5 New Jersey Devils Who Will Receive Award Votes
The New Jersey Devils are enjoying one of the best seasons in franchise history. It’s true. They won 51 games, which ties the franchise record set in 2009. They have 110 points with one game to play. If they win their last game against the Washington Capitals, they will break the franchise record for points too. On top of the team records, Jack Hughes just broke Patrik Elias’ franchise record for points in a single season.
It’s also coming up on award season. Once the regular season ends, journalists and other voters will place their ballots into the league for Hart, Norris, Calder, Jack Adams, Vezina, Ted Lindsay, Selke, and Lady Bing. There’s an award for just about everything, and the Devils have plenty of nominees.
So, which players and more will get votes this week?
Jack Hughes – Hart Trophy
Jack Hughes has been one of the best players in the history of the franchise. There’s a lot of that going on this season. Some might argue this is the best offensive season ever. Hughes has a real shot at 100 points with one game to go.
If Hughes scores 100 points, he will get some Hart Trophy love. Don’t get us wrong. He’s not going to win. Connor McDavid is going to win, likely unanimously. He has 152 points, tied for 15th most all time in a season. There’s no way he isn’t going to win MVP. However, Hughes will get some second, third, fourth, and fifth-place votes.
The Devils have one Hart Trophy winner in history. Taylor Hall holds that distinction after his superstar performance in 2017-18. Hughes is the best season since that performance, and he is going to get some votes as the star of the entire NHL.
Dougie Hamilton – Norris Trophy
This might be a surprise for some, but Dougie Hamilton is absolutely going to get some votes for the Norris Trophy, celebrating the best defenseman in the league. He has 73 points this season, just short of Scott Stevens’s record for a Devils defenseman. He’s third in the league for defenseman points, and he’s the top defenseman on the biggest surprise of the season.
The Devils could take the Metropolitan Division from the Carolina Hurricanes on the last day. Nobody expected the Devils to be this good this season. Yet, they are one of the top teams in the league. Despite his issues, Hamilton deserves credit for the rise in offense.
Hamilton is sixth in on-ice chances for, goals for, seventh in high-danger chances, and 74 defensemen have allowed more high-danger chances despite Hamilton playing 1,400 minutes. He’s played well. Has he watched too many 2-on-1s against? Yes, absolutely. Have we seen Hamilton watch as the other team scores? Unfortunately, yes, but his impact is on the overall game. There, he’s created way more goals.
Multiple voters are going to put Hamilton on their ballot. He’s been mentioned multiple times on nationally syndicated shows when talking about the Norris. With Erik Karlsson as the favorite, and his team’s status as bottom of the standings, it will open it up for more voters.
Lindy Ruff – Jack Adams Award
Lindy Ruff has been very good this season. Give the Devil his due. While some of his tactics aren’t our favorite, a lesser coach wouldn’t be able to push this team to its current heights. The Devils could win the Metropolitan Division. If it wasn’t for the Boston Bruins breaking records, Ruff could legitimately win this award.
Ruff took a Devils team to one of the biggest turnarounds in NHL history. In fact, as reported by NJ.com, a win on Thursday night would secure the biggest point turnaround ever. So far, the Devils have 47 more points than they had in 2021-22.
The Devils have gotten the best out of Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Tomas Tatar, Dougie Hamilton, Vitek Vanecek, Dawson Mercer, and others this season. There is an argument that Ruff is the reason all these players, who are all completely different, are having their best seasons. That is the catalyst of a great coach. Ruff is finding how to be successful with the roster at hand.
Unfortunately for Ruff, Jim Montgomery is going to win this award in a rout. Not only is he coaching the best team of this era, he has an amazing story behind him. Still, Ruff will get plenty of votes.
Nico Hischier – Selke Trophy
There was a legitimate chance that Nico Hischier could have won the Selke Trophy earlier in the season. Then, he fell off slightly, and Patrice Bergeron went nuts again. Bergeron, like basically every award this season, is going to win the Selke Trophy likely unanimously. This will be the sixth time he wins the award, more than any other player in history.
Hischier is just 24 years old. He has plenty of chances to win a Selke Trophy. However, up to this point, Hischier hasn’t even had a vote for the Selke. He’s always been a two-way forward, but the offensive side never hit the heights it needs to for this award to gain traction.
This season is much different. Hischier has 79 points this season. He broke 30 goals for the first time in his career. He’s averaging more than 19 minutes a game, and he’s doing everything. He’s one of the Devils top penalty killers, and he is on their top power play. The Devils need a faceoff win? Hischier is out there with his line. Need a matchup with the opponent’s top line? Hischier’s line is matching them.
Hischier will get votes. There was a real push for him earlier in the season. That usually holds wait at this point.
Jack Hughes – Lady Byng Trophy
Jack Hughes deserves more than the Hart Trophy consideration that will ultimately lead to nothing. However, the Lady Byng Trophy is a legitimate possibility. Hughes was seventh in voting last season. He even secured five first-place votes. 29 people had Hughes on their ballot. It’s conceivable for him to be at the top of mind for voters again.
Hughes famously had zero penalty minutes last season. This season, he has six PIMs. While Hughes actually had penalties, it’s impossible for him to go much longer without ending up in the penalty box. So, don’t expect voters to focus on that if the number is just six.
Last season, Kyle Connor won the award with four PIMs. Add that to Hughes playing a solid game that doesn’t look to get under others skin gives him a chance to always win this award.
Next. Jack Hughes and 5 Greatest Offensive Seasons. dark
Hughes has a chance to win an award, and he deserves something after breaking the team franchise record for points. The Devils need to get something for this magical season. With so many awards already set in stone, the Devils can secure the Lady Byng Trophy. Hughes is their best chance.