Pucks And Pitchforks New Jersey Devils Season Preview
By Nick Villano
Who do you think will be the fan favorite by the season’s end?
Villano: John Marino will be the apple of everyone’s eye. He is sticking around, and his defensive acumen will be something fans have been clamoring for a long time.
Parise: Nico Hischier and Jack Hughes are the best forwards on the team but Jesper Bratt will assert himself as the true fan favorite on the team. He is already on his way to being a star but the fans gravitate toward him.
Rice: Probably Fabian Zetterlund if he isn’t already.
Borges: I think John Marino will definitely become a fan favorite. He is incredibly versatile on the back end, something Devils fans have not been used to in recent memory. While Damon Severson is sure to be moved, either by the trade deadline or before free agency, Marino will be a good replacement for him. Unless he has a completely terrible season and Ty Smith wins the Norris, this is an easy bet to pick.
DeLuca: Jack Hughes. Yeah, it’s the lame and cop-out answer, but you all know it’s the right answer. The top-line center is already the fan favorite and we are fully aware of what he can do on the ice and the production he will likely put on the ice this season. There’s zero reason to believe he doesn’t retain his title as the fan favorite.
Annaluru: Miles Wood, who’s been a bit out of favor, will become a fan favorite again
Garrison: I feel Jesper Bratt will be a fan favorite by the end of the season. He could have a fantastic season by signing that one-year deal. If that happens, not only would he gain more fans, but it would get Fitzgerald to sign him to a huge extension.
Bailey: Erik Haula is something the Devils haven’t had in a while: a bottom-six guy that can score and do everything at an above-average level at multiple positions. His presence will be a shot in the arm for a Devils team that has had no scoring threats in the bottom six since Brian Boyle.
Woo: Kevin Bahl. He is a beast with a lot of beef.
Holiday: Jack Hughes will be the number-one guy here for 10 years, deservedly so, and after he breaks the point-per-game mark again the league will give him the respect he deserves while half the fans will be in Hughes Jerseys for home games though I would like to give a shout out to wildcard Miles Wood. After missing the entirety of the season but three games with an injury last year he should be healed up and ready to go. We all love scrappy role players and this year Miles has a good shot at hitting 20 goals for the first time and will lead the team in fights and hits getting big cheers from the fans all year.