The Devils have been piling up wins with the kind of formula every coach dreams about: strong possession, sharp underlying numbers, and enough scoring depth to keep the pressure coming from every direction. Through 13 games, they’ve already had 10 players score at least two goals, matching last season’s total at the same point.
They’ve also spread the offense even wider, with 16 players finding the net at least once, up from 13 a year ago. That’s a sign this team is thriving in a different way than it did last October.
A big part of that success has been how the Devils are getting it done. They’re beating opponents to loose pucks, winning board battles, and cashing in on the kind of chances that come from quick, decisive play. They’ve been the league’s best rush team, and the scoreboard has reflected it.
But while the team has taken off, Jack Hughes has been a little stuck in neutral when it comes to finishing.
That doesn’t mean he’s off track. Hughes’ underlying numbers have been excellent, especially since Sheldon Keefe put Arseny Gritsyuk on his line.
The issue is that the production has tilted more toward setup work than goal-scoring so far. The Devils have gotten the version of Hughes that creates, but not quite the version that buries chances.
Part of that is tied to Jesper Bratt’s finishing struggles. Normally, Hughes can cover for that because he takes care of plenty of his own scoring. This season, though, that hasn’t happened yet.
After 13 games, Hughes is tied with his brother Luke Hughes and Jesper Boqvist with four goals. On Tuesday night against the Dallas Stars, he scored his first 5v5 goal. Before that, his goals had come in overtime twice and once into an empty net.
The shot volume is there, too. Hughes has 47 shots, tied for the league lead, yet he’s converting at just 8.5%. Timo Meier also sits at the top of the shot leaderboard, though he has only one goal.
With Hughes averaging more than 20 minutes of ice time per game, the finish should come. His shooting percentage is on pace to be the lowest it has been since the COVID-shortened 2021 season, and that kind of number usually doesn’t stick.
Bratt should start finishing more as well, which would only help Hughes’ point total climb. Even so, Hughes already has 14 points in 13 games, so this isn’t a slump in the broad sense. Still, the Devils would gladly take more of his goals in regulation instead of waiting for overtime to do the heavy lifting.
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 🡒]