New Jersey Devils: A Potential Jack Hughes Line
The New Jersey Devils have something in number-one overall pick, Jack Hughes. The line he appears to be lining up with this season has major potential.
The preseason got off to a really good start for the New Jersey Devils newest pair of star forwards, Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier. They were the top line in the preseason game against the Boston Bruins. They will likely make a formidable top six with the likes of Taylor Hall, Hischier, and Kyle Palmieri line to help them out. This potential second line centered by Hughes could be the boost the Devils need offensively to get back into the playoffs.
Hughes scored two goals in his preseason debut. Both goals came with a nifty feed to set them up. The funny thing is though, that he is not a goal scorer first. He is a playmaker that also can shoot when needed. Those traits are what is going to make him so great once he gets into the NHL. The question is, was the preseason line the way to go in the regular season?
There is no question to the fact that Nikita Gusev had instant chemistry with Hughes. The two of them were dynamite all night long and had the overtime winner along with some near misses. Hughes had a pass to Gusev in the slot that less than five percent of players in the league can make. The crowd audibly gasped when this play developed via the Hughes pass and the Boston goaltender got a skate blade on the Gusev shot.
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The optimal third wheel on the line is Jesper Bratt. Using Bratt leaves Palmieri on the top line with Hall and Hischier who have played together as a trio so many times before. Bratt has the potential to be a 30 goal man on this line. He was really good in the second half of the last season so if he can just stay healthy and consistent for the first time in his career, he could be a true breakout candidate. This is a line that would be able to create, shoot, and ultimately score in regular-season games. They would also likely split the elite matchups with the Hischier line, so that would help each line out.
Hall-Hischier-Palmieri
Gusev-Hughes-Bratt
That is an outstanding top six with lots of speed and skill. It also keeps guys who are a little slower like Wayne Simmonds or Travis Zajac out of the top six. That doesn’t mean those guys will be bad at all for the Devils. In fact, that might mean that they are really good in their roles for the Devils because they will be part of a matchup line that can also score.
Where the players on this potential Hughes line will line up with the man advantage remains to be seen. Taylor Hall and Jack Hughes would be a treat to see on the power play and maybe you’d see Nico Hischeir run things on the second unit. This is the most depth this team has seen in a really long time and fans should be really excited.