The New Jersey Devils are coming out of Prague with four points and a renewed sense of value to the franchise. As the entire hockey world paid attention to the Devils, as they were the only hockey that counted, they made easy work of Lindy Ruff and the Buffalo Sabres. The Devils won both games by a combined score of 7-2.
As we do each year, we try to get bold as we approach the first real stretch of the season. What could possibly happen this season?
Prediction #1: Jack Hughes scores 40 goals
Many analysts are predicting that Jack Hughes will score 100 points this season. It feels inevitable, so many will continue to predict that Hughes hits the century mark until he actually does it. Honestly, it's not a bad bet, but it's definitely not a bold one. Hughes was one point off 100 just two years ago, and if he stays healthy (a big if), it seems like it should be a formality.
However, not many are talking about "Jack Hughes: 40-goal scorer." It's pretty interesting since Hughes has hit 40 goals in a season already. He had 43 in 2022-23. However it looks like an outlier right now. That's also his only 30-goal season. Last year, he only had 27 goals.
Yet, this year has all the makings to be different. Hughes didn't score a goal against the Buffalo Sabres, but he did start to build chemistry with Jesper Bratt and Timo Meier, putting up two assists in Game 2. We're still on team "separate Hughes and Meier," but for now, we'll let it cook. And cook it will, because Hughes is going to score at will.
Some have pointed out that Hughes still looked tentative and afraid to get hit in those first two games, but we see that as early-season chemistry building. Hughes will get more aggressive as the season goes on.