Devils’ Most Disappointing Players From the 2025-26 Season

The New Jersey Devils entered the 2025-26 season with expectations of growth and a return to playoff contention. Instead, the year unraveled into one defined by inconsistency, injuries, and underperformance from key contributors. While several players rose above the chaos, others fell well short of expectations —whether due to poor play, bad luck, or an inability to seize opportunity.

Here’s a closer look at the most disappointing players from the Devils’ season, headlined by a goaltender whose struggles set the tone early.

Jacob Markstrom

There’s no way around it. Jacob Markstrom’s season was one of the biggest reasons the Devils fell out of contention.

Brought in to stabilize the crease and provide veteran reliability, Markstrom instead delivered one of the worst statistical seasons of his career. He finished with a .883 save percentage and a 3.07 goals-against average, both marks ranking among the lowest for goaltenders who played over 1,000 minutes. For a team that needed steady goaltending to complement its offensive core, this level of performance was devastating.

Advanced metrics paint an even clearer picture. Markstrom allowed 11.9 goals above expected, placing him in the bottom ten among NHL goaltenders. In simple terms, he consistently gave up more goals than an average goalie would have in the same situations. That kind of gap is incredibly difficult for any team to overcome.

Beyond the numbers, the timing of his struggles made things worse. The Devils often found themselves in close games where a timely save could have shifted momentum. Instead, soft goals and untimely breakdowns became a recurring theme. Confidence visibly waned — not just for Markstrom, but for the team in front of him.

Goaltending is often the backbone of a successful season, and for New Jersey, it became a liability. While the defensive structure in front of him wasn’t perfect, Markstrom was expected to mask some of those issues. Instead, he amplified them.

Evgenii Dadonov

When the Devils signed Evgenii Dadonov, the move made sense on paper. A veteran forward with scoring touch and playoff experience, he seemed like a low-risk addition who could provide depth and secondary offense.

Unfortunately, the season never materialized for him.

Dadonov played just one game before suffering an injury that derailed his campaign. From there, it became a year defined by setbacks and inconsistency. Even when he returned to the lineup, he struggled to make any meaningful impact.

In 24 games, Dadonov recorded just one point and finished with a minus-6 rating. For a player brought in to contribute offensively, those numbers are far below expectations. More concerning than the stat line, though, was how ineffective he looked on the ice. He struggled to keep pace, failed to generate scoring chances, and never found a rhythm within the lineup.

To be fair, injuries played a significant role. It’s difficult for any player to perform at a high level after missing extended time. Still, when he was available, the results simply weren’t there.

What was supposed to be a savvy depth signing turned into a non-factor. For a team that lacked consistent secondary scoring, Dadonov’s absence and eventual ineffectiveness were a major missed opportunity.

Honorable Mention: Dougie Hamilton

Dougie Hamilton’s season is a bit more complicated.

On one hand, his second-half resurgence reminded everyone why he’s such an important piece of the Devils’ core. On the other hand, his first half was undeniably one of the most disappointing stretches of his career.