2018–19 New Jersey Devils season explained

Season:	2018–19
Year:	2018
League:	NHL
Team:	New Jersey Devils
Division:	Metropolitan
Divisionrank:	8th
Conference:	Eastern
Conferencerank:	15th
Record:	31–41–10
Homerecord:	20–14–7
Roadrecord:	11–27–3
Goalsfor:	222
Goalsagainst:	275
Generalmanager:	Ray Shero
Coach:	John Hynes
Captain:	Andy Greene
Altcaptain:	Taylor Hall Kyle Palmieri Travis Zajac
Arena:	Prudential Center
Attendance:	14,834^[1]
Minorleague:	Binghamton Devils (AHL) Adirondack Thunder (ECHL)
Goalsleader:	Kyle Palmieri (27)
Assistsleader:	Nico Hischier (30)
Pointsleader:	Kyle Palmieri (50)
Pimleader:	Miles Wood (91)
Plusminusleader:	Ben Lovejoy (+1)
Winsleader:	Keith Kinkaid (15)
Gaaleader:	Mackenzie Blackwood (2.61)

The 2018–19 New Jersey Devils season was the 45th season for the National Hockey League franchise that was established on June 11, 1974, and 37th season since the franchise relocated from Colorado prior to the 1982–83 NHL season.^[2] The Devils were eliminated from playoff contention on March 15, 2019, despite defeating the Vancouver Canucks.^[3] 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,^[4] and selected Jack Hughes.^[5]

Standings

Conference standings

Schedule and results

Preseason

The preseason schedule was published on June 19, 2018.^[6]

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		11,386	0–0–1	Recap
2	September 17	New Jersey	1–3	Montreal			19,422	0–1–1	Recap
3	September 20	New Jersey	0–2	NY Islanders			4,722	0–2–1	Recap
4	September 24	New Jersey	3–4	NY Rangers	OT		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		OT	Kinkaid	17,031	2–2–2	Recap
Notes: Indicates split-squad. Game was played at PostFinance Arena in Bern, Switzerland.

Regular season

The regular season schedule was released on June 21, 2018.^{[7] [8]}

2018–19 game log
October: 5–3–1 (Home: 5–1–1 ; Road: 0–2–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 1 October 6 2–5 New Jersey 12,044 1–0–0 2 Recap 2 October 11 0–6 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 2–0–0 4 Recap 3 October 14 2–3 New Jersey Kinkaid 13,809 3–0–0 6 Recap 4 October 16 0–3 New Jersey Kinkaid 12,808 4–0–0 8 Recap 5 October 18 5–3 New Jersey Kinkaid 13,374 4–1–0 8 Recap 6 October 20 New Jersey 2–5 Kinkaid 19,105 4–2–0 8 Recap 7 October 25 4–3 New Jersey OT Kinkaid 15,164 4–2–1 9 Recap 8 October 27 2–3 New Jersey Kinkaid 15,927 5–2–1 11 Recap 9 October 30 New Jersey 3–8 Kinkaid 19,092 5–3–1 11 Recap
November: 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 18,273 5–4–1 11 Recap 11 November 3 New Jersey 0–3 11,901 5–5–1 11 Recap 12 November 5 New Jersey 5–1 Kinkaid 18,420 6–5–1 13 Recap 13 November 6 New Jersey 3–7 Schneider 12,491 6–6–1 13 Recap 14 November 9 New Jersey 1–6 Kinkaid 19,211 6–7–1 13 Recap 15 November 11 New Jersey 2–5 Schneider 15,321 6–8–1 13 Recap 16 November 13 2–4 New Jersey Kinkaid 15,108 7–8–1 15 Recap 17 November 15 New Jersey 3–0 Kinkaid 18,806 8–8–1 17 Recap 18 November 17 3–2 New Jersey OT Kinkaid 16,514 8–8–2 18 Recap 19 November 18 New Jersey 1–2 Schneider 11,211 8–9–2 18 Recap 20 November 21 2–5 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 9–9–2 20 Recap 21 November 23 4–3 New Jersey OT Kinkaid 16,514 9–9–3 21 Recap 22 November 25 New Jersey 2–5 Schneider 19,092 9–10–3 21 Recap 23 November 26 New Jersey 3–4 OT Kinkaid 9,456 9–10–4 22 Recap 24 November 30 New Jersey 3–6 Kinkaid 18,506 9–11–4 22 Recap
December: 6–5–3 (Home: 4–3–1 ; Road: 2–2–2) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 25 December 1 4–3 New Jersey OT 16,514 9–11–5 23 Recap 26 December 3 5–1 New Jersey Kinkaid 13,394 9–12–5 23 Recap 27 December 6 New Jersey 6–3 Kinkaid 17,568 10–12–5 25 Recap 28 December 9 New Jersey 5–6 SO 16,470 10–12–6 26 Recap 29 December 10 New Jersey 2–5 Kinkaid 17,097 10–13–6 26 Recap 30 December 14 4–5 New Jersey OT Kinkaid 14.076 11–13–6 28 Recap 31 December 15 New Jersey 1–2 SO Kinkaid 17,446 11–13–7 29 Recap 32 December 18 7–2 New Jersey Kinkaid 14,586 11–14–7 29 Recap 33 December 20 New Jersey 1–2 15,595 11–15–7 29 Recap 34 December 21 2–5 New Jersey Kinkaid 14,614 12–15–7 31 Recap 35 December 23 3–0 New Jersey Kinkaid 12,872 12–16–7 31 Recap 36 December 27 New Jersey 5–2 Blackwood 17,565 13–16–7 33 Recap 37 December 29 0–2 New Jersey Blackwood 16,514 14–16–7 35 Recap 38 December 31 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 18,133 15–17–7 37 Recap 40 January 4 New Jersey 3–2 SO 12,636 16–17–7 39 Recap 41 January 6 New Jersey 2–3 Kinkaid 18,103 16–18–7 39 Recap 42 January 8 New Jersey 1–5 Kinkaid 18,212 16–19–7 39 Recap 43 January 10 4–2 New Jersey Kinkaid 15,280 16–20–7 39 Recap 44 January 12 2–3 New Jersey Blackwood 16,514 17–20–7 41 Recap 45 January 14 5–8 New Jersey Blackwood 15,204 18–20–7 43 Recap 46 January 15 New Jersey 1–4 Kinkaid 16,377 18–21–7 43 Recap 47 January 17 New Jersey 1–4 Blackwood 12,088 18–22–7 43 Recap 48 January 19 3–2 New Jersey Blackwood 15,231 18–23–7 43 Recap 49 January 28 New Jersey 6–3 Kinkaid 18,609 19–23–7 45 Recap 50 January 31 4–3 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 19–24–7 45 Recap
February: 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 OT 21,302 20–24–7 47 Recap 52 February 5 5–1 New Jersey 14,508 20–25–7 47 Recap 53 February 7 2–1 New Jersey SO 13,265 20–25–8 48 Recap 54 February 9 4–2 New Jersey Schneider 15,783 20–26–8 48 Recap 55 February 10 2–3 New Jersey Kinkaid 16,514 21–26–8 50 Recap 56 February 12 New Jersey 3–8 Kinkaid 17,509 21–27–8 50 Recap 57 February 14 New Jersey 2–5 Schneider 21,038 21–28–8 50 Recap 58 February 15 New Jersey 5–4 OT Schneider 19,041 22–28–8 52 Recap 59 February 17 1–4 New Jersey Schneider 16,514 23–28–8 54 Recap 60 February 19 4–3 New Jersey Kinkaid 15,824 23–29–8 54 Recap 61 February 21 0–4 New Jersey Schneider 12,964 24–29–8 56 Recap 62 February 23 New Jersey 2–5 Schneider 17,371 24–30–8 56 Recap 63 February 25 1–2 New Jersey Schneider 12,791 25–30–8 58 Recap 64 February 27 2–1 New Jersey Blackwood 12,019 25–31–8 58 Recap
March: 4–9–2 (Home: 2–3–2 ; Road: 2–6–0) Date Visitor Score Home OT Decision Attendance Record Pts Recap 65 March 1 6–3 New Jersey 15,247 25–32–8 58 Recap 66 March 2 New Jersey 0–1 17,565 25–33–8 58 Recap 67 March 5 2–1 New Jersey SO Schneider 12,085 25–33–9 59 Recap 68 March 8 New Jersey 0–3 Blackwood 18,506 25–34–9 59 Recap 69 March 9 New Jersey 2–4 Schneider 17,386 25–35–9 59 Recap 70 March 12 New Jersey 4–9 Blackwood 18,529 25–36–9 59 Recap 71 March 13 New Jersey 6–3 Schneider 18,347 26–36–9 61 Recap 72 March 15 New Jersey 3–2 SO Blackwood 17,552 27–36–9 63 Recap 73 March 17 New Jersey 0–3 Schneider 18,037 27–37–9 63 Recap 74 March 19 4–1 New Jersey Blackwood 14,815 27–38–9 63 Recap 75 March 21 5–1 New Jersey Schneider 14,649 27–39–9 63 Recap 76 March 23 1–2 New Jersey SO Blackwood 16,514 28–39–9 65 Recap 77 March 25 1–3 New Jersey Schneider 12,053 29–39–9 67 Recap 78 March 29 New Jersey 0–4 Blackwood 19,515 29–40–9 67 Recap 79 March 30 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 2–4 New Jersey 14,776 30–40–10 70 Recap 81 April 4 New Jersey 1–3 17,645 30–41–10 70 Recap 82 April 6 New Jersey 4–3 OT Blackwood 15,259 31–41–10 72 Recap
Legend: Notes: Game was played at Scandinavium in Gothenburg, Sweden.

Player statistics

As of April 6, 2019^[9]

Skaters

Regular season^[10] ! Player! ! ! ! ! data-sort-type="number"

	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^[11] ! 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

Transactions

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

Trades

Date	Details		Ref
	To Minnesota Wild Michael Kapla	To New Jersey Devils Ryan Murphy	^[13]
	To Nashville Predators Brian Boyle	To New Jersey Devils 2nd-round pick in 2019	^[14]
	To Dallas Stars Ben Lovejoy	To New Jersey Devils Connor Carrick 3rd-round pick in 2019	^[15]
	To Columbus Blue Jackets Keith Kinkaid	To New Jersey Devils 5th-round pick in 2022	^[16]
	To Boston Bruins Marcus Johansson	To New Jersey Devils 2nd-round pick in 2019 4th-round pick in 2020	^[17]

Free agents

Date	Player	Team	Contract term	Ref
			1-year	^[18]
			3-year	^[19]
			1-year	^[20]
			1-year	^[21]
			5-year	^[22]
			1-year	^[23]
			1-year	^[24]
		to Manitoba Moose (AHL)	1-year	^[25]
			1-year	^[26]
		to Kunlun Red Star (KHL)	1-year	^[27]
		to Black Wings Linz (EBEL)	Unknown	^[28]
			1-year	^[29]
		to Stavanger Oilers (GET-ligaen)	Unknown	^[30]
		to San Diego Gulls (AHL)	1-year	^[31]
		from Chicoutimi Saguenéens (QMJHL)	1-year	^[32]
		from Binghamton Devils (AHL)	3-year	^[33]
	John Ramage	to Eisbären Berlin (DEL)	2-year	^[34]
		to Metallurg Magnitogorsk (KHL)	2-year	^[35]

Waivers

Date	Player	Team	Ref
			^[36]
	Jean-Sebastien Dea	to Pittsburgh Penguins	^[37]
			^[38]

Signings

Date	Player	Contract term	Ref
		1-year	^[39]
		1-year	^[40]
		3-year	^[41]
		1-year	^[42]
		1-year	^[43]
		3-year	^[44]
		2-year	^[45]
		3-year	^[46]
		3-year	^[47]
		4-year	^[48]
		1-year	^[49]
		2-year	^[50]
		2-year	^[51]
		3-year	^[52]
		3-year	^[53]
		3-year	^[54]

Draft picks

See also: List of New Jersey Devils 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 team
1	17	Ty Smith	D		Spokane Chiefs (WHL)
4	110	Xavier Bernard	D		Drummondville Voltigeurs (QMJHL)
5	136^1	Akira Schmid	G		SCL Tigers U20 (Junioren Elite A)
5	141	Yegor Sharangovich	C		Dinamo Minsk (KHL)
6	172	Mitchell Hoelscher	C		Ottawa 67's (OHL)
7	203	Eetu Pakkila	LW		Kärpät (Liiga)

1. 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.^[55]

Notes and References

1. Web site: 2018-2019 NHL Attendance . ESPN.com . November 7, 2021.
2. Book: National Hockey League . The National Hockey League Official Guide & Record Book/2011 . 2010 . Triumph Books . 83 . 978-1-60078-422-4.
3. Web site: Woodley . Kevin . Devils defeat Canucks but eliminated from playoff contention . NHL.com . March 16, 2019 . March 16, 2019.
4. Web site: Wyshynski . Greg . Devils beat odds to win lottery, chance at Hughes . ESPN.com . April 10, 2019 . April 9, 2019.
5. Web site: Devils select Jack Hughes with No. 1 pick of 2019 NHL Draft . Sportsnet.ca . June 28, 2019 . June 21, 2019.
6. Web site: Devils set 2018-19 preseason schedule . NHL.com . June 19, 2018 . June 19, 2018.
7. Web site: 2018-19 New Jersey Devils Schedule . AP News . October 1, 2018 . June 21, 2018.
8. Web site: Mastracco . Abbey . NHL announces regular season schedule . North Jersey . October 1, 2018 . June 21, 2018.
9. Web site: New Jersey Devils Stats - 2018-2019 - Regular season . NHL.com . April 8, 2019.
10. Web site: NHL.com – Stats – New Jersey Devils Skaters – Regular season . NHL.com . April 8, 2019.
11. Web site: NHL.com – Stats – New Jersey Devils Goalies – Regular season . NHL.com . April 8, 2019.
12. Web site: Kane leads 3 Stars of the Week . NHL.com . May 12, 2020 . December 31, 2018.
13. Web site: Devils acquire defenseman Ryan Murphy from Wild . NHL.com . January 31, 2019 . January 30, 2019.
14. Web site: Devils acquire second-round pick from Nashville . NHL.com . February 6, 2019 . February 6, 2019.
15. Web site: Devils acquire Third-Round pick and defenseman Connor Carrick from Dallas . NHL.com . February 23, 2019 . February 23, 2019.
16. Web site: Devils acquire fifth-round pick from Columbus . NHL.com . February 25, 2019 . February 25, 2019.
17. Web site: Devils acquire second and fourth round picks from Boston . NHL.com . February 25, 2019 . February 25, 2019.
18. Web site: Devils sign forward Kurtis Gabriel to one-year, two-way contract . NHL.com . July 2018 . July 1, 2018.
19. Web site: Coyotes Sign Grabner to Three-Year Contract . NHL.com . July 2, 2018 . July 1, 2018.
20. Web site: Devils sign defenseman Eric Gryba to a one-year, two-way contract . NHL.com . July 2018 . July 1, 2018.
21. Web site: Penguins Sign Four Players to One-Year, Two-Way Deals . NHL.com . July 2, 2018 . July 1, 2018.
22. Web site: Bruins Announce Seven Transactions On July 1 . NHL.com . July 2, 2018 . July 1, 2018.
23. Web site: Devils sign defenseman John Ramage to a one-year, two-way contract . NHL.com . July 2018 . July 1, 2018.
24. Web site: Ducks Sign Six in Free Agency, Including Schenn . NHL.com . July 3, 2018 . July 2, 2018.
25. Web site: Moose Sign Seven Players . NHL.com . July 5, 2018 . July 3, 2018.
26. Web site: Maroon signs one-year deal with hometown Blues . NHL.com . July 10, 2018 . July 10, 2018.
27. Web site: Michael Latta signs with Kunlun Red Star, will play in KHL next season . russianmachineneverbreaks.com . July 19, 2018 . July 19, 2018.
28. Web site: BRACKEN KEARNS VERVOLLSTÄNDIGT KADER . blackwings.at . July 30, 2018 . de-AT . August 23, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180823043607/https://www.blackwings.at/news/beitrag/bracken-kearns-vervollstaendigt-kader.html . dead .
29. Web site: Devils sign forward Eric Tangradi to a one-year, two-way contract . NHL.com . July 26, 2018 . July 25, 2018.
30. Web site: Siste signering på plass . oilers.no . July 29, 2018 . August 5, 2018 . no-NO.
31. Web site: GULLS SIGN LEFT WING BEN THOMSON TO ONE-YEAR CONTRACT . sandiegogulls.com . September 8, 2018 . https://web.archive.org/web/20180907032348/http://www.sandiegogulls.com/roster_090518/ . September 7, 2018 . dead . mdy-all.
32. Web site: Devils ink defenseman Jérémy Groleau to a three-year entry level contract . NHL.com . September 27, 2018 . September 25, 2018.
33. Web site: Devils sign goaltender Evan Cormier to a three-year entry level contract . NHL.com . February 25, 2019 . February 24, 2019.
34. Web site: Neuer Eisbären-Verteidiger John Ramage kommt aus Binghamto . eisbaeren.de . May 11, 2019 . de-DE . May 9, 2019.
35. Web site: Егор Яковлев пополнил состав "Металлурга" . metallurg.ru . May 16, 2019 . ru-RU . May 15, 2019.
36. Web site: Ryan . Chris . Devils claim Jean-Sebastien Dea from Penguins . NJ.com . September 30, 2018 . September 28, 2018.
37. Web site: Penguins Claim Jean-Sebastien Dea Off Waivers From New Jersey . NHL.com . November 29, 2018 . November 29, 2018.
38. Web site: McLoughlin . Caela . Welcome home, Kenny Agostino . NHL.com . February 12, 2019 . February 11, 2019.
39. Web site: Devils re-sign goaltender Eddie Lack . NHL.com . June 30, 2018 . June 30, 2018.
40. Web site: Defenseman Michael Kapla accepts qualifying offer . NHL.com . July 21, 2018 . July 16, 2018.
41. Web site: Devils agree to terms with forward Blake Coleman on a three-year contract . NHL.com . July 21, 2018 . July 17, 2018.
42. Web site: Devils agree to terms with forward Stefan Noesen on a one-year contract . NHL.com . July 21, 2018 . July 17, 2018.
43. Web site: Devils re-sign forward Nick Lappin to a one-year contract . NHL.com . July 21, 2018 . July 20, 2018.
44. Web site: Devils sign forward Yegor Sharangovich to entry-level contract . NHL.com . July 26, 2018 . July 25, 2018.
45. Web site: Devils re-sign forward Kevin Rooney to a two-year contract . NHL.com . August 13, 2018 . August 13, 2018.
46. Web site: Devils re-sign defenseman Steven Santini to a three-year contract . NHL.com . August 14, 2018 . August 14, 2018.
47. Web site: Devils sign defenseman Ty Smith to entry-level contract . NHL.com . August 21, 2018 . August 20, 2018.
48. Web site: Devils re-sign forward Miles Wood to a four-year contract . NHL.com . September 25, 2018 . September 22, 2018.
49. Web site: Devils agree to terms with right wing Drew Stafford . NHL.com . October 10, 2018 . October 5, 2018.
50. Web site: Devils agree to terms with Jeremy Davies . NHL.com . April 4, 2019 . April 3, 2019.
51. Web site: RELEASE: Devils sign Gilles Senn to a two-year entry-level contract . NHL.com . April 17, 2019 . April 17, 2019.
52. Web site: RELEASE: Devils sign Mikhail Maltsev to a three-year entry-level contract . NHL.com . May 15, 2019 . May 13, 2019.
53. Web site: RELEASE: Devils sign Fabian Zetterlund to three-year entry-level contract . NHL.com . May 15, 2019 . May 13, 2019.
54. Web site: RELEASE: Boqvist Agrees to Terms . NHL.com . June 11, 2019 . June 10, 2019.
55. Web site: Devils acquire fifth-round pick from Arizona . NHL.com . June 5, 2018 . October 28, 2017.