New Jersey Devils Season Preview: Bold Predictions and Breakout Performers
By Nick Villano
4. What is one bold prediction you have for this season?
Villano: Luke Hughes finishes the season with more points than Dougie Hamilton. I feel like this power play split will eventually go the rookie’s way.
Parise: The Tampa Bay Lightning are going to sell at the trade deadline, and Steven Stamkos is going to be traded.
DeLuca: Devils sweep the regular season series against Carolina. Revenge will be sweet. I don’t believe that will reflect the division, though.
Borges Jr.: A bold prediction for this year is that Steven Stamkos will be traded at the trade deadline. The Lightning will be without Andrei Vasilevski at the beginning of the year, which will set a bad tone for an old team. The Lightning will be dealing their longtime captain while missing the playoffs for the first time in a while.
Rice: Like last season, I’m banking on Dawson Mercer taking another big step this season. My bold prediction is he will put up 30 goals and 68-72 points.
Williams: My bold prediction is the Devils will turn the oft-questioned goaltending position into a strength of this club. The duo of Vitek Vanecek and Akira Schmid will run laps around the Metropolitan Division this season.
Bailey: John Marino finishes with more points than Luke Hughes.
Fink: Kevin Bahl emerges as one of the most effective defensemen in the East.
Russell: I would not consider it bold at this point, but I truly believe the Devils will make a really strong push for the Cup and I think Jack Hughes will win the Hart trophy.
Stanislau: Akira Schmid and Vitek Vanecek win 25-30 plus games each in net. Goals Saved Above Expected will be top 5 because of the defense, too.
Rubin: Dougie Hamilton will break Scott Stevens’ franchise single-season points record for defensemen.
Garrison: My bold prediction is that Jack Hughes will reach over 100 points for the first time in his career. Considering he had 99 points last year and continues improving every season, he will get that 100-point milestone.
Annaluru: Logan Cooley wins the Calder Trophy.
Holiday: I would love to go 3/3 picking the Calder here, but Bedard is not a bold prediction, and neither is Jack Hughes getting 100 at this point, so I am going to go with Luke Hughes is the runner-up for the Calder and pushes himself to .5ppg.