal while taking on a larger role with several regular defensemen unavailable.

"Yeah, it definitely feels good," Hunt said of the increased responsibility. "That's one of my strengths, penalty kill, but we're short-staffed on the back end, and I've got to step my game up. Everyone does. It doesn't really matter who's in the lineup."

For a young defenseman still trying to establish himself as an everyday NHL player, the opportunity to play more minutes has helped him settle into games.

"To be an NHL player, it is very challenging. So I'm still trying to learn how to bring it every day," Hunt said. "Last game was nice to be in a top-four role and be in the flow of the game, so that was really nice. And I thought last game was one of my better games this season so far."

While the increased playing time has been valuable, Hunt has also benefited from the experience surrounding him in Minnesota's locker room.

One player in particular has been veteran defenseman Zach Bogosian, who has served as Hunt's defensive partner.

Bogosian, a Stanley Cup champion with the Tampa Bay Lightning, has provided Hunt with another resource as he continues learning the finer details of playing defense at the NHL level.

"I've learned a lot," Hunt said. "He's a guy that's been around forever. Obviously, he's won a Cup. Just the little things, you know, the little questions on the bench, or whether it's during practice, just little things."

And Bogosian isn't the only veteran Hunt has leaned on.

"We've got a lot of veteran guys, though. Obviously, Quinn and Spurge has been around forever, so, even Jimmy Brodin," Hunt said. "They're great at what they do, and so I think just continuing to ask questions around those guys goes a long way, and those little details add up in your game."

Those conversations aren't limited to practices or meetings. Hunt frequently seeks feedback during games, sometimes immediately after returning to the bench following a shift.

"I'd say it's a bit of both," Hunt said when asked whether those conversations happen during games or practices. "After a shift on the bench, you just ask them a little question, or we look at the iPad."

Hunt also mentioned working on specific details with assistant coach Patrick Dwyer during practice.

"I really appreciate when guys come up to me and tell me what I need to do better," Hunt said.

But while Hunt has become increasingly comfortable handling the puck and playing against NHL competition, there's one part of the NHL experience he's still trying to figure out.

The iPads on the bench.

Unlike in the NHL, where players can review video of their shifts during games, Hunt said he didn't have access to the same technology in the American Hockey League.

And apparently, there's a bit of a learning curve.

"No, no. That's not in the AHL," Hunt said. "It's kind of new for me. Growing up, I never really used the iPads, so I don't know. I'm trying to be dialed on the game, but then guys bring out the iPads, and I'm like, I don't know how to use this thing and work it."

Hunt joked about trying to locate a specific play while also preparing for his next shift.

"Like, what time was the play I was in at?" Hunt said. "So, I like it. I'm just trying to get used to it still."

Despite the technological challenges, Hunt understands how valuable instant video feedback can be, particularly when trying to correct mistakes.

"If I make a mistake, or I thought I seen something different, and the play unfolds differently than I would, then I want to look at it because I like to visualize things and see," Hunt said.

The challenge is finding the right time to review those plays without losing focus on what's happening on the ice.

"It's kind of hard to do in the middle of a game," Hunt said. "Like, if I'm next up, I'm on the iPad. I don't really know yet. But I'm trying to figure it out."

It's another small adjustment in Hunt's ongoing development as an NHL defenseman.

From learning how to handle increased minutes to picking the brains of Stanley Cup champions and figuring out the technology available on the bench, Hunt is continuing to absorb everything he can.

And as Minnesota prepares to face the team that traded for him less than two years ago, Hunt finds himself with an opportunity to establish a more permanent role with the organization that originally drafted him.

For now, his focus remains on making the most of every opportunity.

"I'm happy about the last game," Hunt said. "Again, just trying to bring it every day and trying to enjoy the grind."

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The Vancouver Canucks are officially 10 games into their 2026–27 season. Since starting the year with a 6–5 overtime win against the Edmonton Oilers on September 29, Vancouver has posted a record of 2–7–1, most recently taking a 4–2 loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday. Here are 10 takeaways from their first 10 games of the 2026–27 season. 

After A Slow Start, The PK Has Started To Click 

Vancouver’s penalty-kill had a horrendous start to the season, clicking at a success rate of only 52% before going perfect against the New York Islanders for the first time in a single game this season. They’ve only surrendered one power-play goal-against since — on Saturday against Tampa Bay. The big change Vancouver made is in their personnel, with their current main unit featuring Drew O’Connor, Filip Hronek, and Elias Pettersson (both the forward and defenceman). Speaking of Pettersson . . . 

2026–27 Is Starting To Seem Like The Year Of Elias Pettersson 

Both Petterssons have had impressive starts to their respective 2026–27 seasons. The forward has looked noticeably more physically engaged through the first few games of the year, has helped drive play as a member of Vancouver’s top line alongside Jake DeBrusk and Jonathan Lekkerimäki, and currently leads his team in points with 10 in 10 games. 

Pettersson, the defenceman, has arguably been the Canucks’ most impressive player to start the 2026–27 season. Both his offensive and defensive game have looked much more solid compared to the slow stretches he experienced last year, to the point where he’s even received a promotion to Vancouver’s top pairing beside Hronek. He’s played over 20 minutes in three of his past four games.  

Meriläinen’s Making His Mark 

If Pettersson isn’t Vancouver’s most impressive player after the first 10 games, the honour has to go to Leevi Meriläinen. The goaltender, picked up off waivers by the Canucks ahead of the start of the regular season, has impressed in every game he’s played in. Three of his four starts on the season have seen him record a save-percentage of .920% or higher. Vancouver’s close scores in losses have often been due to his play. 

Early Struggles On Defence 

Vancouver’s defenders haven’t had the greatest start to the 2026–27 season, both individually and collectively. Hronek’s decision-making has raised questions early, Zeev Buium hasn’t quite demonstrated the level of flair that’s been expected of him, and rotations have seen veterans Jamie Oleksiak and Luke Schenn get subbed-out for Victor Mancini and Guillaume Brisebois. It’s early, so these struggles may not be read into too-much, but they’re definitely things to keep an eye on moving forward. 

Speed Is A Priority 

The deployment of Max Sasson and changes in Vancouver’s roster have shown that speed is a priority for the organization and Head Coach Manny Malhotra. What’s made this even more apparent is the Canucks’ deal sending Aatu Räty to the Toronto Maple Leafs for Jacob Quillan and Brandon Buhr. While Räty may have had the makings of a third-line centre at the NHL level, his developing footspeed ultimately didn’t appear to fit Vancouver’s trajectory moving forward. 

The Goals Came Early, But They’re Drying Up Quickly 

One of the positives about Vancouver early on was that they didn’t have much trouble finding the back of the net. They currently sit tied for eighth in the NHL in goals-for with 30. Five of their skaters have scored three or more goals, with Paul Cotter leading the team with four tallies after his four-goal campaign through the first four games of the season. That said, their goals-for stats are significantly inflated by their 6–5 overtime win and 9–7 loss to the Oilers at the beginning of the year — they haven’t scored more than two goals since. 

Lekkerimäki’s Hot Start  

Jonathan Lekkerimäki has taken strides since the 2025–26 season. The forward, who had question marks surrounding his trajectory during the off-season, has turned it on since the start of the year. He’s looked more confident with the puck, making good plays that have helped his team generate more offence. Lekkerimäki is currently tied with Hronek for the fifth-most points by a Canucks skater this season. 

Not Every Loss Has Been Negative

While it is true that eight of Vancouver’s 10 games have resulted in losses, not all of these efforts have been fully negative. For the most part, the Canucks’ losses have featured fair comeback efforts, such as their strong second period against the Islanders or three-goal stunner against the Oilers. As a whole, their effort level has been consistent.   

Leaders Don’t Need Letters

The Canucks named six assistant captains ahead of the 2026–27 season — Pettersson, Buium, and Brock Boeser on the road, and O’Connor, Hronek, and Linus Karlsson at home — though leadership in the room stems past these players. The on and off-ice actions of the rest of the team have proven that Vancouver’s leaders aren’t just the players with letters on their jerseys. Veterans like Schenn and Brendan Gallagher have led the way in aspects such as off-ice habits, while young players like defenceman Pettersson have shown an edge in defending their teammates. 

There’s No Question The Canucks Are In A Rebuild

As a whole, through their first 10 games of the season, Vancouver has demonstrated that they’re very much still a rebuilding team compared to the rest of the NHL. Despite strong-effort performances, such as their 3–2 loss to the Vegas Golden Knights, they’ve still looked vastly outmatched. Given how many expect this team to perform this year, that’s not a bad thing. As long as Vancouver shows that they’re learning and developing throughout the year, the results in the standings won’t matter as much. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's Vancouver Canucks site and add us to your favourites on Google News for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more. Also, don't forget to leave a comment at the bottom of the page and engage with other passionate fans through our forum. This article originally appeared on The Hockey News.

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