2017–18 New Jersey Devils season

The 2017–18 New Jersey Devils season was the 44th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and 36th season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season. The Devils received the first overall pick in the 2017 NHL entry draft for the first time in franchise history by winning the draft lottery held on April 29, 2017. They used this pick to select Nico Hischier who was also the first Swiss player to be selected first overall. Taylor Hall set a Devils record for the longest point streak at 26 games, which is also the longest point streak in the 2017–18 season. The team also set their best start in franchise history, going 9–2–0 in their first 11 games of the season. This season also saw the team trade Adam Henrique in exchange for Sami Vatanen and also acquired Patrick Maroon and Michael Grabner. The season also saw the franchise successfully make it back to the Stanley Cup playoffs for the first time since 2012. The Devils would lose to the Tampa Bay Lightning 4–1 in the first round.

Standings

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Preseason The preseason schedule was published on June 11, 2017, which includes seven games (two at home and five as visitors). 2017 preseason game log: 5–1–1 (Home: 2–0–0; Road: 3–1–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 18 Washington 1–4 New Jersey Kinkaid 6,310 1–0–0 Recap 2 September 20 New Jersey 3–4 NY Rangers OT Blackwood 17,967 1–0–1 Recap 3 September 21 New Jersey 4–1 Montreal Kinkaid 21,288 2–0–1 Recap 4 September 23 NY Rangers 1–2 New Jersey Schneider 12,208 3–0–1 Recap 5 September 25 New Jersey 0–3 NY Islanders Kinkaid 5,615 3–1–1 Recap 6 September 25 New Jersey 8–1 Ottawa — — 4–1–1 Recap 7 September 27 New Jersey 4–1 Washington Schneider 14,858 5–1–1 RecapNotes: Indicates split-squad. Game was played at Consolidated Credit Union Place in Summerside, Prince Edward Island.

Regular season The regular season schedule was released on June 22, 2017. 2017–18 game log October: 8–2–0 (Home: 4–2–0; Road: 4–0–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 7 Colorado 1–4 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 9 New Jersey 6–2 Buffalo Schneider 17,697 2–0–0 4 Recap 3 October 11 New Jersey 6–3 Toronto Schneider 19,103 3–0–0 6 Recap 4 October 13 Washington 5–2 New Jersey Schneider 13,458 3–1–0 6 Recap 5 October 14 New Jersey 3–2 NY Rangers Kinkaid 18,006 4–1–0 8 Recap 6 October 17 Tampa Bay 4–5 New Jersey SO Schneider 13,176 5–1–0 10 Recap 7 October 19 New Jersey 5–4 Ottawa OT Kinkaid 13,364 6–1–0 12 Recap 8 October 20 San Jose 3–0 New Jersey Kinkaid 14,381 6–2–0 12 Recap 9 October 27 Ottawa 4–5 New Jersey SO Kinkaid 13,763 7–2–0 14 Recap 10 October 28 Arizona 3–4 New Jersey Schneider 15,132 8–2–0 16 Recap November: 6–4–4 (Home: 2–2–2; Road: 4–2–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 11 November 1 New Jersey 2–0 Vancouver Schneider 16,855 9–2–0 18 Recap 12 November 3 New Jersey 3–6 Edmonton Schneider 18,347 9–3–0 18 Recap 13 November 5 New Jersey 4–5 Calgary SO Kinkaid 17,839 9–3–1 19 Recap 14 November 7 St. Louis 3–1 New Jersey Schneider 12,317 9–4–1 19 Recap 15 November 9 Edmonton 3–2 New Jersey OT Schneider 16,514 9–4–2 20 Recap 16 November 11 Florida 1–2 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 10–4–2 22 Recap 17 November 12 New Jersey 7–5 Chicago Kinkaid 21,487 11–4–2 24 Recap 18 November 16 New Jersey 0–1 Toronto OT Schneider 19,202 11–4–3 25 Recap 19 November 18 New Jersey 2–5 Winnipeg Schneider 15,231 11–5–3 25 Recap 20 November 20 New Jersey 4–3 Minnesota OT Schneider 19,048 12–5–3 27 Recap 21 November 22 Boston 3–2 New Jersey SO Schneider 16,514 12–5–4 28 Recap 22 November 24 Vancouver 2–3 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 13–5–4 30 Recap 23 November 25 New Jersey 4–3 Detroit OT Kinkaid 19,515 14–5–4 32 Recap 24 November 27 Florida 3–2 New Jersey Schneider 13,184 14–6–4 32 Recap December: 8–4–2 (Home: 6–1–1; Road: 2–3–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 1 New Jersey 2–1 Colorado Schneider 14,614 15–6–4 34 Recap 26 December 2 New Jersey 0–5 Arizona Kinkaid 14,338 15–7–4 34 Recap 27 December 5 New Jersey 4–1 Columbus Schneider 14,282 16–7–4 36 Recap 28 December 8 Columbus 5–3 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 16–8–4 36 Recap 29 December 9 New Jersey 2–5 NY Rangers Kinkaid 18,006 16–9–4 36 Recap 30 December 12 Los Angeles 1–5 New Jersey Schneider 13,275 17–9–4 38 Recap 31 December 14 New Jersey 1–2 Montreal OT Schneider 21,302 17–9–5 39 Recap 32 December 15 Dallas 2–5 New Jersey Schneider 13,171 18–9–5 41 Recap 33 December 18 Anaheim 3–5 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 19–9–5 43 Recap 34 December 21 NY Rangers 3–4 New Jersey SO Schneider 16,514 20–9–5 45 Recap 35 December 23 Chicago 1–4 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 21–9–5 47 Recap 36 December 27 Detroit 1–3 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 22–9–5 49 Recap 37 December 29 Buffalo 4–3 New Jersey OT Schneider 16,514 22–9–6 50 Recap 38 December 30 New Jersey 2–5 Washington Schneider 18,506 22–10–6 50 Recap January: 3–6–2 (Home: 1–3–0; Road: 2–3–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 2 New Jersey 2–3 St. Louis SO Kinkaid 18,324 22–10–7 51 Recap 40 January 4 New Jersey 3–4 Dallas Schneider 18,114 22–11–7 51 Recap 41 January 7 New Jersey 4–5 NY Islanders SO Schneider 15,136 22–11–8 52 Recap 42 January 13 Philadelphia 5–3 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 22–12–8 52 Recap 43 January 16 New Jersey 4–1 NY Islanders Kinkaid 12,695 23–12–8 54 Recap 44 January 18 Washington 3–4 New Jersey OT Kinkaid 14,163 24–12–8 56 Recap 45 January 20 New Jersey 1–3 Philadelphia Kinkaid 19,934 24–13–8 56 Recap 46 January 22 Detroit 3–0 New Jersey Schneider 13,847 24–14–8 56 Recap 47 January 23 New Jersey 2–3 Boston Schneider 17,565 24–15–8 56 Recap 48 January 25 Nashville 3–0 New Jersey Appleby 14,039 24–16–8 56 Recap 49 January 30 New Jersey 3–1 Buffalo Kinkaid 17,460 25–16–8 58 Recap February: 8–6–0 (Home: 4–4–0; Road: 4–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 50 February 1 Philadelphia 3–4 New Jersey Kinkaid 13,906 26–16–8 60 Recap 51 February 3 Pittsburgh 1–3 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 27–16–8 62 Recap 52 February 6 New Jersey 3–5 Ottawa Kinkaid 13,991 27–17–8 62 Recap 53 February 8 Calgary 3–2 New Jersey Kinkaid 13,085 27–18–8 62 Recap 54 February 10 New Jersey 1–6 Columbus Kinkaid 18,510 27–19–8 62 Recap 55 February 11 Boston 5–3 New Jersey Läck 16,514 27–20–8 62 Recap 56 February 13 New Jersey 5–4 Philadelphia SO Kinkaid 19,312 28–20–8 64 Recap 57 February 15 Carolina 2–5 New Jersey Kinkaid 14,079 29–20–8 66 Recap 58 February 17 New Jersey 4–3 Tampa Bay Läck 19,092 30–20–8 68 Recap 59 February 18 New Jersey 3–2 Carolina OT Kinkaid 18,680 31–20–8 70 Recap 60 February 20 Columbus 2–1 New Jersey Kinkaid 14,024 31–21–8 70 Recap 61 February 22 Minnesota 4–2 New Jersey Läck 13,316 31–22–8 70 Recap 62 February 24 NY Islanders 1–2 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 32–22–8 72 Recap 63 February 27 New Jersey 3–2 Pittsburgh Kinkaid 18,581 33–22–8 74 Recap March: 8–6–1 (Home: 4–2–1; Road: 4–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 64 March 1 New Jersey 2–3 Florida Schneider 10,846 33–23–8 74 Recap 65 March 2 New Jersey 1–3 Carolina Kinkaid 14,337 33–24–8 74 Recap 66 March 4 Vegas 3–2 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 33–25–8 74 Recap 67 March 6 Montreal 4–6 New Jersey Kinkaid 14,586 34–25–8 76 Recap 68 March 8 Winnipeg 3–2 New Jersey Schneider 14,023 34–26–8 76 Recap 69 March 10 New Jersey 3–2 Nashville SO Kinkaid 17,545 35–26–8 78 Recap 70 March 14 New Jersey 8–3 Vegas Kinkaid 18,420 36–26–8 80 Recap 71 March 17 New Jersey 3–0 Los Angeles Kinkaid 18,230 37–26–8 82 Recap 72 March 18 New Jersey 2–4 Anaheim Kinkaid 16,401 37–27–8 82 Recap 73 March 20 New Jersey 2–6 San Jose Schneider 17,209 37–28–8 82 Recap 74 March 23 New Jersey 4–3 Pittsburgh OT Kinkaid 18,658 38–28–8 84 Recap 75 March 24 Tampa Bay 1–2 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 39–28–8 86 Recap 76 March 27 Carolina 3–4 New Jersey Kinkaid 15,521 40–28–8 88 Recap 77 March 29 Pittsburgh 4–3 New Jersey OT Kinkaid 16,514 40–28–9 89 Recap 78 March 31 NY Islanders 3–4 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 41–28–9 91 Recap April: 3–1–0 (Home: 2–0–0; Road: 1–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 79 April 1 New Jersey 2–1 Montreal Kinkaid 21,302 42–28–9 93 Recap 80 April 3 NY Rangers 2–5 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 43–28–9 95 Recap 81 April 5 Toronto 1–2 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 44–28–9 97 Recap 82 April 7 New Jersey 3–5 Washington Schneider 18,506 44–29–9 97 RecapLegend:

Playoffs

2018 Stanley Cup playoffs Eastern Conference first round vs. (A1) Tampa Bay Lightning: Tampa Bay won 4–1 # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Series Recap 1 April 12 New Jersey 2–5 Tampa Bay Kinkaid 19,092 0–1 Recap 2 April 14 New Jersey 3–5 Tampa Bay Kinkaid 19,092 0–2 Recap 3 April 16 Tampa Bay 2–5 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 1–2 Recap 4 April 18 Tampa Bay 3–1 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 1–3 Recap 5 April 21 New Jersey 1–3 Tampa Bay Schneider 19,029 1–4 RecapLegend:

Player statistics As of April 16, 2018

Skaters

Regular season Player 76 39 54 93 14 34 82 20 32 52 10 26 62 24 20 44 −1 30 81 5 39 44 1 8 72 13 22 35 −16 18 76 19 13 32 −6 84† 57 3 25 28 −1 32 72 13 14 27 12 36 62 12 14 26 −8 25 59 12 14 26 10 20 79 13 12 25 7 50 69 8 17 25 −3 30 76 9 15 24 −8 42 69 13 10 23 −9 45 81 7 11 18 3 47 59 8 7 15 −20 10 29 5 9 14 −11 14‡ 24 4 10 14 −5 6 81 3 10 13 −9 21† 17 3 10 13 −4 13 36 2 8 10 0 21 33 3 6 9 −2 6 57 2 6 8 7 25† 21 2 3 5 0 4 28 0 4 4 1 4 3 1 0 1 2 2 2 0 0 0 −3 0 1 0 0 0 0 0‡ 4 0 0 0 −2 13

Playoffs Player 5 2 4 6 −1 6 5 1 3 4 0 0 5 1 2 3 −4 6 5 2 0 2 1 4 5 1 1 2 0 0 5 0 2 2 −4 6 5 1 0 1 1 2 5 1 0 1 −2 0 5 1 0 1 −4 0 4 1 0 1 1 4 4 1 0 1 −1 0 5 0 1 1 −1 12 5 0 0 0 1 14 5 0 0 0 −1 14 5 0 0 0 −1 6 4 0 0 0 −1 12 3 0 0 0 −2 0 3 0 0 0 −2 0 2 0 0 0 −1 10 2 0 0 0 1 0 2 0 0 0 −2 0 1 0 0 0 0 0

Goaltenders Regular season Player 40 40 2,333 17 16 6 114 2.93 1,228 .907 1 0 0 0 41 38 2,298 26 10 3 106 2.77 1,214 .913 1 0 0 0† 4 3 208 1 2 0 11 3.19 102 .903 0 0 0 0 3 1 124 0 1 0 3 3.10 55 .945 0 0 0 0

Playoffs Player 2 2 92 0 2 9 5.87 46 .804 0 0 0 0 4 3 202 1 2 6 1.78 113 .950 0 0 1 0

Awards and honors

Awards Regular season Player Award Date Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy June 20, 2018 Hart Memorial Trophy June 20, 2018

Transactions The Devils have been involved in the following transactions during the 2017–18 season.

Trades Date Details Ref To Washington CapitalsFLA's 2nd-round pick in 2018TOR's 3rd-round pick in 2018 To New Jersey DevilsMarcus Johansson To Arizona CoyotesScott Wedgewood To New Jersey DevilsCGY's 5th-round pick in 2018 To Anaheim DucksJoseph BlandisiAdam HenriqueNJD's 3rd-round pick in 2018 To New Jersey DevilsSami VatanenConditional 3rd-round pick in 2019 or 2020 To Arizona CoyotesRyan Kujawinski To New Jersey DevilsMichael Latta To Calgary FlamesDalton Prout To New Jersey DevilsEddie Läck To Minnesota WildViktor Lööv To New Jersey DevilsChristoph BertschyMario Lucia To New York RangersYegor Rykov2nd-round pick in 2018 To New Jersey DevilsMichael Grabner To Edmonton OilersJ. D. Dudek3rd-round pick in 2019 To New Jersey DevilsPatrick Maroon

Free agents acquired Date Player Former team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref Brian Boyle Toronto Maple Leafs 2-year, $5.1 million Brian Gibbons Albany Devils 1-year, $650,000 Bracken Kearns New York Islanders 1-year, $650,000 Brian Strait Winnipeg Jets 1-year, $650,000 Drew Stafford Boston Bruins 1-year, $800,000 Will Butcher Denver Pioneers 2-year, $1.85 million entry-level contract Jimmy Hayes Boston Bruins 1-year, $700,000 Cam Johnson North Dakota Fighting Hawks 1-year, $925,000 entry-level contract Egor Yakovlev SKA Saint Petersburg 1-year, $925,000 entry-level contract

Free agents lost