Devils face the Flyers in the final 2025-26 preseason game at 12:30 pm ET, with Nico Hischier out and a lineup likely loaded with AHL-bound players. The night doubles as an audition for fringe NHL hopefuls as the team pivots toward the home opener, while Noesen nears a return and Luke Hughes remains sidelined. Expect limited risk and plenty of opportunity for depth players to grab a roster spot, underscored by the Devils’ aim to cap preseason with a win.

Grimace’s cryptic drop of a prediction aside, the storyline centers on who steps up when the spotlight is switched to those fighting for real ice time. Flyers, likewise, will mix rosters for roster-bid chances, making this more about process than result as both clubs prepare for the regular season.

Kirill Kaprizov stays laser-focused on camp and hockey with a year left on his contract, insisting talks can wait. His agent handles the negotiations while he primes for the season, keeping fantasy managers confident in his elite production regardless of payroll chatter.

Meanwhile, Luke Hughes' long‑term deal with the New Jersey Devils remains unsettled, with a denials-filled path around a rumored six‑year figure. Both sides continue negotiating the number, as Devils cap realities clash with Hughes' upside.

The piece also nods to Nico Hischier and the Devils' budgeting dynamics, showing how teams balance growth, cost certainty, and the pull of young talent. The rumor circuit underlines that top teams monitor contracts while fantasy rosters scale up.

Category Giants redefine value in ESPN-style NHL H2H: chase specialists who dominate one category while still contributing elsewhere. The guide spotlights Connor, Point and Thompson as goal engines; Keller and Raymond as power-play and playmaking forces; Bratt, Hughes and Necas as elite helpers; Crosby and Trocheck on faceoffs and multi-category impact; Tkachuk as a holistic asset. It also maps top goaltending bets for wins and ratios, offering a blueprint for category-focused rostering.

Beyond the obvious stars, the piece highlights under-the-radar threads across assists, blocks, hits, and saves, urging managers to balance floor and upside. The takeaway: structure your lineup to maximize wins in multiple categories by pairing reliable point-producers with high-category specialists and versatile netminders who can swing ratios in close battles.

Luke Hughes' extension with the Devils is near the top of camp-talk, with teams weighing long-term security against a bridge deal to keep him in RFAs as cap space tightens. At 21, his ceiling argues for flexibility, and camp is a few weeks away, making a deal likely before the session begins.

Confidence from Nico Hischier and Devils brass frames the process; Hughes’ development and projected power-play impact keep him central to the team’s plans, elevating his fantasy upside this season.