The New Jersey Devils have just announced another heartbreaking news while playing
The New Jersey Devils’ season has been quite peculiar thus far. Despite a franchise-best 2022–2023 season, this year’s performances have fallen short. The team’s goaltending, whether it be through injuries, erratic play, or other reasons, hasn’t been great. The Devils are still very much in the running for a playoff spot, though, as we approach the halfway point.
When examining each one separately, a diverse range of performances have been seen. There’s been a lot to consider thus far, ranging from career years to potential career killers. After the holiday break, schools resume, so now is a great time to grade these New Jersey Devils forwards in the first half of the season using a black (or red) pen.
Jack Hughes in 15G, 30A, and 45 points
With a strong start to the season, Jack Hughes had a strong chance of winning MVP. In just the first nine games, he scored 20 points. That’s when the first injury occurred. Hughes was out for two weeks following his collision with the St. Louis Blues’ boards. Even though he didn’t look 100%, he pretty quickly regained his scoring touch. Despite this, Hughes scored 25 points in his next 22 games before getting hurt, and he hasn’t returned since. Although his season got off to such a promising start, injuries have plagued him throughout his career. That being said, he can still aim for 80+ points if he returns soon.
Nico Hischier’s grade is an A (11G–11A–22 points).
It was reasonable to have high expectations for Hischier following a stellar 2022–23 campaign. Nico hasn’t quite found his footing this year and missed a significant number of games in the middle of the season, much like Jack. The defense has regressed from elite to just very good, and the offense isn’t as good as it was a year ago. But what really sets Hischier apart is that even in the absence of scoring, he still goes above and beyond to help the team win. In the second half of the season, his health will be crucial for both him and the team as a whole. If he can stay on the ice, he should be able to surpass his current 60-point pace.
Rating: B
Bratt Jesper (16G – 30A – 46Pts)
Even after receiving the “bag” during the offseason, Jesper Bratt has performed admirably in 2023–2024. This season, he has undoubtedly been the Devils’ best and most reliable player. In addition to leading the team in points, Bratt is also tied for the lead in goals, assists, and expected goals. Bratt has had to shoulder a large portion of the scoring load alone this year due to the numerous injuries to important players, and he has done so brilliantly. Even though he has missed a few excellent scoring opportunities, his output has kept the Devils afloat.
