5 Things That Must Happen For New Jersey Devils To Make Playoffs
By Nick Villano
4. Hughes Keeps Chemistry With Linemates
The Devils believe they found something great for their first line. It’s not the line fans thought would be the top line to start the season, but we’re all pretty excited to see what happens when Jack Hughes, Alex Holtz, and Ondrej Palat take the ice on Thursday against the Flyers.
Most fans thought Yegor Sharangovich would be the winger with Hughes like he’s been the last two seasons. If not him, then it had to be Jesper Bratt, right? Neither is going to be his linemate, but it’s still working out swimmingly. Hughes is playing with a rookie Holtz and a veteran Palat.
Hughes is entering his fourth year in the NHL. He hasn’t exactly had much consistency in terms of linemates. This year is set up to be different. Hughes could easily spend all season with Holtz and Palat. They had amazing chemistry in the preseason, and Hughes’ strengths are really accentuated with his linemates.
Hopefully, Hughes’ chemistry with Holtz and Palat carries on into the regular season. If they can keep this up, it would be huge for the Devils. They played about 40 minutes together in the preseason and scored four goals. One goal for every 10 minutes of 5v5 play would be incredible in the regular season.