The New Jersey Devils have started to straighten things out after their rocky opening, and the numbers behind the turnaround still point in one direction: the offense should be better than the results have shown.
A big reason is finishing. Timo Meier has one of the worst shooting percentages in the league among players you’d expect to score.
Jesper Bratt has not cashed in at the rate the Devils need. Nico Hischier has been the one consistent scorer in that core.
Jack Hughes belongs in that group too, even if the goals haven’t followed the way you’d expect.
Hughes’ overall production is still strong. He has 14 points in 13 games, which puts him on pace for about 90 points. The strange part is how it has come together: just one goal at 5-on-5, plus two goals in 3-on-3 overtime and one empty-netter.
The shot volume is there. Hughes has taken 47 shots in 13 games, and he has 109 shot attempts overall.
The problem is that fewer than half of those attempts are actually getting through to the net. That’s where the real drag starts.
Missed shots are one thing, but blocked shots have been the bigger issue for the Devils. A block can kill a sequence in a hurry, sending the puck to the corner or out of the zone.
Hughes is an odd name to see near the top of that list, especially because he’s not just firing blindly from the blue line. When he does try to shoot from that area, it’s usually with purpose, and a block there can still create a scoring chance.
Jack Hughes isn’t alone in this, either. Luke Hughes is dealing with the same kind of problem, though it makes a little more sense in his case.
He has been better with his shot this season, even if he’s not exactly Dougie Hamilton. Still, he has 36 blocked shots, the same as Jack Hughes.
Only Matthew Schaefer has more blocked shots against than the two Devils brothers.
As a team, New Jersey is getting too many pucks blocked. A lot of that comes from trying to generate offense from dangerous areas in tight windows. Jack and Luke Hughes both have the confidence to go for those plays, and when the puck gets through, it can pay off.
Right now, though, it’s only showing up for one of them.
Luke Hughes has been playing very well, and there’s more scoring there waiting to come out if he can simply get more of his shots to the net. That should naturally lead to more goals and, especially, more points. Even with his strong play, the assist totals are still not where they need to be, and forcing more rebounds would be the easiest way to change that.
None of this is being framed as a knock on either player. It’s just one part of their game that’s holding the Devils back. If they can cut down the blocked shots, the goals should follow.
In Other News...
Devils Forward Thought He Might Be Gone In Hellebuyck Blockbuster
The first days around Connor Hellebuycks arrival in New Jersey brought the usual trade-deadline nerves, but they also highlighted how carefully the Devils tried to handle the human side of the move. Players such as Dawson Mercer, Nick Bjugstad and Nico Daws were treated with respect by management and teammates before the deal went through, a small but meaningful detail in a business that can turn quickly on players who are suddenly waiting on their phones.
Cody Glass was among the players wondering whether he might be swept up in the blockbuster, which is the sort of anxiety that hangs over a room once rumors start moving. What stood out in the aftermath was the way general manager Sunny Mehta handled those conversations, giving a reminder that even in a major transaction, the Devils were trying to make sure the people involved were seen as more than just pieces in a roster shuffle. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Face A Pricey Decision In Their Push For Dylan Larkin
Dylan Larkin is sitting out of the lineup while the Red Wings work to finalize a trade, and the Devils have emerged as one of the teams with real interest. Larkins no-trade clause gives him control over where this goes, and New Jersey is among the destinations he has approved, which at least keeps the door open as the Devils keep pushing to add another major piece.
Sunny Mehta has already made clear the Devils are prepared to keep building aggressively, but this is the sort of move that comes with a hefty cost and no guarantee of a finish. For a club trying to stay in the thick of the race, the question is whether New Jersey is willing to pay what it takes to make the pursuit of Larkin turn into something more than just another rumor. [Read more 🡒]
Devils Trade Theory Has Fans Wondering What Team USA Stars Know
The chatter around New Jersey has picked up because of what could be an intriguing ripple effect from Team USAs Olympic group. With the Devils already landing Connor Hellebuyck in a trade and names like Dylan Larkin and Quinn Hughes now linked to possible interest, the idea has started to build that more than one national team star might be eyeing the same destination. Nothing is confirmed, but it is the sort of rumor that naturally grabs attention for a club looking to stay in the thick of the Eastern Conference picture.
For now, it remains exactly that, a theory with no public confirmation behind it. Still, the timing has added extra fuel, especially as other teams around the league weigh veteran moves of their own, with Vancouver reportedly considering changes after a long losing streak and Edmonton making it clear that even a big contract does not guarantee ice time. In that kind of market, every hint of alignment among elite players gets noticed, and New Jersey suddenly feels like one of the more interesting teams to watch. [Read more 🡒]