New Jersey Devils Midseason Progress Report
The New Jersey Devils reached the halfway point of their 2022-2023 campaign with a win against the Carolina Hurricanes. The Devils possess a 26-12-3 record, good for 55 points and 2nd place in the Metropolitan Division, and 6th overall in the league standings. At the halfway point one year ago, the Devils sat 25 points out of first place. Today, they are just two points behind Carolina for the Metropolitan Division lead and are on pace for 110 points. This New Jersey Devils team has arrived and is here to stay.
It’s safe to say this Devils team is exceeding expectations. We all knew that this team was nearing the end of the rebuild, inching closer to a playoff spot, but not many could have predicted the first half that the Devils have had this season. There have been special moments, highs and lows, and the emergence of our young superstars. It’s an exciting time to be a Devils fan. Here is our first-half report card for roster players as well as the team as a whole.
Players Exceeding Expectations
Jack Hughes: How could Jack Hughes not be first on the list? The emergence of Hughes as a superstar has been something special. The youngster exceeded all expectations with a whopping 49 points in 41 games. His next goal will be a new single-season career high. Hughes has improved his two-way game and was recently named the Devils representative for the 2023 All-Star Game.
Nico Hischier: The Devils captain has grown into this team’s fearless leader right before our eyes. Hischier has tallied 40 points in 40 games and is currently riding an eight-game point streak. He has been great at both ends of the rink, in the faceoff dot, and has ticked up his offensive potential, as he is currently on an 80-point pace. Hischier has grown into the first-line center the organization desperately needed to build its team around. Hischier has created an opportunity to be voted into the All-Star Game alongside Jack Hughes.
Dougie Hamilton: The health of the Devils’ leader on the backend was critical to the team’s success this year. The 29-year-old veteran defenseman has played a big role in the first-half success of this team. Hamilton has 35 points in 41 games, good for an 82-game pace of 70 points, an incredible number for a defenseman. Hamilton will also have an opportunity to attend the 2023 All-Star Game via fan vote.
Jesper Bratt: In his 6th year with New Jersey, the 24-year-old Bratt has begun to come into his own like Hughes and Hischier. Participating in all 41 games so far, Bratt has 40 points and is on pace for a career-high 80 points this season. Bratt has been a subject to criticism this year by some Devils fans, but the Swede has shown his undeniable offensive potential when he gets going. He has seven points in his last six games and, like the aforementioned three, has put himself in position as a 2023 All-Star Game candidate.
Vitek Vanecek: The 27-year-old backstop has been a critical reason for the success of the Devils to this point. In his first season as a Devil, Vanecek wields a 16-5-2 record with a 2.37 goals-against-average and a .913 save percentage in 27 games. Vanecek has been everything the Devils could have wished for and more. He has taken the Devils’ net by storm and has become the most reliable option night in and night out. The Czechia native appears as the 5th and final realistic All-Star option for the Devils.
Players Not Meeting Expectations
Erik Haula: The often-criticized centerman acquired via trade from Boston this summer has had a rocky start in New Jersey from a production standpoint. Haula does the little things well, such as winnings faceoffs and killing penalties but has appeared snake-bitten when it comes to finishing. Haula has appeared on a line with Jack Hughes for a good stretch now and only has two goals to his 41-game total, a number we would all like to see increase. Haula has shown the offensive ability in past years to contribute somewhere in the 10-15 goal range. Look for his finishing to kick up a notch in the second half of the season. Haula finding the back of the net a couple more times in the second half of the season can go a long way in New Jersey finding secondary scoring.
Miles Wood: As mentioned in a previous article, Miles Wood has seemingly disappeared from an offensive contribution standpoint. Wood has just seven goals in 40 games and is mired in a 12-game goal drought, with just one goal in his last 26 games…. yikes. Wood has shown in past years that he can contribute much more offensively, showcased by a 19-goal total in the 2017-2018 season. It seems as if Wood needs some puck luck or a wake-up call for him to find his game. Perhaps the impending return of Nathan Bastian could positively impact Wood. Whatever it may be that can get him going needs to be done. He has entirely disappeared and has been a huge disappointment since his quick start to the season.
Yegor Sharangovich: Maybe the 24-year-old Belarusian is going through some growing pains in year three, but the Devils sorely need him to find some consistency in his offensive game. With just 10 goals in 41 games, the streaky nature of Sharangovich’s game is far too apparent and quite concerning. Whether it’s finding him some play-driving linemates to spoon-feed him opportunities or a wake-up call, Sharangovich needs it soon. The Devils need some of these secondary scorers to step up for the first-half success to carry over. Sharangovich is at the top of the list of players who need to step up in the second half.
Honorable Mentions of Players Who Have Stepped Up This Season
Dawson Mercer: At 21 years old, Mercer has shown a true commitment to being a key two-way player for the Devils for years to come. #91 has played a big part in improving the Devils’ penalty kill this season. The youngster has also chipped in offensively, as expected, with 25 points in 41 games. Huge shoutout to Dawson Mercer for his career performance in Carolina on Tuesday night, leading the Devils to a huge win.
John Marino: Although before his injury, he appeared to take a small step back, John Marino has been a key cog on the backend for the Devils this year. The trade with the Pittsburgh Penguins this summer that brought Marino to New Jersey seems like a steal of a deal with each passing day. #6 has endeared himself to the Devils faithful and appears to be a big part of the Devils long-term plans.
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Team Grade: A+
From a team standpoint, as previously mentioned, the Devils have crushed all expectations through the first half of the season. Currently moving at a 110-point pace, the New Jersey Devils are a force to be reckoned with and have announced themselves to the league once again. Look out for the Devils in the second half. This young team looks hungry and unsatisfied, making for an exhilarating time in New Jersey in 2023. Let’s Go Devils.