New Jersey Devils Take Spotlight at World Championships on Thursday

It is a great time to be a New Jersey Devils fan. Some of their potential core going forward showed what they can do on Thursday at the World Championships.

If you’re reading this, chances are you are a New Jersey Devils fan. and what a team to be a fan of right now. We went into the 2019 IIHF World Championships with lots of expectations for some Devils (and potential future Devils), but nobody expected what happened on Thursday.

It started off with the game between Russia and the United States of America. Cory Schneider was a brick wall for the US, making 39 saves on 43 shots. He allowed four goals but he was under siege all game and he still gave his team a chance to win. He had a sensational game despite the US eventually falling 4-3. They are now eliminated, but it was a good way for Cory to get some reps and go into next season with confidence.

Top prospect Jack Hughes had himself a great game as well. There is a very good chance that the New Jersey Devils take him first overall in the upcoming NHL Draft. This was his best game of the tournament by far, and it is largely in part to the fact that he has been given a larger role in the game.

Dylan Larkin had been injured in the game before so it expanded Hughes role and he did very well in his opportunity collecting two assists. If the Devils do in fact draft him, he should come in and make an impact right away. Hughes was named player of the game and will now prepare for the NHL Combine and the 2019 NHL Draft.

Then there was the game between Switzerland and Canada. Devils forward Nico Hischier scored a power play goal to put the Swiss ahead 2-1. Hischier had been amazing throughout the entire tournament and this solidified that. The Swiss had it locked up, but Devils defenseman scored a goal with 0.4 seconds left in regulation to force overtime and keep Canada’s hopes alive. The Canadians would go on to win via a Mark Stone overtime goal. It was a devastating loss for the Swiss but both Devils in the game had major impacts on how the game went.

In the game between Devils forward Jesper Bratt and team Sweden was defeated in overtime by Finland. Finland got to this point in the tournament thanks in large part to top prospect Kaapo Kakko. Kakko has given Hughes a run for his money at the top spot in the 2019 NHL Draft and made the Devils decision more difficult, which is a good problem to have. The Devils were able to see in this tournament that no matter what, they are drafting a gamechanger.

The World Championships have been a fun time for fans of hockey in general as usual, but this year has a little more excitement in them for Devils fans. The games continue as the teams that advanced are now looking to medal.