Game Preview #76: New Jersey Devils vs. Montreal Canadiens

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 06: Cole Caufield #13 of the Montreal Canadiens competes for the puck against Nico Hischier #13 of the New Jersey Devils during the first period at Prudential Center on November 06, 2025 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Sarah Stier/Getty Images) | Getty Images The Matchup: The New Jersey Devils (39-34-2) versus the Montreal Canadiens (44-21-10) The Time: 7:00 PM EDT The Broadcast: TV — MSG, NHLN; Radio — Devils Hockey Network Halonen and McLaughlin Recalled This morning, the New Jersey Devils announced that they recalled Brian Halonen and Marc McLaughlin from the Utica Comets. This will allow them to remove Evgenii Dadonov from the lineup.

Not only was Dadonov on track to make another quarter-million dollars that would have been tacked onto next year’s cap hit as a bonus overage, Dadonov has been, by far, the least effective player on the ice in the few games he’s played for a team. Since March 1, Dadonov has had a shockingly low 26. 35 expected goals percentage, which about half the average put up by the rest of the team.

#NEWS : We've recalled forwards Brian Halonen and Marc McLaughlin from Utica (AHL). They will join us for today’s morning skate. https://t.

co/URc482J615 — New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 4, 2026 This season, Halonen has a goal in nine games for the Devils, as well as 19 goals and 13 assists in 48 games for the Comets. I would hope that he displaces Dadonov from the lineup, though I would have liked to see him get a chance on the third line. Now that Bjugstad has been promoted there, I doubt Halonen will get many minutes to show what he can do.