5 New Jersey Devils Who Could Win Awards This Season

LAS VEGAS, NV - JUNE 20: Taylor Hall of the New Jersey Devils accepts the Hart Trophy given to the most valuable player to his team onstage at the 2018 NHL Awards presented by Hulu at The Joint inside the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on June 20, 2018 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Eliot J. Schechter/NHLI via Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Rich Graessle/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

1. Nico Hischier For Selke Trophy

The Frank J. Selke Trophy is supposed to go to the forward who excels most at the defensive aspects of the NHL game, but it never actually works out that way. If that was the case, a Zajac like player who scores 10 goals would be up for the award. Anze Kopitar won the award, and the only Devils player to even get a point was Taylor Hall, who doesn’t even get penalty kill time.

The reality is that voters don’t necessarily go for the best defensive forward, but the best offensive forward who is also good at defense. That’s why Nico Hischier has a chance for this award. Hischier will likely get a jump in points, but will continue to get time on the penalty kill.

He will play well defensively, and voters will be impressed how good he is at that aspect of his game just one year removed from being drafted first overall.

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