The 2016–17 New Jersey Devils season was the 43rd season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and 35th season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season. New Jersey did not make the postseason for the fifth consecutive year. Also, this is the first time since the 1985–86 season that the Devils finished last in the conference.

Standings

Schedule and results

Pre-season 2016 Pre-season Game Log: 3–5–0 (Home: 2–1–0; Road: 1–4–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 26 Philadelphia 0–2 New Jersey Kinkaid 7,415 1–0–0 Recap 2 September 26 New Jersey 3–2 Montreal Wedgewood 21,288 2–0–0 Recap 3 September 28 New Jersey 0–2 Philadelphia Kinkaid — 2–1–0 Recap 4 September 29 New Jersey 1–3 NY Rangers Wedgewood 17,378 2–2–0 Recap 5 October 1 NY Rangers 4–5 New Jersey Lindback 11,104 3–2–0 Recap 6 October 3 New Jersey 3–4 NY Islanders Schneider 5,978 3–3–0 Recap 7 October 5 NY Islanders 3–2 New Jersey Schneider 7,714 3–4–0 Recap 8 October 8 New Jersey 2–4 Florida — — 3–5–0 RecapNotes: indicates split-squad. Game will be played at PPL Center in Allentown, Pennsylvania. Game will be played at Tate Rink in West Point, New York.

Regular season 2016–17 Game Log October: 4–2–2 (Home: 4–0–1; Road: 0–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 13 New Jersey 1–2 Florida OT Schneider 17,128 0–0–1 1 Recap 2 October 15 New Jersey 2–3 Tampa Bay Schneider 19,092 0–1–1 1 Recap 3 October 18 Anaheim 1–2 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 1–1–1 3 Recap 4 October 20 New Jersey 1–2 Boston Schneider 17,565 1–2–1 3 Recap 5 October 22 Minnesota 1–2 New Jersey OT Schneider 16,514 2–2–1 5 Recap 6 October 25 Arizona 3–5 New Jersey Schneider 12,756 3–2–1 7 Recap 7 October 28 Chicago 3–2 New Jersey OT Kinkaid 13,882 3–2–2 8 Recap 8 October 29 Tampa Bay 1–3 New Jersey Schneider 13,098 4–2–2 10 Recap November: 6–5–3 (Home: 3–0–1; Road: 3–5–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 9 November 3 New Jersey 3–4 Florida OT Schneider 11,597 4–2–3 11 Recap 10 November 5 New Jersey 1–4 Tampa Bay Schneider 19,092 4–3–3 11 Recap 11 November 6 New Jersey 4–1 Carolina Kinkaid 8,650 5–3–3 13 Recap 12 November 8 Carolina 2–3 New Jersey SO Schneider 12,179 6–3–3 15 Recap 13 November 11 New Jersey 2–1 Buffalo OT Kinkaid 18,301 7–3–3 17 Recap 14 November 12 Buffalo 2–4 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 8–3–3 19 Recap 15 November 15 New Jersey 2–1 Dallas OT Schneider 18,039 9–3–3 21 Recap 16 November 17 New Jersey 2–3 Anaheim Schneider 14,954 9–4–3 21 Recap 17 November 19 New Jersey 2–4 Los Angeles Schneider 18,230 9–5–3 21 Recap 18 November 21 New Jersey 0–4 San Jose Schneider 17,286 9–6–3 21 Recap 19 November 23 Toronto 4–5 New Jersey SO Schneider 13,752 10–6–3 23 Recap 20 November 25 Detroit 5–4 New Jersey OT Schneider 15,612 10–6–4 24 Recap 21 November 26 New Jersey 3–4 Pittsburgh SO Kinkaid 18,615 10–6–5 25 Recap 22 November 29 New Jersey 2–3 Winnipeg Schneider 15,294 10–7–5 25 Recap December: 4–9–2 (Home: 2–4–0; Road: 2–5–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 23 December 1 New Jersey 3–4 Chicago OT Schneider 21,351 10–7–6 26 Recap 24 December 3 New Jersey 5–4 Nashville OT Kinkaid 17,113 11–7–6 28 Recap 25 December 6 Vancouver 2–3 New Jersey Schneider 13,126 12–7–6 30 Recap 26 December 8 New Jersey 2–5 Montreal Schneider 21,288 12–8–6 30 Recap 27 December 9 St. Louis 4–1 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 12–9–6 30 Recap 28 December 11 New Jersey 0–5 NY Rangers Schneider 18,006 12–10–6 30 Recap 29 December 15 New Jersey 2–5 St. Louis Schneider 18,347 12–11–6 30 Recap 30 December 17 New Jersey 1–3 Ottawa Kinkaid 15,111 12–12–6 30 Recap 31 December 18 New Jersey 2–3 NY Rangers SO Schneider 18,006 12–12–7 31 Recap 32 December 20 Nashville 5–1 New Jersey Schneider 13,744 12–13–7 31 Recap 33 December 22 Philadelphia 0–4 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 13–13–7 33 Recap 34 December 23 New Jersey 1–4 Pittsburgh Schneider 18,625 13–14–7 33 Recap 35 December 27 Pittsburgh 5–2 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 13–15–7 33 Recap 36 December 29 New Jersey 2–1 Washington SO Kinkaid 18,506 14–15–7 35 Recap 37 December 31 Washington 6–2 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 14–16–7 35 Recap January: 7–5–2 (Home: 1–5–1; Road: 6–0–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 38 January 2 Boston 0–3 New Jersey Schneider 15,141 15–16–7 37 Recap 39 January 3 New Jersey 3–1 Carolina Schneider 8,998 16–16–7 39 Recap 40 January 6 Toronto 4–2 New Jersey Schneider 15,233 16–17–7 39 Recap 41 January 7 Edmonton 2–1 New Jersey OT Schneider 14,734 16–17–8 40 Recap 42 January 9 Florida 3–0 New Jersey Schneider 12,834 16–18–8 40 Recap 43 January 12 New Jersey 2–3 Edmonton OT Schneider 18,347 16–18–9 41 Recap 44 January 13 New Jersey 2–1 Calgary Kinkaid 19,190 17–18–9 43 Recap 45 January 15 New Jersey 2–1 Vancouver OT Schneider 18,865 18–18–9 45 Recap 46 January 17 New Jersey 4–3 Minnesota Schneider 19,051 19–18–9 47 Recap 47 January 20 Montreal 3–1 New Jersey Kinkaid 15,345 19–19–9 47 Recap 48 January 21 New Jersey 4–1 Philadelphia Kinkaid 19,932 20–19–9 49 Recap 49 January 24 Los Angeles 3–1 New Jersey Schneider 13,412 20–20–9 49 Recap 50 January 26 Washington 5–2 New Jersey Kinkaid 13,428 20–21–9 49 Recap January 27–29 All-Star Break in Los Angeles 51 January 31 New Jersey 4–3 Detroit Schneider 20,027 21–21–9 51 Recap February: 4–4–3 (Home: 3–3–3; Road: 1–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 52 February 3 Calgary 4–3 New Jersey OT Schneider 14,716 21–21–10 52 Recap 53 February 4 New Jersey 5–1 Columbus Schneider 18,566 22–21–10 54 Recap 54 February 6 Buffalo 1–2 New Jersey Schneider 12,105 23–21–10 56 Recap 55 February 12 San Jose 4–1 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 23–22–10 56 Recap 56 February 14 Colorado 2–3 New Jersey Schneider 12,462 24–22–10 58 Recap 57 February 16 Ottawa 3–0 New Jersey Schneider 13,908 24–23–10 58 Recap 58 February 18 NY Islanders 2–3 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 25–23–10 60 Recap 59 February 19 New Jersey 4–6 NY Islanders Kinkaid 15,795 25–24–10 60 Recap 60 February 21 Ottawa 2–1 New Jersey Schneider 12,343 25–25–10 60 Recap 61 February 25 NY Rangers 4–3 New Jersey OT Schneider 16,514 25–25–11 61 Recap 62 February 27 Montreal 4–3 New Jersey OT Schneider 13,270 25–25–12 62 Recap March: 2–11–2 (Home: 2–3–2; Road: 0–8–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 63 March 2 New Jersey 0–1 Washington Schneider 18,506 25–26–12 62 Recap 64 March 4 New Jersey 2–3 Boston Schneider 17,565 25–27–12 62 Recap 65 March 5 Columbus 3–0 New Jersey Schneider 14,054 25–28–12 62 Recap 66 March 7 New Jersey 0–2 Columbus Kinkaid 15,947 25–29–12 62 Recap 67 March 9 New Jersey 2–3 Colorado Schneider 11,886 25–30–12 62 Recap 68 March 11 New Jersey 4–5 Arizona Kinkaid 11,223 25–31–12 62 Recap — March 14 Winnipeg — New Jersey Postponed due to the effects of the March 2017 nor'easter, rescheduled to March 28 69 March 16 Philadelphia 2–6 New Jersey Kinkaid 13,718 26–31–12 64 Recap 70 March 17 New Jersey 4–6 Pittsburgh Kinkaid 18,651 26–32–12 64 Recap 71 March 19 Columbus 4–1 New Jersey Schneider 14,254 26–33–12 64 Recap 72 March 21 NY Rangers 2–3 New Jersey OT Schneider 16,514 27–33–12 66 Recap 73 March 23 New Jersey 2–4 Toronto Kinkaid 19,142 27–34–12 66 Recap 74 March 25 Carolina 3–1 New Jersey Schneider 15,088 27–35–12 66 Recap 75 March 26 Dallas 2–1 New Jersey OT Kinkaid 14,711 27–35–13 67 Recap 76 March 28 Winnipeg 4–3 New Jersey SO Schneider 12,315 27–35–14 68 Recap 77 March 31 New Jersey 1–2 NY Islanders Kinkaid 13,766 27–36–14 68 Recap April: 1–4–0 (Home: 1–2–0; Road: 0–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 78 April 1 New Jersey 0–3 Philadelphia Schneider 19,911 27–37–14 68 Recap 79 April 4 Philadelphia 0–1 New Jersey OT Kinkaid 13,861 28–37–14 70 Recap 80 April 6 Pittsburgh 7–4 New Jersey Schneider 14,012 28–38–14 70 Recap 81 April 8 NY Islanders 4–2 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 28–39–14 70 Recap 82 April 9 New Jersey 1–4 Detroit Schneider 20,027 28–40–14 70 RecapLegend:

Media This was Sherry Ross's final season as a radio color commentator as she was let go at the end of the season. The next season, Chico Resch would return as color commentator on WFAN with Matt Loughlin.

Player statistics Final Stats Skaters

Regular season Player 80 26 27 53 2 46 72 20 33 53 −9 32 80 14 31 45 −8 33 82 20 20 40 −20 38 61 10 21 31 −9 21 80 3 28 31 −31 58 ‡ 59 13 14 27 −16 35 70 8 16 24 −17 19 63 12 10 22 −7 39 65 8 11 19 −3 20 60 8 9 17 −21 86 66 4 9 13 −16 8 ‡ 53 4 8 12 4 39 38 1 9 10 −1 16 53 4 5 9 −19 12 27 3 6 9 −10 26 † 32 6 2 8 4 22 43 4 3 7 −17 17 38 2 5 7 −6 14 82 1 6 7 −7 39 51 1 5 6 −9 24 25 2 2 4 1 2 ‡ 43 2 2 4 −14 15 12 1 3 4 1 2 ‡ 39 1 2 3 −11 29 11 0 3 3 −5 13 14 0 3 3 −5 30 23 1 1 2 −7 27 ‡ 9 0 2 2 0 2 9 1 0 1 2 15 10 0 1 1 −5 4 4 0 0 0 −3 4 3 0 0 0 0 0 5 0 0 0 −1 0 3 0 0 0 −4 4 11 0 0 0 −2 12

Goaltenders Regular season Player 60 59 3,472:50 20 27 11 163 2.82 1,781 0.908 2 0 0 0 26 23 1,476:05 8 13 3 65 2.64 778 0.916 1 0 1 0 †Denotes player spent time with another team before joining the Devils. Stats reflect time with the Devils only. ‡Denotes player was traded mid-season. Stats reflect time with the Devils only. Bold/italics denotes franchise record.

Awards and honors

Awards Regular season Player Award Awarded NHL Second Star of the Week November 27, 2016

Transactions The Devils have been involved in the following transactions during the 2016–17 season.

Trades DateRef To Pittsburgh PenguinsDET's 3rd-round pick in 2016 To New Jersey DevilsBeau Bennett To Edmonton OilersAdam Larsson To New Jersey DevilsTaylor Hall To Philadelphia FlyersConditional 7th-round pick in 2017 To New Jersey DevilsPetr Straka To Nashville Predators Vernon Fiddler To New Jersey Devils 4th-round pick in 2017 To Toronto Maple LeafsSergei Kalinin To New Jersey DevilsViktor Loov To Columbus Blue JacketsKyle Quincey To New Jersey DevilsDalton Prout To Nashville PredatorsP. A. Parenteau To New Jersey Devils6th-round pick in 2017 To Florida PanthersReece Scarlett To New Jersey DevilsShane Harper To Ottawa SenatorsBrandon Gormley To New Jersey DevilsFuture considerations To San Jose SharksBOS's 2nd-round pick (49th overall) in 2017NSH's 4th-round pick (123rd overall) in 2017 To New Jersey DevilsMirco MuellerSJS's 5th-round pick (143rd overall) in 2017

Free agents acquired Date Player Former team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref Ben Lovejoy Pittsburgh Penguins 3-year, $8 million Andrew MacWilliam Manitoba Moose 1-year, $575,000 Carter Camper Hershey Bears 1-year, $575,000 Vernon Fiddler Dallas Stars 1-year, $1.25 million Karl Stollery San Jose Barracuda 1-year, $575,000 Luke Gazdic Edmonton Oilers 1-year, $700,000 Brandon Gormley Colorado Avalanche 1-year, $650,000 Kyle Quincey Detroit Red Wings 1-year, $1.25 million Colby Sissons Swift Current Broncos 3-year, entry-level contract Kevin Rooney Albany Devils 1-year, entry-level contract Michael Kapla University of Massachusetts Lowell 2-year, entry-level contract Yaroslav Dyblenko HC Spartak Moscow 2-year, entry-level contract

Free agents lost Date Player New team Contract terms(in U.S. dollars) Ref David Schlemko San Jose Sharks 4-year, $8.4 million Jim O'Brien Colorado Avalanche 1-year, $600,000 Mike Sislo Colorado Avalanche 1-year, $600,000 David Warsofsky Pittsburgh Penguins 1-year, $575,000 Jordin Tootoo Chicago Blackhawks 1-year, $750,000 Bobby Farnham Montreal Canadiens 1-year, $575,000

Claimed via waivers Player Previous team Date Ref P. A. Parenteau New York Islanders October 11, 2016 Reid Boucher Nashville Predators January 2, 2017 Stefan Noesen Anaheim Ducks January 25, 2017

Lost via waivers Player New team Date Ref Reid Boucher Nashville Predators December 3, 2016 Reid Boucher Vancouver Canucks January 4, 2017

Players released Date Player Via Ref

Lost via retirement Date Player Ref Patrik Elias

Player signings