3 Devils Who Could Reach New Career Highs in 2024-25
The New Jersey Devils are brimming with talent. Which players can reach new heights in the upcoming season?
The New Jersey Devils are ready to turn things around in 2024-25 following the disappointment of 2023-24. Freshly loaded with a new goalie, a strengthened defense, increased forward depth and a new coach, the Devils look like a much better team. Their young, talented core has gained more experience.
Heading into an exciting season, the hope is that players who struggled last season will be much better next season and players who had strong seasons will grow even more. But which players will really kick it into that next gear? Who can set new career-highs? Here are three Devils players who could put up career-high numbers in 2024-25.
Jack Hughes
Now that Jack Hughes had his shoulder fixed, 2024-25 is set up to be a healthier and stronger season for him than 2023-24. He came so close to cracking 100 points in a regular season in 2022-23 when he set a new franchise-high of 99 points. Hughes had his first 40-goal season that year with 43 goals.
In 62 games in 2023-24, Hughes had 74 points. This means he was on pace for 98 points in a full slate of 82 games. In a full season, he could have been right around his previous season totals, and that was while playing injured for much of the season. Imagine how much better he would have been if he was healthy.
The Devils’ offensive is scary. Playing with such a high-powered offense gives Hughes plenty of opportunities to tack on assists. If the Devils can run a potent power play, he’ll also be able to rack up the power play points. A healthy 23-year-old Hughes can have an explosive season and reach the 100-point threshold. Not only can he reach a new career-high, but he can break his own franchise record.
Jesper Bratt
All signs point to Jesper Bratt elevating his game in 2024-25. He tallied 73 points in both the 2021-22 and 2022-23 seasons. Bratt reached 30 goals in one season for the first time in 2022-23. He then hit a career-high 83 points in 2023-24 and became an All-Star for the first time. He's hitting a higher ceiling offensively no matter how good the team around him is.
During what was a difficult season for the Devils in 2023-24, Bratt often showed a spark that the team as a whole lacked. The Devils relied on Bratt more in a season that consisted of significant injuries to star players Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Timo Meier and Dougie Hamilton. The increased reliance didn’t scare Bratt, who found ways to get involved all over the ice and contribute.
Heading into his age 26 season, Bratt is now in the prime of his career. It’s incredible that as a former sixth-round draft pick, his ceiling probably goes higher than he's already reached. Bratt plays well with both of the Devils’ top centers and will be a staple of the team’s top 6 for years to come. This upcoming season will show how much more Bratt can grow.
Timo Meier
Timo Meier can reach new heights in 2024-25. Following a rough first half of the 2023-24 season, Meier had a stronger, although still inconsistent second half. Injuries hampered him and very clearly did not look like the player he was capable of being. Meier still managed to score 28 goals. There were times when he looked rough and looked like the superstar the Devils traded for in the 2022-23 season.
Meier’s career-high of 76 points in a single season came in 2021-22 with the San Jose Sharks. He then had 66 points in 2022-23 between the Sharks and the Devils, with an obvious adjustment period once he was traded. Meier had 52 points in 2023-24. He has had three 30-goal seasons in his career so far.
After two seasons with numbers below his best, Meier is due to pick up his production and put together a huge season. The Devils showed Meier that they truly believe in him and his fit with the team when they signed him to an eight-year $70.4 million contract last offseason. Now it’s time for Meier to prove why the Devils were right to believe in him.
These three Devils are poised to kick their stardom into the next gear in 2024-25. They are already stars in their own right, but this could make them some of the best.
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