Pucks and Pitchforks
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Forward Line Predictions When New Jersey Devils Return To Play

By Nick Villano

Jan 19, 2021; New York, New York, USA; New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (second from right) celebrates after scoring the first of his two second period goals against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photos-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 19, 2021; New York, New York, USA; New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes (second from right) celebrates after scoring the first of his two second period goals against the New York Rangers at Madison Square Garden. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Bennett/Pool Photos-USA TODAY Sports /
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New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils center Nico Hischier (13): (Marc DesRosiers-USA TODAY Sports) /

Line 2: Gusev-Hischier-Palmieri

The New Jersey Devils have a very big issue in the middle six. After taking Miles Wood off the third line to put him on the fourth, now there’s nobody contributing outside the first and fourth line. A lot of that has to do with Nico Hischier’s absence from the lineup.

Hischier has been added to the COVID-19 list on Monday. Hopefully, that means he’s ready to join the team and not that it means he’s been exposed. It’s impossible to tell right now. Either way, we expect Hischier to make his season debut when the Devils return from their COVID pause.

That puts one of the best players on the team back in the lineup. The Devils have so many options to put on Hischier’s wing. He makes that line so much better on both the offensive and defensive side of the ice.

Where the Devils need to start is with struggling wingers Kyle Palmieri and Nikita Gusev. Both have zero goals this season, which is already nine games in. That’s unacceptable from two forwards who are looking to cash in this offseason. Something is off with both of them, and their lofty expectations are already in the tank.

Putting Hischier between them gives them a chance to work through their problems together. It has a slight chance to go very wrong, but it’s more likely this will help get everyone going. Especially with the long pause, Palmieri and Gusev have a chance to forget the weak start.

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