Without question, the face of the New Jersey Devils is Jack Hughes. He has had four straight seasons of 70-plus points, and his goal to clinch the gold medal for Team USA has made him a household name. If the Devils want to get back to the playoffs, they need Hughes to continue putting up performances like this. The best way to keep him performing at a high level is to put him on a line that best complements his skills. The best player for this is Jesper Bratt. But what makes these two such good linemates?
Why Jesper Bratt and Jack Hughes work so well together
These two have a ton of chemistry together. Last season, the two played on a line 57.6% of the time. Lines that had both of them on them produced 34 points last season. This was the most of any of Hughes' line mates. They also combined for 20 points when they were on the same power-play units. It's clear that at both even strength and the power play, these two were able to be positive on offense. They were able to bring the best out of each other.
It is not just the counting stats that show these two are a good duo. Their advanced metrics show they have no issue generating offense. According to Moneypuck, lines that had them produced a 55.4 xGoals% and a 3.63 xGoals per 60 Minutes. Not only were their offensive metrics good, but their defensive one were too. They had a 7.7 xGoals Against and a 2.5 xGoals Against per 60 Minutes. It's clear these two excel on both ends of the ice.
These two are very similar players. Both have been praised for their playmaking ability. They are able to make great passes and set each other up to put the puck in the back of the net. They also make up for each other's shortcomings. Bratt may be a bit undersized, but he's not afraid to be physical and a pest on the ice. This will act as a deterrent on the ice and give Hughes some much-needed protection. He will be able to play his game without fear of a big hit.
If the Devils put a shoot-first player on the line with them, it can become one of the best in the NHL. Having a natural finisher will help generate more offense and raise the point totals of all three. Sure, Hughes and Bratt will get most of their production from assists, but that is something they do best. It will keep Hughes' point total high, which should help the Devils win more games. It is the first step towards returning to the playoffs.
If the Devils want to do right by Hughes, they need to keep him on the same line as Bratt. It is one of the best line duos they have in the organization.
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