Five New Jersey Devils predictions for the upcoming season.
1. The Devils will make the playoffs They entered the off-season with clear needs for a) more secondary scoring; b) a No. 2 center; c) a top-4 defenseman. GM Ray Shero addressed all of it.
Jack Hughes was selected atop the draft and looks more than capable of filling the role as the center of the team’s 2nd scoring line, especially with the talent around him.
There’s a lot more pop on the wing with the KHL’s most dynamic point producer, Nikita Gusev, and perennial 20-goal scorer Wayne Simmonds joining the mix.
The return of 2017-18 Hart Trophy winner Taylor Hall is *massive*, and the potential emergence of Jesper Boqvist is a nice little bonus as well.
On defense, the addition of P.K. Subban is somewhat of a game changer. He may not be what he was five years ago but he’s still a strong defender with a booming shot and 45-50+ point potential. He provides a massive infusion of talent for a defense core that really needed it.
So long as Cory Schneider and Mackenzie Blackwood can provide even average goaltending, I like the Devils’ chances of getting back to the dance.
2. Will Butcher will be LD1 by April Despite the dip in production during his sophomore season – which can largely be attributed to a lack of PP points due to 600 injuries to his supporting cast – Butcher was actually good last year. Probably the best LD on the team. And he might be better now. In preseason, he’s looked a little more fluid, aggressive (in terms of shooting), and steady at both ends of the rink. I think he’s ready to take on a bigger role, and it’s only a matter of time before he gets it. Sami Vatanen is adequate but nothing special. Andy Greene is over his head playing big minutes on the top pairing. I think Butcher is the best fit alongside Subban, and I expect No. 8 will be lining up opposite side of him when the games matter most.
3. Nico Hischier will outscore Jack Hughes (and everyone else...besides Hall) Hughes is the shiny new toy and his offensive ceiling might be a little higher than Nico’s. I think it’s going to take some time to get there, though.
Hischier doesn’t get enough credit for how good he is with the puck. He’s a fantastic playmaker, of course, but he’s also really, really, good at generating chances around the paint. He has already developed into a high-end point producer at 5v5. All that’s missing is power play production to really make the numbers pop. This year, I think it’ll be there. In the past, being on PP2 meant playing with guys like Drew Stafford and Pavel Zacha. Now? It means skating with Nikita Gusev, Jesper Bratt, Hughes, and either Will Butcher (previously QB1) or Damon Severson (a more powerful shooter). I think his production will reflect that.
I wouldn’t be surprised if Hischier flirts with 70+ points.
4. The Devils acquire a defenseman at the deadline Subban, Butcher, Severson, Vatanen, and Greene make up the team’s undisputed top-5. They’re playing every night, end of story.
That means Mirco Mueller and Connor Carrick get to duke it out for the No. 6 role. Mueller handles the puck like a grenade and is very soft considering his stature. Carrick looks like a talented 6th defender – maybe he is! – but, for whatever reason the on-ice results don’t generally mesh with what the eyes tell us.
Don’t get me wrong. Mueller and Carrick are fine enough players to have around as rotational pieces in the event of an injury or two, but they’re not guys you want in the lineup every night – especially not come playoff time.
If the Devils are in the race at the deadline, as they should be, don’t be surprised if Shero brings in an upgrade.
5. Taylor Hall re-signs this season Sooner or later, I think this gets done. It’s no secret Hall is very content with all the added talent Shero brought on board. I think his stance will only be reaffirmed once the Devils start playing games and enjoy some success. Hall seems to have a great relationship with the coaching staff and management teams. He loves the way he’s been embraced in New Jersey and fetching big money obviously will not be an issue for a former Hart Trophy winner playing on a team with rather clean books.
Hall wants to keep things quiet. Understandably so, given what a distraction a situation like this could be if Hall says the wrong thing or a negative report about negotiations comes out.
I’m confident an extension will get done, though.
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