The 2025-26 season has been a frustrating one for the New Jersey Devils. After entering the campaign with playoff aspirations and looking like one of the NHL’s most talented teams, inconsistency and an all-around collapse of structure derailed their momentum. As the season progressed, the Devils struggled to stay in the playoff race and have slowly found themselves slipping out of contention, now with just a 0.7% chance of making the postseason.
However, even amidst this disappointing season, there are a few positives to take away. Several players managed to deliver strong individual performances despite the team’s overall struggles. Their contributions not only helped keep the Devils competitive on many nights, but they also provided optimism for the franchise’s future.
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Among the most notable bright spots were Arseny Gritsyuk, Cody Glass, and Simon Nemec. Each player has carved out an important role and showed growth in different areas of their game, proving they could be key pieces for the Devils moving forward.
Arseny Gritsyuk: A Promising Rookie Season and Fan Favorite
When Gritsyuk arrived in New Jersey, expectations were intriguing but uncertain. The Russian winger had already built an impressive resume in the Kontinental Hockey League, including a standout season with SKA St. Petersburg, where he produced 44 points in 49 games before signing with the Devils.
The transition from Russian hockey to the NHL is rarely seamless, but Gritsyuk adjusted quickly and proved he belonged at the highest level.
Throughout his rookie campaign thus far, Gritsyuk has recorded 27 points (11 goals and 16 assists) with over 15 minutes of time on ice per game. While those numbers may not jump off the page compared to established stars, they represent a strong debut for a player still adapting to the NHL’s speed and physicality.
One of the most encouraging aspects of Gritsyuk’s game is his offensive instincts. His speed and puck-handling allow him to create scoring chances off the rush, and he consistently shows confidence carrying the puck into the offensive zone.
He’s delivered several memorable moments throughout the season. One ofh is early highlights came in November, when the Devils defeated the Buffalo Sabres 5-0 and Gritsyuk had his first multi-goal game to help the Devils secure the victory.
Beyond the goals and assists, Gritsyuk demonstrates strong chemistry with several of New Jersey’s skilled forwards. When placed alongside players like Nico Hischier or Timo Meier, his speed creates space and opens up passing lanes in the offensive zone.
Even more than his impact on the ice, fans have quickly been drawn to him because of his personality and presence away from the rink. Gritsyuk comes across as someone who is simply thrilled to be playing hockey and genuinely grateful for the opportunity to wear a Devils jersey—an attitude that isn’t always visible from professional athletes at this level.
Since training camp in the summer, he has been sharing regular updates on Telegram with family, friends, and the Devils fanbase. In those posts, he talks about everything from the team’s wins and losses to how he feels about his own performances and the experience of adjusting to life in the NHL. The posts offer a candid, personal perspective that fans rarely get to see from players during the grind of a season.
Arseny Gritsyuk via Telegram:
“Genius Hughes brought us another victory”#NJDevils pic.twitter.com/XjhdKbfRVd
— Daniel Amoia (@daniel_amoia) October 26, 2025
More recently, Gritsyuk has taken things a step further by purchasing camera glasses and filming short behind-the-scenes vlogs. The clips show him preparing for games, heading to practices, and occasionally capturing brief glimpses of teammates and the everyday rhythm of life in the NHL.
By opening that window into his world, Gritsyuk has given fans something unique—an authentic look at a young player chasing his dream. Combined with the gratitude and enthusiasm he consistently shows, it’s easy to see why he has quickly become a fan favorite in New Jersey.
Cody Glass: Reliable Scoring in the Bottom Six
Since being traded to New Jersey last March, Glass has made an impact. He recently signed a two-year extension worth $5 million, telling the media he “wanted to stay (in New Jersey).” The Devils organization believed he could bring stability and depth to the team’s bottom six, and he’s delivered exactly that.
Despite dealing with a season filled with injuries, Glass has still managed to produce offensively. In 52 games, he has recorded 21 points (14 goals, seven assists), including three game-winning goals. His scoring touch has been particularly valuable for a Devils team that has struggled to generate offense and finish chances. Glass has shown a knack for capitalizing on limited opportunities, making him an efficient and timely contributor in the offensive zone.
Beyond his production, Glass has also impressed with his defensive awareness and responsible play. His reliability has earned the trust of the coaching staff in a variety of situations. Whether he’s helping kill penalties or protecting a lead late in games, Glass has consistently shown the type of dependable two-way play that teams rely on from their depth forwards.
He has also made a strong impact in the faceoff circle. His 53.9 percent faceoff win rate places him just behind Hischier, who owns one of the best faceoff percentages in the league. Glass’ ability to win draws gives the Devils another dependable option at the dot and helps the team maintain possession in key moments.
Even when injuries and lineup changes disrupted the Devils’ chemistry throughout the season, Glass remained a steady presence. His ability to move between center and wing gives the coaching staff flexibility when adjusting lines.
For a team searching for consistent production beyond its top players, Glass has proved to be one of the most dependable contributors on the roster.
Simon Nemec: Emerging as a Key Defenseman
Perhaps the most encouraging development of the Devils’ season came from the continued growth of Nemec.
The second-overall pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft entered the season with high expectations. While his early NHL campaigns were about adjusting to the pace of the league, this season Nemec has shown clear signs he is beginning to establish himself as a core piece of New Jersey’s blue line.
In 50 games this season, Nemec has recorded 21 points (nine goals, 12 assists), a plus-2 rating, and nearly 20 minutes of ice time per game. For a young defenseman, those numbers highlight his growing confidence and offensive ability.
One of the most memorable moments of his season came in November when Nemec scored the first hat trick of his NHL career, including the overtime game-winning goal against the Chicago Blackhawks. His hat trick made him the youngest defenseman in the NHL to score a hat trick and overtime winner in the same game, as well as the third defenseman in Devils history to score a hat trick.
Nemec’s game has always been built around his mobility and hockey IQ. He moves the puck efficiently out of the defensive zone and frequently joins the rush, making him a constant threat in transition. As the season progressed, he became more confident, attacking from the point and creating scoring opportunities.
Like many young defensemen, he still experiences growing pains that come with developing at the NHL level. But his ability to log heavy minutes and contribute offensively demonstrates why the Devils invested such a high draft pick in him.
Another positive sign has been how quickly Nemec has adjusted to a larger role. With injuries to and inconsistent performances from other Devils defensemen on throughout the season, he was often asked to take on added responsibility. Instead of struggling with the increased workload, he frequently rose to the challenge, often looking even more comfortable when playing 16 or more minutes a night.
Nemec’s growth over the course of the season has been an encouraging sign for the organization. His development reinforces just how important he could be to the franchise moving forward, and he has all the tools to become a cornerstone piece of the Devils’ blue line for years to come.
Moving Forward
Although the Devils season has been disappointing overall, these three players’ performances offer some optimism.
For a team built around a young core, progress from players like these is crucial. While the standings may not reflect the expectations the Devils had entering the season, individual growth across the roster could play a major role in shaping the team’s future.
