There’s a new line combination that’s been turning a lot of heads during the course of the preseason. With Jack Hughes at center and Alexander Holtz and Ondrej Palat at winger, this new line was recently given the nickname H20 (Hughes-Holtz-Ondrej). The nickname itself is clever, however, the production and chemistry of all three players is the main talking point.
In the second preseason game of the year against the New York Islanders, the H2O line was put to the test. During the intrasquad scrimmages, the H2O seemed to have functioned well together, and it carried over into preseason. Hughes was able to find the back of the net with Holtz and Palat assisting on the goal.
Despite the skepticism at first, this line certainly has the potential to be the top line for the New Jersey Devils. All three of them bring something different to the table. When it comes to Hughes, he’s obviously the well-established franchise player. Hypothetically speaking, most of the points will be generated from his stick. He has shown in the past that he is capable of creating for himself and others.
Palat brings the experience and is the glue that keeps the line sturdy. During the Tampa Bay Lightning’s Stanley Cup runs, Palat was always one of the more underrated players. If he is given a significant role with the Devils, which he is projected to do so, then he can certainly achieve some career-high statistics.
Holtz is an interesting case. He is theoretically not guaranteed a roster spot. Going into Prospects Tournament, Holtz knew that he had to prove himself. Mainly because Fabian Zetterlund could also have a big season with New Jersey.
So far, Holtz has impressed a lot of people with not only his relentlessness when it comes to shooting, but also his playmaking ability. Putting him on the top line with Hughes might be risky, considering the fact that he did little to nothing in his nine NHL appearances last season. However, the Devils didn’t really put him in the best position to succeed given how well he performed last season for the Utica Comets. So, this would be his best chance to showcase his skills.
If he performs well, then he can find himself in the running for the Calder Trophy. Overall, this line is somewhat intriguing for the Devils and each player has their own unique skill set. The offense would run through Hughes with Palat being the leader and Holtz being the project. During the Devils Friday night game against the New Jersey Devils, Hughes scored again. If they continue at this pace, it could be one of the better lines in the league.