In this edition of the hotstove, we share our choices for best player on the New Jersey Devils.
Todd Cordell
Nico Hischier.
Although his counting totals don’t pop off the page, the 2017 1st overall pick has been productive from Day 1 – particularly at 5v5.
Hischier has averaged 2.04 points per 60 minutes through three seasons. That’s good for 68th among forwards, which means he has comfortably produced as a 1st liner. Some of the many Hischier has bested in terms of efficiency include Brock Boeser, Dylan Larkin, Blake Wheeler, Nicklas Backstrom, Anze Kopitar, Patrik Laine and Tyler Seguin. Not bad.
Nico also brings plus defense, a non-stop motor (he’s always working), and an almost unrivalled ability to draw penalties. Only 13 forwards have drawn them at a higher rate since he entered the league.
I think Hischier is already an excellent two-way player and believe the sky’s the limit if and when the Devils give him a competent supporting cast.
Sean Maloughney It seems like a no brainer to go with Taylor Ha... I mean Blake Cole... ummm.....Nico Hischier?
Hischier is likely a player that is underappreciated by those who don't follow the Devils on a regular basis. The 21 year old centre hasn't reached the same point production as he did in his rookie season when he went 20-32-52 yet he has still taken on the responsibility as the Devils top line centre.
Hischier has always been a strong producer at even strength, producing most of his goals at 5 on 5. The Devils this year were an absolute wreck but looking over the last two seasons together Hischier has produced more scoring chances while preventing more against than the likes of Kyle Palmieri. In fact Palmieri's numbers across the board improve when he is playing alongside Nico Hischier.
Palmieri might be a more prolific scorer right now, but for his age and his ability to drive play at both ends of the ice, I have to give the edge to Hischier.
James Tanner The best player on the Devils is pretty clearly Jack Hughes. This year, I would estimate that I watched at least three Devils games in their entirely, as well as a whole bunch of random periods and every time I watched them, I would be blown away by the supposedly struggling Hughes.
Hughes had only 21 points in 61 games, which are not good numbers for a 1st overall pick, but I believe that there were extenuating circumstances that combined to make him look much worse than he was.
Hughes stats were nothing to write home about, but one very interesting thing is the difference between his goals for % and his expected goals. Playing on a team with no goalie that is among the worst in the NHL means you are going to get out scored, but a GF% in the 30s is crazy bad. (2nd worst in the NHL for players who played at least 700 minutes and didn't play for Detroit).
Hughes expected goals rating was a much better 47%, which was 13 percentage points higher than reality. The reason was just plain old bad luck, which really stands out when that's how you start your career.
Hughes had a PDO of 97 (very unlucky) and a 5% on-ice shooting percentage, which was the 12th lowest of all players in the NHL who played 700 minutes. For a guy who is such a great passer, that is just a preposterous number.
But his personal shooting percentage was even worse, it was 2.38%. which is by far the lowest among any forward in the NHL who played 700 minutes. Does anyone honestly believe a player could get drafted first overall, enter the NHL immediately and then be the worst shooter in the league? Its impossible. He was insanely unlucky.
Further more, he when he did get on the ice with Hall and Coleman, he put up the superstar numbers you'd expect. Unfortunately he played with two declining formerly good players in Palmieri and Simmonds. Bottom line, Hughes is amazing, he hit a lot of posts, played with bad players on a crap team and was bizarrely unlucky. Buy up his rookie cards and resell them in two years. Trade for him in your keeper leagues. Jack Hughes will compete for a scoring title in the future, and will eventually live up to the hype. He's New Jersey's best player.
Numbers via NaturalStatTrick.com Recent posts Best player on the Minnesota Wild?