5 New Jersey Devils Who Could Win NHL Awards

Jack Hughes For Calder Trophy

Let’s start with the obvious choice. Jack Hughes is in the top three for Calder Trophy candidates for just about every major analyst in hockey. Whether it’s The Hockey News, TSN, NBC Sports, Sportsnet, everyone thinks Hughes is either at the top, or one of the top three.

There are two major competitors to take that trophy away from Hughes. One is Cale Makar on the Colorado Avalanche and the other is Kaapo Kakko of the New York Rangers. Makar looked really good in the playoffs last season. When everything was on the line, Makar stepped up to the plate. Now, analysts believe he could be one of the best offensive defensemen in the league already. Kakko was always considered the most NHL-ready prospect in the draft, and he’s playing on a top line with Artemi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad. Playing with that much talent right away with do nothing but help.

That doesn’t matter. Jack Hughes is on such a level, that even while he’s learning the ins and outs of the NHL, he’s going to be racking up points. This kid is so confident already, and he doesn’t seem to get frustrated. It’s nearly impossible to get that combination. Yet, here he is on the New Jersey Devils.
He will be playing the start of the year with Nikita Gusev and Jesper Bratt. There’s slight concern with the size of his linemates, but we don’t expect anyone to let opposing teams push Jack Hughes around. If it ends up not working, the Devils will move Wayne Simmonds on that line. Then people will really back off of Hughes.

Expect to see Hughes get invited to Vegas for the NHL Awards, and we expect him to go home with the trophy.