Breaking Down New Jersey Devils-New York Rangers Matchup Position By Position
By Nick Villano
First-Line Defense
Jonas Siegenthaler – Dougie Hamilton
vs.
Niko Mikkola – Adam Fox
Dougie Hamilton has been one of the best offensive defensemen in the league this season. He has 68 points in 74 games. He’s approaching a New Jersey Devils franchise record. The Devils paired him with Jonas Siegenthaler, one of the better defensive defensemen in the league. Siegenthaler needs no offense in his game. He can stand back and let Hamilton do what he does best. It leads to one too many two-on-one situations, but it’s effective more times than not.
We chose Adam Fox and Niko Mikkola over Jacob Trouba and K’Andre Miller because Adam Fox is the best defenseman in the game. He should be the “top line.”
Fox is a perennial Norris Trophy candidate. He’s one of the best defensemen in the league. It’s hard to admit as a Devils fan, but it’s the truth. Fox is a superstar.
Hamilton is great at what he does, but Fox is better at everything. Siegenthaler is much better than Mikkola, but because the Rangers have the best player of the bunch, they have the advantage here.