New Jersey Devils: 5 Bold Predictions For 2022-23 Season

Prediction #5: Luke Hughes Makes Playoff Roster

There is so much going on with this prediction, so let’s walk you through it. One, this requires the New Jersey Devils to end their five-year playoff drought. Two, this required Luke Hughes to stay healthy and play at a playoff-caliber level. Three, the Devils need to have an open spot for Hughes to take when his college season is over. Four, it will take some guts to put a rookie defenseman on a playoff roster, no matter how good Hughes is.

Think about Cale Makar’s coming out party. His 10 games in the 2019 playoffs after his final stint at UMass showed what the Avalanche got in the former fourth-overall pick. Hughes could do something similar to Makar’s six points in 10 games.

The Devils have a bigger weakness on the left side of the defense. It would be a huge surprise if the Devils needed help on the right side at any point, which would likely keep Simon Nemec from getting a similar opportunity. However, the Devils will be relying on Kevin Bahl or Brendan Smith on the bottom pair. Bahl looked good in preseason, but most fans and likely the coaching staff will like the upside that comes with playing Hughes.

The Devils feel like somewhere in the realm of the fourth or fifth-best team in the Metropolitan Division. Either one might be good enough for the playoffs depending on what happens in the Atlantic Division. So, getting the Devils to 94-96 points is imperative if they want to make the postseason and give us the gift of another Hughes going for a run.