Devils 2025-26 Player Preview: Brenden Dillon – Hockey Writer – New Jersey Devils

With the sight of training camp, the New Jersey Devils traveled wildly during the 2025-26 season. Faced with fierce competition from the Metropolitan Division, they must prove themselves to maintain a serious Stanley Cup contender. They have excellent goalkeepers, paired with explosive offense and rock-fixed blue lines, to take the team to new heights. The series will serve as a guide, analyzing each player on the roster and studying how their upcoming season will look.

The fourth issue of the Devil’s Preview and Prediction brings physical and senior leadership to the lineup in addition to heavyweight defender Brenden Dillon.

Brenden Dillon: One Eye

Drafting: Not drafted

Contract status: Grade 3, with an average annual value of US$4 million (AAV)

2024-25 Data: Two goals, 14 assists (16 points in 82 games)

Career Statistics: 39 goals, 173 assists (212 points in 974 games)

Review on 2024-25

Last year, the Devils acquired Dillon as an unrestricted free agent (UFA) in the offseason, agreeing to a three-year $12 million contract. He was brought to a strong, tough player who certainly sent his first season in New Jersey. Not only did he bring new experiences to their defense, he also acted as a law enforcement officer, setting the tone that the devil would not be like the devil before the season. Instead, he set an example and actively defended his teammates, and the rest of the roster quickly fell into trouble. He proved early on that he was willing to engage in tough dirty games, which only made the team stronger.

Dillon played all 82 games last season, with an average of 18:35 ice time per game. His points production has dropped slightly compared to 2023-24, but he still ended with two goals and 14 assists last season. Similar to his tenure with the Winnipeg Jets, he played a crucial top four, closing off opponents’ scoring opportunities while also leveraging his considerable scale to his advantage. His body shines, with 108 blocks and 188 hits, second only to Paul Cotter.

Although not a well-known scorer, his offensive statistics improved due to his lap leader Dougie Hamilton. The two had a percentage goal of 58.75 goals in total (GF%), while Jake Allen and Jacob Markstrom averaged .906 percent savings on ice (SV%) on 5-on-5. According to Moneypuck, Hamilton and Dillon also led the defensive line in terms of scoring metrics, scoring 3.57 goals per 60 minutes (GF/60).

Unfortunately, Dillon’s time in the 2025 Stanley Cup playoffs was shortened due to a neck injury. In the first game, he landed awkwardly on his back and was eliminated for the rest of the playoffs. In his exit interview, he was optimistic that he would be able to return to the camp in time. Likewise, he is proud of his achievements with the team during the regular season, especially in free throw kills. Last season, he led the Devil with just a short ice time, while also recording the most hit percentage (16). Overall, Dillon has achieved positive attitudes in his first season with the Devils, named after a heavy blow, and has the ability to strengthen the Blue Line.

2025-26 Expectations

It’s obvious that Dillon has fine-tuned the physical aspects of his game, but he should focus on the defensive awareness of the upcoming season. He has the worst shot rate for (31.59 sa/60) and unstopped shooting attempts (49.51 fa/60). This raises the question of whether Dillon can benefit from another defensive partner.

With Johnathan Kovacevic missing the start of the regular season, it is already possible to adjust other lines. Head coach Sheldon Keefe has to decide whether Dillon should continue to try to play alongside Hamilton, or play with less offensive defensive players. Last season, he spent quite a while with Simon Nemec due to various injuries, as Nemec could benefit from senior partners. However, this decision encountered different results, and the two achieved more goals on the ice than for the sake of it. However, since Nemec seems to have found his own game in the playoffs, Dillon-Nemec’s pairing should have a chance to redeem.

Related: Devils 2025-26 Player Preview: Timo Meier

Another aspect that Dillon Games should take in 2025-26, including his fine killing contribution. Even if he can stretch the puck muscles and block the shooting, his position in the defensive zone needs work. His ice statistics have been declining over the past few seasons. According to natural statistics techniques, the Devil surrendered 17 high-range goals and scored on the ice with Dillon on the ice with 100 high-range goals.

His advantage may be physically, but the devil needs to shut down ability, especially since Kovacevic-Siegenthaler pairing is not available early in the season. Not only does Dillon need a net lead in 2025-26, but he should also focus on discipline considering the club’s second penalty minutes. This season should be a volatile balance between his resilience being effective or hindering the team’s overall performance.

Moving forward, Dillon may continue to exist, but hopefully he will be able to perfect his defensive game and be able to contribute in high-risk situations. Still, he is a crucial senior leader who can improve his game with a few minor tweaks.