The 2018–19 New Jersey Devils season was the 45th season for the National Hockey League (NHL) franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and 37th season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season. The Devils were eliminated from playoff contention on March 15, 2019, despite defeating the Vancouver Canucks. After missing the playoffs, the Devils received the first overall selection in the 2019 NHL entry draft, which was the second time in three years for the team, and selected Jack Hughes.

Standings

Divisional standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Preseason The preseason schedule was published on June 19, 2018. 2018 preseason game log: 2–2–2 (Home: 0–0–1; Road: 2–2–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Recap 1 September 17 NY Rangers 4–3 New Jersey OT Johnson 11,386 0–0–1 Recap 2 September 17 New Jersey 1–3 Montreal Blackwood 19,422 0–1–1 Recap 3 September 20 New Jersey 0–2 NY Islanders Kinkaid 4,722 0–2–1 Recap 4 September 24 New Jersey 3–4 NY Rangers OT Läck 12,737 0–2–2 Recap 5 September 27 New Jersey 5–3 Winnipeg Kinkaid 15,321 1–2–2 Recap 6 October 1 New Jersey 3–2 SC Bern OT Kinkaid 17,031 2–2–2 RecapNotes: Indicates split-squad. Game was played at PostFinance Arena in Bern, Switzerland.

Regular season The regular season schedule was released on June 21, 2018. 2018–19 game logOctober: 5–3–1 (Home: 5–1–1; Road: 0–2–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 6 Edmonton 2–5 New Jersey Kinkaid 12,044 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 11 Washington 0–6 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 2–0–0 4 Recap 3 October 14 San Jose 2–3 New Jersey Kinkaid 13,809 3–0–0 6 Recap 4 October 16 Dallas 0–3 New Jersey Kinkaid 12,808 4–0–0 8 Recap 5 October 18 Colorado 5–3 New Jersey Kinkaid 13,374 4–1–0 8 Recap 6 October 20 New Jersey 2–5 Philadelphia Kinkaid 19,105 4–2–0 8 Recap 7 October 25 Nashville 4–3 New Jersey OT Kinkaid 15,164 4–2–1 9 Recap 8 October 27 Florida 2–3 New Jersey Kinkaid 15,927 5–2–1 11 Recap 9 October 30 New Jersey 3–8 Tampa Bay Kinkaid 19,092 5–3–1 11 RecapNovember: 4–8–3 (Home: 2–0–2; Road: 2–8–1) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 10 November 1 New Jersey 3–4 Detroit Schneider 18,273 5–4–1 11 Recap 11 November 3 New Jersey 0–3 NY Islanders Kinkaid 11,901 5–5–1 11 Recap 12 November 5 New Jersey 5–1 Pittsburgh Kinkaid 18,420 6–5–1 13 Recap 13 November 6 New Jersey 3–7 Ottawa Schneider 12,491 6–6–1 13 Recap 14 November 9 New Jersey 1–6 Toronto Kinkaid 19,211 6–7–1 13 Recap 15 November 11 New Jersey 2–5 Winnipeg Schneider 15,321 6–8–1 13 Recap 16 November 13 Pittsburgh 2–4 New Jersey Kinkaid 15,108 7–8–1 15 Recap 17 November 15 New Jersey 3–0 Philadelphia Kinkaid 18,806 8–8–1 17 Recap 18 November 17 Detroit 3–2 New Jersey OT Kinkaid 16,514 8–8–2 18 Recap 19 November 18 New Jersey 1–2 Carolina Schneider 11,211 8–9–2 18 Recap 20 November 21 Montreal 2–5 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 9–9–2 20 Recap 21 November 23 NY Islanders 4–3 New Jersey OT Kinkaid 16,514 9–9–3 21 Recap 22 November 25 New Jersey 2–5 Tampa Bay Schneider 19,092 9–10–3 21 Recap 23 November 26 New Jersey 3–4 Florida OT Kinkaid 9,456 9–10–4 22 Recap 24 November 30 New Jersey 3–6 Washington Kinkaid 18,506 9–11–4 22 RecapDecember: 6–5–3 (Home: 4–3–1; Road: 2–2–2) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 1 Winnipeg 4–3 New Jersey OT Kinkaid 16,514 9–11–5 23 Recap 26 December 3 Tampa Bay 5–1 New Jersey Kinkaid 13,394 9–12–5 23 Recap 27 December 6 New Jersey 6–3 Los Angeles Kinkaid 17,568 10–12–5 25 Recap 28 December 9 New Jersey 5–6 Anaheim SO Schneider 16,470 10–12–6 26 Recap 29 December 10 New Jersey 2–5 San Jose Kinkaid 17,097 10–13–6 26 Recap 30 December 14 Vegas 4–5 New Jersey OT Kinkaid 14.076 11–13–6 28 Recap 31 December 15 New Jersey 1–2 Nashville SO Kinkaid 17,446 11–13–7 29 Recap 32 December 18 Toronto 7–2 New Jersey Kinkaid 14,586 11–14–7 29 Recap 33 December 20 New Jersey 1–2 Columbus Blackwood 15,595 11–15–7 29 Recap 34 December 21 Ottawa 2–5 New Jersey Kinkaid 14,614 12–15–7 31 Recap 35 December 23 Columbus 3–0 New Jersey Kinkaid 12,872 12–16–7 31 Recap 36 December 27 New Jersey 5–2 Boston Blackwood 17,565 13–16–7 33 Recap 37 December 29 Carolina 0–2 New Jersey Blackwood 16,514 14–16–7 35 Recap 38 December 31 Vancouver 0–4 New Jersey Blackwood 15,772 15–16–7 37 Recap January: 4–8–0 (Home: 2–3–0; Road: 2–5–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 39 January 2 New Jersey 4–5 Dallas Blackwood 18,133 15–17–7 37 Recap 40 January 4 New Jersey 3–2 Arizona SO Kinkaid 12,636 16–17–7 39 Recap 41 January 6 New Jersey 2–3 Vegas Kinkaid 18,103 16–18–7 39 Recap 42 January 8 New Jersey 1–5 Buffalo Kinkaid 18,212 16–19–7 39 Recap 43 January 10 Toronto 4–2 New Jersey Kinkaid 15,280 16–20–7 39 Recap 44 January 12 Philadelphia 2–3 New Jersey Blackwood 16,514 17–20–7 41 Recap 45 January 14 Chicago 5–8 New Jersey Blackwood 15,204 18–20–7 43 Recap 46 January 15 New Jersey 1–4 Columbus Kinkaid 16,377 18–21–7 43 Recap 47 January 17 New Jersey 1–4 NY Islanders Blackwood 12,088 18–22–7 43 Recap 48 January 19 Anaheim 3–2 New Jersey Blackwood 15,231 18–23–7 43 Recap 49 January 28 New Jersey 6–3 Pittsburgh Kinkaid 18,609 19–23–7 45 Recap 50 January 31 NY Rangers 4–3 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 19–24–7 45 RecapFebruary: 6–7–1 (Home: 4–4–1; Road: 2–3–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 51 February 2 New Jersey 3–2 Montreal OT Blackwood 21,302 20–24–7 47 Recap 52 February 5 Los Angeles 5–1 New Jersey Kinkaid 14,508 20–25–7 47 Recap 53 February 7 NY Islanders 2–1 New Jersey SO Schneider 13,265 20–25–8 48 Recap 54 February 9 Minnesota 4–2 New Jersey Schneider 15,783 20–26–8 48 Recap 55 February 10 Carolina 2–3 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 21–26–8 50 Recap 56 February 12 New Jersey 3–8 St. Louis Kinkaid 17,509 21–27–8 50 Recap 57 February 14 New Jersey 2–5 Chicago Schneider 21,038 21–28–8 50 Recap 58 February 15 New Jersey 5–4 Minnesota OT Schneider 19,041 22–28–8 52 Recap 59 February 17 Buffalo 1–4 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 23–28–8 54 Recap 60 February 19 Pittsburgh 4–3 New Jersey Kinkaid 15,824 23–29–8 54 Recap 61 February 21 Ottawa 0–4 New Jersey Schneider 12,964 24–29–8 56 Recap 62 February 23 New Jersey 2–5 NY Rangers Schneider 17,371 24–30–8 56 Recap 63 February 25 Montreal 1–2 New Jersey Schneider 12,791 25–30–8 58 Recap 64 February 27 Calgary 2–1 New Jersey Blackwood 12,019 25–31–8 58 RecapMarch: 4–9–2 (Home: 2–3–2; Road: 2–6–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 65 March 1 Philadelphia 6–3 New Jersey Schneider 15,247 25–32–8 58 Recap 66 March 2 New Jersey 0–1 Boston Blackwood 17,565 25–33–8 58 Recap 67 March 5 Columbus 2–1 New Jersey SO Schneider 12,085 25–33–9 59 Recap 68 March 8 New Jersey 0–3 Washington Blackwood 18,506 25–34–9 59 Recap 69 March 9 New Jersey 2–4 NY Rangers Schneider 17,386 25–35–9 59 Recap 70 March 12 New Jersey 4–9 Calgary Blackwood 18,529 25–36–9 59 Recap 71 March 13 New Jersey 6–3 Edmonton Schneider 18,347 26–36–9 61 Recap 72 March 15 New Jersey 3–2 Vancouver SO Blackwood 17,552 27–36–9 63 Recap 73 March 17 New Jersey 0–3 Colorado Schneider 18,037 27–37–9 63 Recap 74 March 19 Washington 4–1 New Jersey Blackwood 14,815 27–38–9 63 Recap 75 March 21 Boston 5–1 New Jersey Schneider 14,649 27–39–9 63 Recap 76 March 23 Arizona 1–2 New Jersey SO Blackwood 16,514 28–39–9 65 Recap 77 March 25 Buffalo 1–3 New Jersey Schneider 12,053 29–39–9 67 Recap 78 March 29 New Jersey 0–4 Detroit Blackwood 19,515 29–40–9 67 Recap 79 March 30 St. Louis 3–2 New Jersey OT Schneider 16,514 29–40–10 68 Recap April: 2–1–0 (Home: 1–0–0; Road: 1–1–0) # Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 80 April 1 NY Rangers 2–4 New Jersey Blackwood 14,776 30–40–10 70 Recap 81 April 4 New Jersey 1–3 Carolina Schneider 17,645 30–41–10 70 Recap 82 April 6 New Jersey 4–3 Florida OT Blackwood 15,259 31–41–10 72 RecapLegend:

Notes: Game was played at Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Player statistics As of April 6, 2019

Skaters Regular season Player 74 27 23 50 42 69 17 30 47 0 24 80 19 27 46 20 82 11 28 39 56 33 11 26 37 16 78 22 14 36 71 51 8 25 33 6 78 4 26 30 18‡ 48 12 15 27 8 61 13 12 25 15 82 5 20 25 16 63 10 14 24 91‡ 47 13 6 19 22 50 4 13 17 22 51 5 8 13 31 57 5 8 13 18 27 4 9 13 6 53 1 10 11 17 41 6 4 10 15 41 3 5 8 28 34 4 3 7 6 25 2 5 7 6‡ 51 2 5 7 +1 33† 20 1 6 7 6 20 3 2 5 6 22 2 2 4 0 59 39 1 3 4 16 7 3 0 3 0 10 21 0 3 3 13 19 1 0 1 4 6 0 1 1 0† 1 0 1 1 0 0 19 0 1 1 6 3 0 0 0 2 1 0 0 0 0 11 0 0 0 0 1 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 0 10

Goaltenders Regular season Player ‡ 41 38 2,301:58 15 18 6 129 3.36 1,188 .891 3 0 0 0 23 21 1,263:52 10 10 0 55 2.61 669 .918 2 0 0 0 26 23 1,371:47 6 13 4 70 3.06 718 .903 1 0 0 0

Awards and honors

Awards Regular season Player Award Date NHL Third Star of the Week December 31, 2018

Transactions The Devils have been involved in the following transactions during the 2018–19 season.

Trades Date Details Ref To Minnesota WildMichael KaplaTo New Jersey DevilsRyan Murphy To Nashville PredatorsBrian BoyleTo New Jersey Devils2nd-round pick in 2019 To Dallas StarsBen LovejoyTo New Jersey DevilsConnor Carrick3rd-round pick in 2019 To Columbus Blue JacketsKeith KinkaidTo New Jersey Devils5th-round pick in 2022 To Boston BruinsMarcus JohanssonTo New Jersey Devils2nd-round pick in 20194th-round pick in 2020

Free agents Date Player Team Contract term Ref Kurtis Gabriel from Minnesota Wild 1-year Michael Grabner to Arizona Coyotes 3-year Eric Gryba from Edmonton Oilers 1-year Jimmy Hayes to Pittsburgh Penguins 1-year John Moore to Boston Bruins 5-year John Ramage from Nashville Predators 1-year Brian Gibbons to Anaheim Ducks 1-year Ken Appleby to Manitoba Moose (AHL) 1-year Patrick Maroon to St. Louis Blues 1-year Michael Latta to Kunlun Red Star (KHL) 1-year Bracken Kearns to Black Wings Linz (EBEL) Unknown Eric Tangradi from Detroit Red Wings 1-year Mario Lucia to Stavanger Oilers (GET-ligaen) Unknown Ben Thomson to San Diego Gulls (AHL) 1-year Jérémy Groleau from Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL) 1-year Evan Cormier from Binghamton Devils (AHL) 3-year John Ramage to Eisbären Berlin (DEL) 2-year Egor Yakovlev to Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL) 2-year

Waivers Date Player Team Ref Jean-Sébastien Dea from Pittsburgh Penguins Jean-Sébastien Dea to Pittsburgh Penguins Kenny Agostino from Montreal Canadiens

Signings Date Player Contract term Ref Eddie Läck 1-year Michael Kapla 1-year Blake Coleman 3-year Stefan Noesen 1-year Nick Lappin 1-year Yegor Sharangovich 3-year Kevin Rooney 2-year Steven Santini 3-year Ty Smith 3-year Miles Wood 4-year Drew Stafford 1-year Jeremy Davies 2-year Gilles Senn 2-year Mikhail Maltsev 3-year Fabian Zetterlund 3-year Jesper Boqvist 3-year

Draft picks

Below are the New Jersey Devils' selections at the 2018 NHL entry draft, which was held on June 22 and 23, 2018, at the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas.

Round # Player Pos Nationality College/junior/club team117 Ty Smith D Spokane Chiefs (WHL)4110 Xavier Bernard D Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)51361 Akira Schmid G SCL Tigers U20 (Junioren Elite A)5141 Yegor Sharangovich C Dinamo Minsk (KHL)6172 Mitchell Hoelscher C Ottawa 67's (OHL)7203 Eetu Päkkilä LW Kärpät (Liiga) The Calgary Flames' fifth-round pick went to the New Jersey Devils as the result of a trade on October 28, 2017, that sent Scott Wedgewood to Arizona in exchange for this pick.

References