An interesting part of the hype and expectation that’s come with Luke Evangelista is where he fits into the New Jersey Devils’ lineup. Early projections show the 24-year-old lining up on the top unit with Nico Hischier and Timo Meier.
That’s a fine idea, but there’s an even better one. In fact, Evangelista has a natural linemate in Jack Hughes.
Evangelista is certainly a top-six forward. So, placing him on the Devils’ top line would make the most sense right off the bat. But you can’t ignore the fact that Hughes and Evangelista stand to have much more chemistry. They’re very similar types of players who can control the pace of the game with speed and puck possession.
Now, that’s not to say that Hischier wouldn’t be a good linemate for Evangelista. But the idea of having Hughes and Evangelista line up together should give opposing coaches headaches. In fact, moving another newcomer, Anthony Mantha, to the top unit with Hischier and Timo Meier gives the team a much better overall look. That setup provides more balance for the Devils’ top six.
But there’s another interesting reason why the Hughes-Evangelista combination makes a ton of sense.
Devils have something for Evangelista that Predators don’t
There is little doubt that Luke Evangelista has 20-goal, if not 30-goal, potential. However, that ceiling was going to be hard to reach in Nashville.
There’s a very simple reason for that assertion. The Predators don’t have a high-end center. Yes, Ryan O’Rielly is a great player. But he’s not the sort of dynamic high-end center that Jack Hughes is.
That’s a major difference. Pairing Hughes with Evangelista gives the Devils’ newest member a solid running mate. And it’s the type of combination that could help Evangelista find his true ceiling.
That’s why the Devils pounced on the opportunity when it came to them. If you’re Sunny Mehta, why wouldn’t you pull the trigger?
The organization used the pieces it got in the Simon Nemec deal, and, well, to be honest, the Colorado Avalanche’s first-round pick is pretty much a second-rounder. So, getting Evangelista for basically two second-rounders is a deal you’re going to make every day of the week and twice on Sunday.
At the end of the day, there’s a very good chance Sheldon Keefe will roll with Evangelista on the top line with Nico Hischier. That move will work out just fine. But if the Devils are serious about destroying the opposition, Hughes and Evangelista have to be linemates.
It just makes too much sense.
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