5 Players Who Brought New Jersey Devils To First Place
The New Jersey Devils are enjoying one of the best starts in franchise history. After sweeping their Western Canada road trip, they are 9-3-0. At the time of this writing, the Devils are sitting atop the Metropolitan Division. After the Carolina Hurricanes lost to the Toronto Maple Leafs on Sunday night, the Devils led the division by all metrics (points and point percentage).
This is a wild start to the season. After losing the first two games of the season, it looked like it was going to be just another Devils season. Then, the Devils won nine of their next ten games. Lindy Ruff went from hearing “fire Lindy” at home to saving his job. Ruff has done a good job righting this ship, but it comes down to the players. They are the reason the Devils won nine of their first 12 games. They are the reason the analytics are off the charts.
A few players are making a real difference on the ice. Some players have been waiting a long time to see something like this. Others are brand new to the franchise. The Devils wouldn’t be in this position without these five players.
5. Jack Hughes
It sounds crazy that the Devils franchise player is only the fifth most important during a 9-3 start. That’s the situation for this team. Jack Hughes has been good, don’t get us wrong, but he hasn’t been, like, that take-over-the-world superstar that he’s been in the past.
Hughes has 12 points in 12 games. He is literally a point-per-game player, and fans are still saying Hughes hasn’t hit his ceiling. That’s mostly because we’ve seen Hughes at his peak, and this isn’t it. Hughes is eighth on the team in CorsiFor Percentage, fourth in first assists, and fourth in goals (all stats via Natural Stat Trick). He’s been good even at his counting stats, but his underlying stats are even better.
Hughes is first on the team in individual xG. He’s also second on the team in individual high-danger chances with 22. Only Nico Hischier has more. Despite maybe not being the most important player on the team like most would expect him to be, Hughes is still incredibly important to the Devils’ start.
4. Miles Wood
The BMW line has been a bullet every single game. One of Nathan Bastian, Michael McLeod, and Miles Wood has scored in each of the past four games. They have done exactly what a good fourth line is supposed to do. The trio takes most of their faceoffs in the defensive zone, but they still have more high-danger chances than they’ve given up in 55 minutes together at 5v5.
Then, you look at the numbers when Wood is without Bastian and McLeod. His numbers are even better. Wood without Bastian and McLeod has been on the ice for 23 high-danger chances and only nine against.
Wood is tied for the team lead with five goals. He also leads the team in penalty minutes (by a lot) with 27. Sure, that’s not ideal, but the Devils needed an edge coming into the season. They made moves for other players to help their mentality and reputation, but the biggest addition was the return of Miles Wood. He returned from his hip injury with the same speed and a much better touch. He can actually finish on his breakaway chances, and he’s also scoring with sustained offensive zone time.
Wood is on a contract year, and if the Devils can’t afford him, someone will pay him a massive price this offseason. For now, enjoy the ride that is Miles Wood.
3. John Marino
If we were picking units that are a major reason for the turnaround, the defense would be at the top of the list. From top to bottom, the unit is, well, a unit. They have been taking opposing offenses out to lunch. Only six teams have allowed fewer goals than the Devils. It all comes down to shot suppression. Only one team has allowed fewer shots than the Devils, and the St. Louis Blues have played nine games to the Devils 12.
That’s why it’s crazy that only one defenseman makes this list. But it’s clear the impact that John Marino has on this team. After the Devils acquired Marino in the offseason, they were clearly highlighting defensive defensemen to fix its issues. And it is working. Marino has been a master with the poke check. He always seems to be in the right place at the right time.
Marino has been playing like one of the best defensemen in the league. There have been a lot of really good defensemen this year. Erik Karlsson has the resurgence of a lifetime. Cale Makar is still the best defenseman on the planet. Victor Hedman, Roman Josi, and Adam Fox will all be repetitive Norris candidates. Marino can go up against them all.
Marino has been shutting down opposing superstars on a nightly basis. Whether Connor McDavid or Matthew Barzal, Marino gets all the hard matchups. And he wins more often than not. He’s the reason the Devils goalies have an easier job, at least when he’s one the ice.
1. Nico Hischier
Nico Hischier has been the Devils’ best player. Bratt has the points, Marino has the analytics, and others have more points, but Hischier has done EVERYTHING. Hischier is second on the team in ixG and individual high-danger chances (to Jack Hughes). He’s taken the most hits on the team. That might seem like a negative, but Hischier is getting himself to those dangerous areas that lead to goals. That’s why Hischier has a tie for the team lead in goals with five.
On top of that, Hischier has become one of the best two-way forwards in the league. On the penalty kill, Hischier has been on the ice for only one goal against in 23 minutes. He was also on the ice for a shorthanded goal, which makes his time on the PK even better.
Hischier has been incredibly important to the Devils this season. The captain has been the driving force for their wins. He’s spent as much time stopping other teams from scoring as he’s helped his team score. The reason he’s ahead of Marino and Bratt is that he can do everything everywhere. Bratt is good defensively, and Marino has been better offensively. Hischier is great at both.
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Ruff has been leaning on Hischier more and more after he missed the season opener against the Philadelphia Flyers. He had north of 20 minutes in both the Edmonton and the Calgary games, two games where every minute was crucial. Expect that to happen more often because Hischier is playing on another level, and the Devils need him on the ice as long as ever.