5 New Jersey Devils Players Who Could Be Bound For World Championships
The New Jersey Devils‘ season is over in just a week, but that doesn’t mean it’s the last time we could see some of our favorite players. It’s become somewhat of a tradition to watch the Devils players go overseas and represent their countries at the World Championships. They take place on May 13th in Finland. We just learned that Devils defenseman Jonas Siegenthaler is doing better after breaking his hand. He won’t put on the Devils jersey again this year, but he will put on his Team Switzerland jersey.
The Devils will have other players who are looking to represent their nations. Last year, they had seven players head to Riga, Latvia to finish off what was a strange, COVID-shortened season. Some of those players, like Matthew Hellickson and Marian Studenic, aren’t even in the organization anymore. However, there are some interesting names that could go this year.
Which New Jersey Devils players will participate in the IIHF World Championships?
There should be some bigger names at the tournament this season. The threat of COVID isn’t as prevalent this year. Players might be looking to get more hockey under their belt after a dreadful season with a ton of injuries. Some players might even be looking to build off the momentum of the season and push for a better contract.
Of course, other players are just looking for the season to be over when it’s over. Some of the top players haven’t been there in a few years. The last time star players went, Mark Stone and Sean Couturier were the top players for Team Canada. Everyone was watching Jack Hughes before he was drafted, and he got to play Kaapo Kakko for the first time. This year, with the Olympics being canceled, a lot of these players are looking to put their country’s colors back on. Which Devils might be looking to fill that void?
Nico Hischier – Switzerland
Since we already learned that Siegenthaler was on the roster, we didn’t add him to this list. We’re predicting the Devils captain will look to get back to the World Championships again. Hischier has been there for the last two World Championships, helping team Switzerland stay competitive. He gets to team back up with Timo Meier if he decides to go (the San Jose Sharks are also eliminated from the playoffs).
Hischier seems to love representing his country, and he gets a chance to do that here. He lost out on an Olympic opportunity, but this is the next best thing (although much further down the list). He had six points for Team Swiss in 2021 and nine points in the same eight games in 2019. He thrives on the national stage, and he’s having his best offensive season in his career.
Hischier could announce himself as a star on the national stage. If he leads all players, it could be good for the Devils as a whole. However, the NHL Playoffs will be on at the same time, and primetime games are going to start at two in the morning.
It’s going to be fun to watch the games… err… probably highlights of the games Hischier plays in. He will look great, and he might even talk Meier into making a change in American address.
Mackenzie Blackwood – Canada
This probably seems incredibly unlikely, but Mackenzie Blackwood has represented Canada on the world stage before. This year, he has a lot of reasons to do it again. He is trying to prove he is still a starting-caliber goalie. Even if he is as over the Devils as they are reportedly of him, he still wants to audition for other teams who will want him. Teams are going to be curious about Blackwood this offseason, but he needs to show them something. This is where he can show them something.
Blackwood is starting for the first time since January this week. He’s only going to get two starts before the end of the season. What can he prove in two starts against the Ottawa Senators and Detroit Red Wings? He could probably do more leading Team Canada to a championship. Canada won the championship last season with Darcy Kuemper as the starter. He could now go win a Stanley Cup Championship.
Blackwood would love a similar timeline. He’d love to win a world championship with Canada and then a Stanley Cup. The Devils might not exactly be there yet, but the Rangers showed it is all about opportunity. That’s what Blackwood needs. He might even convince the Devils to keep him long term if he dominates.
Blackwood was awful this season, but it might have more to do with the injury than anything. If he can prove he can turn back the clock, the Devils might only need to add one goalie this offseason.
Pavel Zacha – Czechia
Pavel Zacha had a terrible season after his best season in the NHL. Things hit a fever pitch against the Detroit Red Wings where he missed the net completely on two amazing opportunities including a breakaway. After scoring 35 points in 50 games last season, he has 32 points in 67 games this season. Zacha’s value has plummeted, and these might be the last games we see the former sixth-overall pick in a Devils uniform.
Zacha fell off in a big way this season, and his confidence is shot, but he is still one of the better players to come out of the former Czech Republic. Zacha has never represented Czechia at the IIHF World Championships in his career, but this is as good a time as any to make his debut on the world stage. He is trying to recoup some of his value, and he wants good teams to go after him this offseason.
Zacha will easily make the Czechia team if he wants to play. He hasn’t represented his country since the 2016 World Junior Championships. He wasn’t exactly great there, scoring just two points in five games, but he did show a lot of effort that likely helped his draft status.
This would actually be a smart move for Zacha. He needs to show he can be the player he was last season. A lot went wrong for the Devils this season. Zacha is one of those problems. He has to show teams, whether the Devils or others, he can be an offensive threat.
Jesper Bratt – Sweden
Jesper Bratt doesn’t have to prove anything after the year he had. He’s scoring just under a point per game, leading the Devils in points and assists. Despite being called out by his coach twice this week, Bratt has been the surprise of the season. In his contract year, he’s proven that he can be a star in the top six. The Devils have one of their top wingers when it was still very much up in the air who would be there long term.
Bratt looks really good and he doesn’t need to have a good showing to prove himself to the Devils. They don’t need to see how he performs on an international stage. He performed just fine on the NHL stage.
However, he seems to love to play for Sweden. He represented them at the World Championships, scoring two points in six games. He hasn’t played since the start of the pandemic, but as we said, things are a little easier now. He can play in Finland, which is literally connected to Sweden (although only at the very top). It would be a very easy move for him to make.
Bratt might also want to keep his momentum going into this offseason. He’s never played hockey like this before in his life. When that happens, players want to keep the good times rolling. Bratt might be in the same spot, especially since this year’s world championships are so close to home.
Jack Hughes – U.S.A.
This one is the surprise on the list. Jack Hughes was knocked out of the season after a knee-to-knee hit while taking on the New York Islanders. It was the second long-term injury Hughes dealt with this season. However, it wasn’t really a long-term injury. Hughes suffered a mild MCL sprain, and he probably would be back on the ice by now if this season meant absolutely anything. You know what means something to some people? The world championships.
The Devils likely wouldn’t approve of Hughes playing in the worlds, but this might be beyond their control. Hughes wants to play hockey. He finally looks and feels like a superstar. Why wouldn’t he want to keep going? He has a chance to put the good ole red, white, and blue back on. Hughes had a chance to represent U.S.A.
Hughes’ knee injury isn’t a long-term issue, and he should be able to play in Finland without any limitations. It would be good to get Hughes back on the ice for a little hockey before the offseason. It might be what fans need to see to get behind him being as true superstar next season.
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This is, of course, much more than what the fans want. Hughes is trying to represent his country again after losing the opportunity at the Olympics. He also lost the opportunity to finish out the Devils season in style. This would give him a chance to finish the season on his terms. That has to be appealing to him.