Devils News & Rumors: Evangelista’s Early Success, Boqvist’s Season Debut, & More

The New Jersey Devils kicked off the 2026-27 season with a 1-1-0 record, following an overtime win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Oct. 1 and a shutout loss on the road against the New York Islanders on Oct. 3. Now, the club will try to bounce back on Tuesday night, opening a three-game homestand against the Utah Mammoth.

It’s a matter of time before the team’s newcomers find their rhythm and special teams start connecting. Once that happens, the Devils will be in a much better position to tackle the season ahead. This installment of News and Rumors spotlights Luke Evangelista‘s fit on the team so far, Jesper Boqvist making his season debut, and the Prudential Financial partnership expansion.

It often takes a while for players to navigate the locker room of a new team, find chemistry with their linemates, and acclimate to new surroundings. That has not been the case for Evangelista, who has slotted in alongside Timo Meier and Nico Hischier as if they’ve been playing together for years.

He scored two goals in the Devils’ 4-1 preseason win against the Islanders and notched his first goal on the power play off a wrist shot below the crossbar six minutes into the first period. He struck again in the second, picking up Hischier’s rebound and firing it past Ilya Sorokin.

Power play putting the league on notice. https://t.co/9GpEOgNpXV

Whether he’s driving the net or creating scoring chances, he has the potential to become a major contributor to the Devils’ offense. He leads the team with six high-danger scoring chances and ranks fourth on the team in ice time (37:04) and shots on goal (7).

Following New Jersey’s overtime win against the Flyers, Evangelista joined NHL Tonight and talked about how his time in New Jersey has been so far. “I love this squad,” he said. “And the boys have been great. I think we have a chance to do something special this year with this roster.”

During Monday’s practice, Boqvist took Stefan Noesen’s place on the fourth line, skating with Cody Glass and Amadeus Lombardi. He appeared in two preseason games, recording one assist, three shots on goal, and four shot attempts in 30:34 of ice time.

The lineup adjustment came ahead of tonight’s matchup against the Mammoth — a team known for its speed and skating ability. Head coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters, “I think he can help us, especially given the opponent and the nature of his game…There’s a skillset that comes with the speed.”

Jesper Boqvist, New Jersey Devils (Jess Starr/The Hockey Writers)

Boqvist shared his excitement after practice, citing the team’s positive energy and his familiarity with the organization. But he also stressed that he’s improved as a player, particularly his consistency and two-way play: “I learned a lot from a lot of good players the last few years…You have to be levelheaded all the time and know what you have to do, and trust yourself, trust your teammates, trust assistant coaches and all that.”

He last wore a Devils jersey during the team’s record-breaking 2022-23 season before joining the Boston Bruins. Since then, he’s evolved into a smart, responsible player who can become a major asset on the team’s fourth line.

Earlier this week, the Devils unveiled an expanded partnership with Prudential Financial, Inc. Beginning this season, the Prudential logo will be displayed on the club’s first away jersey, and their asset management company, PGIM, will be presented on an away helmet.

The patch and decal made their debut against the Islanders on Saturday night, and Hischier told the media, “Our jersey symbolizes more than just a hockey team, and we’re proud to represent partners like Prudential and PGIM on the road, who are as dedicated to our community as we are.”

Packed the essentials for the road. https://t.co/LD0OawVAYI

Both initiatives represent Prudential’s commitment to Newark pride, and the company will continue to support the community with other efforts, including the Raise Jersey program, which highlights nonprofit and social service organizations.

Jake Reynolds, President of the New Jersey Devils and Prudential Center, commented on the positive impact of this development. “As Prudential becomes our first-ever away jersey patch partner and PGIM joins as our away helmet decal partner,” he said, “we’re building on a strong foundation on and off the ice, while creating new opportunities to engage fans, support community organizations, honor our heroes, and invest in the future of our region.”

As always, stay up to date with the latest news, updates, and analysis with The Hockey Writers.

This article first appeared on The Hockey Writers and was syndicated with permission.