With Luke Hughes out, what's next for the New Jersey Devils defense?

.

The New Jersey Devils will start the season without their sophomore defenseman, Luke Hughes. Hughes suffered a left shoulder injury earlier this month. The Devils revealed he should be out for six-to-eight weeks.

This is not new territory for the Devils. Hamilton missed 62 games last season with a torn pectoral. Hamilton, like Hughes, is one of the Devils biggest offensive producers on the back-end. Hamilton was coming off a 22 goal, 74 point campaign with New Jersey the season prior. His absence was felt on the power-play as the Devils finished 13th in the NHL after a blistering start.

What Hughes Brings to the Table

Hughes is a unique defenseman in the Devils system. He’s a player who can create his own offense through skill alone. He had a 47-point season to start his career and was part of New Jersey’s top power-play unit. Hughes's ability to get the puck up ice quickly made him optimal for this position. Hughes is a phenomenal skater and uses it to his advantage in the transition game.

The Devils don’t have another defenseman like Hughes. Hamilton's way of creating offense is getting pucks on net as many times as possible throughout the game, while Hughes picks and chooses a little more and is looking to create that high-danger scoring opportunity. 

Who's Coming In?

New Jersey's defensive unit was set coming into the season. With Hughes missing the first part of the year, the Devils will look to Santeri Hatakka and Jonathan Kovacevic to join the lineup. 

New Jersey acquired Kovacevic in the off-season in a trade with Montreal. He had 13 points in 67 games. Kovacevic gives a different look in the lineup than Hughes would. Standing at 6’5 just over 220 pounds. Kovacevic fits the role of what the Devils were focusing on during the offseason. They wanted to be a more physical team to play against, and Kovacevic is that.

Hatakka was brought in on the Timo Meier deal. He played 12 games last season with the Devils and recorded two assists. He also played just under 50 games with Utica, spending time with both clubs.

Although the Devils are more familiar with Hatakka, Kovacevic will most likely get in the lineup. Neither one of them is going to be asked to do what Hughes brought, so the question comes down to “Which defenseman fits the game they want to play better?” Kovacevic seems more tailored to that role.

The Importance of a Hamilton Return

Hughes and Hamilton are different but make no mistake both are extremely effective at creating offense. Hamilton is one of the best defensemen in the league in the offensive zone. He creates ample chances through his shot and his ability to get pucks toward the net. When he is on the ice the probabilities of the Devils scoring rise. He will be a favorable add this season coming off an injury.