The New Jersey Devils are in a funky spot ahead of the 2026-27 NHL season.
In a vacuum, this team should not only be a playoff contender, but it should also harbor hopes of winning the Metropolitan Division.
However, there are things happening off the ice that can severely impact how this season goes in Newark.
Quinn Hughes, the only Hughes brother who isn’t on the Devils, is keen on joining Jack and Luke in the Garden State, and there are also rumors connecting New Jersey to all-world goaltender Connor Hellebuyck.
It’s anybody’s guess if both, either, or neither join the Devils in the near future, but for now, we’ll do our best to stay focused and make sense of the season ahead in New Jersey, and see what the betting market expects from Sheldon Keefe’s squad.
2026-27 New Jersey Devils season preview, odds
| Market | Odds |
|---|---|
| Stanley Cup odds | 30/1 |
| Eastern Conference odds | 17/1 |
| Metropolitan Division odds | +750 |
| Make playoffs (Yes/No) | -135/+105 |
| Over/Under | 95.5 points |
The Devils started hot last season, lost Jack Hughes to a freak injury, and then went off the rails.
The slump cost general manager Tom Fitzgerald his gig, and he was replaced by Sunny Mehta, a former professional poker player who spent the last few years as an assistant GM with the Florida Panthers.
Mehta made some high-upside additions to New Jersey’s forward group, signing Anthony Mantha plus trading for Luke Evangelista and Evan Rodrigues, but he largely left the blueline alone, and he is, for now, rolling the dice with a goaltending tandem of Jake Allen with Nico Daws or (less likely) David Rittich.
All the maneuvering has given the Devils a bit of an unbalanced feel. New Jersey has plenty of firepower up front, but the blueline and goaltending are massive question marks.
The latter is also true of the coaching staff, as Sheldon Keefe will be on a short leash after two underwhelming campaigns.
It’s also critical to mention that New Jersey’s best player, Jack Hughes, has missed at least 20 games in four of the last five seasons. If he goes down, the Devils likely go with him.
With so many strings pulling in so many directions, it’s no wonder that the betting market views the Devils as a tough read. They’re not an elite group, but they have serious upside if things go their way.
And if New Jersey adds Quinn Hughes or Hellebuyck, the calculus changes completely.
Best bet: Nico Hischier to win the Selke Trophy (12/1, bet365 Sportsbook)
If you’re a believer in the Devils on the whole, you may as well go for the big price on the Stanley Cup.
If things click, the ceiling is very high and Mehta will be aggressive in adding to the roster if the situation calls for it.
I’m not going to go there, though, as so much hinges on Hughes staying healthy and that’s not something worth betting on right now.
Instead, we’ll look to the awards markets for the best value.
There are a handful of Devils near the top of the board of the awards markets.
Jack Hughes is 25/1 to win the Hart Trophy, Keefe is 14/1 to win the Jack Adams and Nico Hischier is 12/1 to win the Selke Trophy.
Of that admittedly lukewarm bunch, Hischier sticks out the most.
The Selke Trophy, which is handed out to the best two-way forward in the NHL, is largely awarded on reputation.
Patrice Bergeron won it six times in his career, and when he retired, it was assumed that Aleksander Barkov would take over from there.
The Finn won it twice in a row (2024 and 2025), but he got hurt in training camp last year and opened the door for Nick Suzuki of the Canadiens to grab it.
Betting on the NHL?
Beating out Barkov and Suzuki won’t be easy, but Hischier figures to be in the running if he stays healthy.
The Swiss center has finished in the top 10 of voting in three of the last four campaigns (including second in 2023 and fourth in 2025), and is annually listed as one of the favorites before opening night.
Given his reputation and his role, Hischier represents decent bang for your buck at this price.
Why Trust New York Post Betting
Michael Leboff is a long-suffering Islanders fan, but a long-profiting sports bettor with 10 years of experience in the gambling industry. He loves using game theory to help punters win bracket pools, find long shots, and learn how to beat the market in mainstream and niche sports.
