Grading Each New Jersey Devils Players’ Playoff Performances

New Jersey Devils celebrate their win over the New York Rangers in game seven of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports
New Jersey Devils celebrate their win over the New York Rangers in game seven of the first round of the 2023 Stanley Cup Playoffs at Prudential Center. Mandatory Credit: Ed Mulholland-USA TODAY Sports /
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New Jersey Devils
Jack Hughes #86 of the New Jersey Devils. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Jack Hughes – Grade: A

Jack Hughes never quite dominated the way he did in the regular season, and that was fine. All Hughes did was put up 11 points in 12 games despite playing through an upper-body injury, losing a tooth, and being saddled with Palat and Haula as linemates for most of the time. Not bad for a guy with no playoff experience, huh?

Going forward, it would be wise not to have Hughes go into as many corners and board battles as he did, but maybe he cannot help himself. Hughes is a competitive guy who wants to win and loves to win. Who can blame him?

It would behoove the Devils to maybe add some sandpaper to his line, but with the capability of scoring too. Michael Bunting will be a free agent this summer. It will be very interesting to see if that’s someone the Devils target with their limited resources.