New Jersey Devils: An Early Look At Line Combinations
The New Jersey Devils still have plenty of time to make decisions and prepare for next season. With no deal in place between the NHL and NHLPA, an early January start looks less and less likely. The Devils will need to come out firing on all cylinders to have a chance this year. Which lines are best should players be healthy?
Forwards
Line One
Andreas Johnsson–Nico Hischier–Kyle Palmieri
The two best forwards on this team are Nico Hischier and Kyle Palmieri by far. With the chemistry they have, it is a very good bet and a smart choice to keep them together. So who will be on the wing? The choices seem to be Johnsson, Jesper Bratt, and Jesper Boqvist.
It should be Johnsson to start. Assuming they have chemistry, it will likely remain that way. This would be a very solid two-way line that can play against whoever the Devils need and add some physicality. Palmieri loves to get in player’s faces and Johnsson can throw his body around. They should be able to play the bigger minutes needed and not get worn out as fast as the other higher skilled players.
Line Two
Jesper Bratt-Pavel Zacha–Nikita Gusev
This line proved they could work well together last season, and they should be given every opportunity to build on that. Both wingers are fast, shifty, and high skilled while Zacha is a good defender. They complimented each other well and can play a fair bit better in the defensive end than some may think. Bratt and Gusev should be able to get the most out of Zacha. The Devils need him to score closer to a 0.5 point a game.
Line Three
Jesper Boqvist-Jack Hughes-Nick Merkley
This line here will be a big wild card and need to be given favorable starts. This would be a great time to try building some chemistry with Jesper Boqvist. Merkley was fantastic in his short stint in the NHL and his time in Binghamton last season. It is time for him to prove it can be with consistency, something Jack needs to work on as well. If this line or at least a pair of them could get it going the future will be looking fantastic, especially with snipers Nolan Foote and Alexander Holtz coming in a year or two.
Line Four
Miles Wood-Travis Zajac-Nathan Bastian
This line would probably be relied on to play against bigger opposition lines and would fit that role well. Zajac is a diminishing value for the Devils, but he is still a bottom-six center and responsible in his own end. Wood, while driving some fans crazy, is one of the best straight-line skaters in the league. Zajac has the skill to send him on breaks while covering for him in the defensive zone which could synergize well. Bastian is a player some may have forgotten about and is probably a long shot to be here but when he was up was a force. He has the size, skill, and a willingness to use both. He would probably be better off here than one of the more top prospects as well because his future is as a bottom-six player.
Extra
Michael McCleod
–Michael McLeod will at some point be slotting into the lineup probably on the fourth line. He just does not show the jam he did in juniors and his shot is the worst on the team. He should not be on a line with Wood and Zajac as having three players who can’t find the net consistently would be a black hole for an offense that the Devils.