New Jersey Devils: Predicting Opening Night Forward Lines

Pavel Zacha – Nico Hischier – Jesper Bratt

This is the same exact line as it was at the end of last season. Hischier and Bratt started off last year away from the team for different reasons. Hischier got injured right before training camp, and he didn’t really start his season for a month. Now, he gets the training camp ahead of a very important season. Hischier is the second-highest player on the team behind P.K. Subban. This is his first season going in as the captain. Everyone is looking at Hischier to make an impact right away.

Bratt, on the other hand, missed the beginning of last season because of a contract dispute. He signed his deal very late into training camp, and that caused a visa issue that went well into the season. After a really impressive 2019-20 season, Bratt took a step back last season. He started going on a little run towards the end, but his finishing ability was not there. Things started clicking once this line got together.

The Devils gave Zacha a chance to establish himself at center again this preseason. Like it has every time before, it just didn’t work. Zacha is like Blake Coleman at this point. He’s a full-time wing who can be a center in a pinch. The Devils aren’t in a pinch. They have a few other options to play center. This line needs to stay together.