Hanzel was a sixth-round pick of the Avalanche in 2023 and was traded to Nashville in March of 2024 as part of the deal that sent Yakov Trenin to Colorado. The 22-year-old defenseman had 22 points (3G / 19A) in 61 ECHL games during the 2024-25 season.
After three seasons in Switzerland, Juho Lammikko is returning to the NHL with New Jersey after signing a one-year, $800,000 contract on Sunday. The 28-year-old last appeared in the NHL with Vancouver in the 2021-22 season, where he recorded seven goals and 15 points in 75 games played. He is expected to compete for a roster spot come the 2025-26 season.
Lagare spent the majority of the 2024-25 season with Utica (AHL), earning himself a one-year, two-way contract after scoring 17 goals and 25 points in 69 games played. The 24-year-old winger also made his NHL debut in 2024-25, but failed to pick up a point in any of the three games he appeared in.
Hameenaho was New Jersey's 2023 2nd-round pick (58th overall) and has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Devils on Thursday. The 20-year-old Finnish right-winger spent 2024-25 with Assat of Liiga and had 20 goals, 51 points, and 28 PIMs in 58 games played.
Kovacvic's first season in New Jersey will end in an unfortunate but memorable fashion after he underwent successful knee surgery on Wednesday. He is not expected to be fully recovered by the time the 2025-26 training camp rolls around. The 27-year-old stay-at-home defenseman had a goal, 17 points and a +10 plus/minus through 81 games played in 2024-25.
Gritsyuk was a fifth-round pick in 2019 and will join the Devils organization in 2025-26 after five seasons in the KHL. Gritsyuk had a career-high 44 points (17G / 27A) in 49 games with St. Petersburg SKA this season.
Bratt showed no signs of an ailment in the playoffs, playing all five games in New Jersey's round one loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, but underwent shoulder surgery. He is expected to be back for the beginning of training camp. The 26-year-old Bratt had an excellent season, scoring a career-high 88 points (21G / 67A) in 81 games. He has become a picture of consistency for the Devils, scoring 317 points (106G / 211A) in 321 games over the previous four seasons.
Hughes suffered an undisclosed injury in Game 1 of the playoffs and did not play the remaininder of the series. He underwent successful shoulder surgery and will likely be ready for the beginning of training camp. The 21-year-old Hughes had an impressive 2024-25 campaign with 44 points (7G / 37A) in 71 games.
Casey will slot into the Devils lineup for Game 5 as they look to shake things up in hopes of staving off elimination on Tuesday. Dennis Cholowski will sit in his place.
Pesce has been a rock on defense for New Jersey this postseason, averaging 25:20 time-on-ice, recording one assist and a +3 plus/minus. He and fellow game-time decison Jonas Siegenthaler will both be on the Devils' blue line for Game 5 on Tuesday.
Siegenthaler was battling a lower-body injury that kept him from playing the first two games of the playoffs and was at risk of missing Game 5. It's unclear if his current ailment is related to his previous one. The 27-year-old Siegenthaler played 19:56 time-on-ice in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, recording a -2 plus/mins.
Markstrom will be looking to rebound from his worst performance of the series as he tries to help his team stave off elimination on Tuesday. The 35-year-old netminder allowed four goals on 28 shots in a 5-2 loss in Game 4 on Sunday. Despite the 3-1 series deficit, Markstrom has arguably been New Jersey's best player in the series, posting a .913 SV% across the opening four games. That will certainly need to be the case again on Tuesday as the Devils enter action at +225 on the money line.
Pesce has been a rock on defense for New Jersey this postseason, averaging 25:20 time-on-ice, recording one assist and a +3 plus/minus. He joins Jonas Siegenthaler as critical game-time decisions on the Devils' blue line ahead of Game 5 on Tuesday.
Siegenthaler was battling a lower-body injury that kept him from playing the first two games of the playoffs and could be at risk of missing Game 5. It's unclear if his current ailment is related to his previous one. The 27-year-old Siegenthaler played 19:56 time-on-ice in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Carolina Hurricanes, recording a -2 plus/mins.
Siegenthaler has not played since February 4th due to a lower-body injury but appears ready to make his seasonal playoff debut and return on Friday for Game 3 vs. Carolina. The 27-year-old Swiss defender will make a welcome addition to New Jersey's already battered blue line after he had two goals, nine points and a +9 plus/minus in 55 games during the regular season.
Facing a 2-0 series deficit, Markstrom and the Devils will be hoping the third time's the charm when they host the Hurricanes for Game 3 on Friday. Markstrom is hardly the one to blame for the hole the Devils find themselves in, as evident by his .930 SV% and 2.52 GAA. New Jersey will thankfully be playing on home ice for the first time in the series, where Markstrom logged a 14-7-4 record across 26 regular season appearances. The Devils enter action on Friday at +135 on the money line.
Siegenthaler has not played since February 4th due to a lower-body injury but is hopeful to make his seasonal playoff debut and return on Friday for Game 3 vs. Carolina. The 27-year-old Swiss defender will make a welcome addition to New Jersey's already battered blue line after he had two goals, nine points and a +9 plus/minus in 55 games during the regular season.
Marksrom had an eventful Game 1 for New Jersey, saving 41 of 44 shots (.932 SV%) in the 4-1 loss, and will likely return to the crease for Game 2 on Tuesday. The 35-year-old Markstrom had an up-and-down 2024-25 campaign, posting a 2.50 GAA and .900 SV% in 49 contests (26-16-6). He has played reasonably in his playoff career, showcasing a serviceable 2.90 GAA and .912 SV%, but has a losing record in 27 games (13-14). The Devils enter Game 2 against the Carolina Hurricanes as significant +217 road underdogs.
