Pucks and Pitchforks
Fansided

New Jersey Devils Quarter Season Player Grades

By David Holliday

NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 06: Jack Hughes #86 of the New Jersey Devils takes the puck in the second period against the New York Rangers at Prudential Center on March 06, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey.A limited number of fans are in attendance due to COVID-19 restrictions. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
NEWARK, NEW JERSEY - MARCH 06: Jack Hughes #86 of the New Jersey Devils takes the puck in the second period against the New York Rangers at Prudential Center on March 06, 2021 in Newark, New Jersey.A limited number of fans are in attendance due to COVID-19 restrictions. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
2 of 7
Next
New Jersey Devils
New Jersey Devils center Pavel Zacha (37): Vincent Carchietta-USA TODAY Sports /

Dawson Mercer

Player Grade: A+

Gp-22 G-6 A-8 Pts-14

Dawson Mercer was not expected to make this team out of training camp, but he forced his way onto it and held onto his spot with ease. Not only is he already a good NHL player, but he’s been the best forward on this team this season. His hockey IQ is off the charts, but what is special about him is his compete. Every game, every shift, Mercer will be going at it 100%, and he will be a factor in numerous chances no matter how bad the rest of the team is playing.

Andreas Johnsson

Player Grade: A

Gp-22 G-9 A-9 Pts-18

The man who was the team’s most disappointing player last year has had a resurgence season, to say the least. Last season, Andreas Johnsson was missing a fire to his game and looked like a borderline AHL player skill-wise. This season, he is as good or better than the player he was in Toronto and is playing with a fire that the rest of this team could learn from. I was 100% wrong about him as a player and it has been an absolute treat to watch him play.

Yegor Sharangovich

Player Grade: F

Gp-19 G-3 A-4 Pts-7

Yegor Sharangovich had some high expectations coming into the season after a breakout year in 2021. He has failed to live up to any of them. He has the best shot on this roster and has failed to use it in any way and he has not been good at getting into open spots on the ice or going to the dirty areas. Clearly without Hughes, he has yet to find a good partner but even so he should be producing and the team really needed him to.

Janne Kuokkanen

Player Grade: F

Gp-21 G-3 A-2 Pts-5

Much like Sharangovich, Janne Kuokkanen has struggled mightily without Jack Hughes in the lineup. This season, he hasn’t been playing the strong puck retrieval game that brought on his breakout last season. Thanks to that, he was moved down the lineup to the point his minutes were dwindling.

Home/Analysis