Jack Hughes and New Jersey Devils 5 Greatest Offensive Seasons Ever
Jack Hughes just tied the record for most points in a season by a New Jersey Devils player. When looking at this historically, where does Hughes season rank all time in terms of offensive domination?
Jack Hughes needs one point over the next two games to break Patrik Elias’ 22-year record for points in a season in a New Jersey Devils uniform. Elias has long been known as the best offensive season in team history, but there are a lot of players who can stake claim to that title. There were the run-and-gun 80s, where multiple players were scoring in bunches. The dynasty years had a surprising amount of offensive superstars.
The Devils have been moving closer to offensive juggernaut during this most recent rebuild. They’ve prioritized scoring and playmaking. Since taking Nico Hischier first overall in the NHL Draft, they’ve used their own pick to take Hischier (a two-way center who has 77 points this season), Ty Smith (an offensive defenseman), Jack Hughes (a supreme offensive center), Alexander Holtz (a sniper), Luke Hughes (an offensive defenseman), and Simon Nemec (an offensive defenseman). There will be better offensive seasons upcoming, but let’s see who are the great offensive seasons as of this point.
Honorable Mentions
1987-88 Pat Verbeek: 46 goals, 31 assists, 77 points
Pat Verbeek was one of the original greats for those early Devils teams. Between he and Brendan Shanahan, the Devils had this great offensive core. Verbeek hit his Devils peak in 1987-88. He had some incredible performances, including a four-goal performance against the Minnesota North Stars. He led the Devils to their first-ever playoff appearance.
1990-91 John MacLean: 45 goals, 33 assists, 78 points
There are so many John MacLean seasons to choose from. He was an offensive dynamo that held the career points record until Elias passed him. We chose the 1990-91 season because of what he meant to the team. That’s why he got a third-place Hart Trophy vote (the only one of his career). He had the most offensive point shares (6.6 according to Hockey Reference). It was hard not to put 1988 when he scored an overtime goal to send the Devils to the playoffs, but this one was slightly better overall.
1993-94 Scott Stevens: 18 goals, 60 assists, 78 points
Scott Stevens is now known as a defensive stalworth. His hits are legendary, and he was clearly a player who could adjust to his surroundings. He was once one of the best offensive defensemen in the league. He still has three of the top five points scored in a season by a Devils defenseman. His best was his 60-assist season in 1993-94. It still stands as the Devils’ assist record amongst all players. However, it falls just short of making this list.
2000-01 Alexander Mogilny: 43 goals, 40 assists, 83 points
Future Hall of Famer (he better be) Alexander Mogilny had an incredibly successful first run with the Devils. It only lasted two years, but the second year was amazing. He scored 43 goals, leading the best offensive team in Devils’ history. If Elias wasn’t on this list, Mogilny likely would be. It was a sight to see, but Elias was just a smidge better.
5. 2005-06 Brian Gionta: 48 goals, 41 assists, 89 points
Brian Gionta was a fan favorite for a long time, but he took the next step in his Devils lore when he broke the goals record in 2006. He was an every man. His small stature didn’t stop him from doing amazing things on the ice. He was a scorer going into the 2005-06 season. He had 21 goals in his previous season, so many thought he could hit 30 goals as he progressed. He surpassed those expectations in a huge way.
Gionta was one of the best goal-scorers of the 2005-06 season. He might have ridden a wave during a really crazy season. There were five 50-goal scorers that year, including Jonathan Cheechoo, Dany Heatley, and Alex Ovechkin’s rookie season. Still, Gionta deserves credit for going on this crazy run. Despite the great goal scoring, Gionta still had 41 assists. He did this despite the Devils only having one other 20-goal scorer on the team.
Gionta fell off a cliff after this season. Not only did he never hit 40 goals again, he never even hit 30 goals. This was a completely outlier, but it doesn’t make it any less impressive.
At one point, it looked like Jack Hughes could break that record. He came close, but he’s going to fall short. The goals record is safe… for now.
4. 2008-09 Zach Parise: 45 goals, 49 assists, 94 points
Zach Parise hit the scene running and lifted the Devils offensively when the team desperately needed a star. The defensive superstars were long gone. However, the Devils wanted to salvage the end of Martin Brodeur’s career. Parise was great just about immediately. He had two 30-goal seasons in his first three seasons. In season four, he took it up a notch.
Parise scored 45 goals, tied for second most in Devils history. He had 94 points, once again second most in franchise history. When it comes to offensive point shares, Parise is tied for the most in Devils history. His 9.9 is only matched by the player who ended up as number one on this list.
This is one of the best offensive players in franchise history playing his best season. He scored nine goals in the season’s first 10 games. He made it clear that this was going to be a special season.
Most Devils fans have a bad taste in their mouths when it comes to Parise. He left in about the worst way possible (well, maybe not THE worst way). However, the Devils had some great years from Parise. This was by far his best, and one of the best in franchise history.
3. 2022-23 Jack Hughes: 42 goals, 54 assists, 96 points (so far)
Now, we’re here in the present. Sure, Jack Hughes could have the Devils first 100-point season. Yet, he’s third on this list. Why?
Hughes season was going to be incredibly special, but there was a complete fall in the middle. After his injury in February, Hughes missed a few weeks and then came back without the offensive fervor he had previously. That is how he falls to third on this list.
That’s enough of the negative. This is one of the greatest offensive seasons in franchise history. Hughes might be the most talented player who has ever played in New Jersey. He’s scoring goals in every way possible, and he is setting up his teammates as well as anyone in the league. This is a joy to watch.
Hughes had so many great moments. He recorded 23 points in January, including 13 goals. The Devils are relying on Hughes to drive them offensively. He learned to score at will when the Devils needed it. He was always an amazing playmaker, but adding the scoring to his game pushes him into the top 10 of all players in the league. We’re excited when he eventually takes all Devils offensive records. Amazingly, he was able to do this at just 21 years old.
2. 2000-01 Patrik Elias: 40 goals, 56 assists, 96 points
This year’s New Jersey Devils team was just as great as the 2000-01 team, but the ’01 team holds an edge. That team scored 295 goals over the season. Unless this year’s Devils team scores 17 goals over the final two games, then the ’01 team will hold the goal scoring edge. Elias was the best player on the Devils best offensive team.
Elias had so many moments. He had three hat tricks, including one against the Colorado Avalanche who they later played in the Stanley Cup Final. He had 25 multi-point games including three four-point games.
Elias was a member of the A Line. With Jason Arnott and Petr Sykora, Elias was riding high coming off the greatest pass in team history. He sent the puck to Arnott in the 2000 Stanley Cup Final that ended up being the Game 6 overtime winner. He never stopped setting people up, putting up 56 assists.
It was Elias’ only 40-goal season of his career. It was by far his best season. However, it wasn’t the best season in team history. There is one man who gets that honor, even though some may not like to hear it. There is only one MVP in Devils history…
1. 2017-18 Taylor Hall: 39 goals, 54 assists, 93 points
Taylor Hall’s 2017-18 season is the best offensive season in New Jersey Devils history. This season had everything. Hall was THE man on the team. He carried them to the playoffs all by himself. Sure, Nico Hischier, Kyle Palmieri, and Miles Wood had good seasons, but it was Hall. Will Butcher was the team’s third-leading scorer, which should tell everyone what they need to know about this team.
Hall won the NHL’s Hart Trophy as the league MVP. It was the first and only time a Devils player won MVP. The massive point differential is the reason Hall won MVP. Hischier was 41 points behind Hall.
This was all about the moments, as well. The most famous aspect of that season was Hall’s 26-game point streak. Following the streak was amazing, even though there was a gap where Hall got injured. Only seven other players can say they recorded a point in 26 straight appearances.
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Hall also had overtime goals, superstar assists, and even had the only shorthanded goal of his career. Hall did everything this season, and that’s the sole reason the Devils made the playoffs. We have not seen anything like what Hall did, but we eventually expect Hughes to overtake this mantle.