Forward Line Two
Mike Hoffman-Jack Hughes-Kyle Palmieri
Jack Hughes is right there with Nico HIschier in terms of future plans. They are both going to be considered the two pieces that New Jersey builds around for years to come. Hughes could even explode offensively to the point where he becomes the top center. For now, he is the second line center behind Hischier. This is a big year for him to show some development to his game. Hopefully, he used this long break to get stronger and more ready for his second season.
Kyle Palmieri is one of the fan favorites on this team. People love this guy and he is a great player. The problem with him is that he only has this upcoming season left on his contract. It feels like he is the kind of guy to stay with the Devils, but we don’t know if that is the team’s best intention. For now, he is a great linemate for Hughes thanks to his sniping ability. Hughes can create offense very well but needs a linemate who can finish. Palmieri can take advantage of Hughes’ skill and he is very underrated defensively.
New Jersey has a lot of cap space. Adding Granlund to play with Nico would be awesome, but it would likely be a one-year deal. They have enough space to add another free agent that is still out there like Mike Hoffman. He has been awesome in his career so far and can score lots of goals. If he was brought in on a multi-year deal, he could help Hughes for years to come. Having two goal scorers on his line would really help him.