New Jersey Devils 2022-23 season awards

I took a closer look at which Devils were most deserving of the NHL's major awards.

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Every year I like to hand out major awards to the New Jersey Devils players most deserving.

Before I get to writing about the Devils who may actually, you know, win an award in real life, I wanted to dole out the imaginary hardware.

Let’s get to it!

Art Ross: Jack Hughes

What a difference a year makes. Last season Hughes set a new career high in points with 56(!) and finished 17 back of Jesper Bratt for the team lead.

That was a byproduct of Hughes missing time rather than failing to be efficient – he was on pace for 93 points over 82 games, which would’ve comfortably led the team – but going from a 56 point player who ‘would have hit 90!!!’ to actually doing so is quite the leap. That’s what we saw from Hughes this season.

He put up 99 points, clearing second place Nico Hischier by nearly 20. Hughes did that while missing four games. If he dressed for another contest or two, we’re almost certainly talking about the first 100 point player in team history.

It doesn’t feel like a lost opportunity, though; with Hughes it’s a matter of when and not if.

League-wide, only 11 players registered more points than Hughes. He was at least two years younger than every player that finished ahead of him, and four+ years younger than everybody featured in the top-5.

There may still be another gear for Hughes, which is scary to think about.

Rocket Richard: Jack Hughes

Remember a couple of years ago when every Hughes shot was about as threatening as a golden retriever puppy?

*pulls up my archives on phone*

I mean, look at that thing. How scary is that? (A lot scarier than it appears, I promise you. Okay, maybe not the best example). But back to Hughes’ shot.

Looking at him now, it’s almost hard to remember a world where every shot he took was a gentle and warm hug for opposing goaltenders to guide in their arms.

Hughes potted 43 goals in 78 games this year, which was enough to clear all of his teammates – including the designated sniper the Devils acquired at the deadline in Timo Meier.

Hughes finished 6th in 5v5 goals, 8th in total goals, and was full value for it. Only four players registered more shots on target this season while he also cracked the top-10 in terms of scoring chances generated.

As lethal of a passer as Hughes is, he has reached that level – or at least approached it – as a goal scorer and he deserves a ton of credit for that.

When Hughes was drafted I thought he had potential to flirt with 30 goals and be a 90 point guy. He has shown he can score 40, and perhaps even touch 50, which makes the ceiling for what he can become that much higher.

Assuming Meier is re-signed (I think Fitzgerald will find a way to get it done), it’ll be fun watching No. 86 and No. 96 duke it out for the team’s goal scoring lead next season.

I know Meier went dry down the stretch but a full year riding shotgun with some combination of Hughes, Hischier, and Jesper Bratt on a lethal offensive team could lead to some eye-popping numbers.

Hart Trophy: Jack Hughes

Surprise, surprise, we have more team hardware for Jack Hughes. He was Mr. Everything for the Devils all season long.

He lead the team in goals, assists, points, shot attempts, shots on target, scoring chances, high-danger chances, expected goals, shot contributions, and pretty much every other stat you can think of.

Absolutely everything ran through Hughes when on the ice. He was in charge of navigating through the neutral zone and transporting the puck safely into the offensive zone. He was the main facilitator for his teammates. And he was also the guy you wanted taking the chances.

This feels crazy to say but Hughes’ 99 points almost does him a disservice for how much offense he created. I mean, there were weeks – if not months – where he’d put the puck on Erik Haula’s stick with a yawning cage almost every game (sometimes multiple times!) and absolutely none of them found a way to go.

Hughes could’ve put up, say, 110 points and I don’t think a single person would be pointing a finger his direction as someone who got lucky or was poised to see a dip next season. He was that good.

Selke: Nico Hischier

The captain was an absolute beast at both ends of the ice. He was a 30 goal scorer for the first time and put up 80 points despite playing the toughest, and most taxing, minutes Lindy Ruff could throw at him every night.

At home he matched up against opposing team’s best players at even-strength. He was also the team’s ace penalty killer up front, logging more shorthanded minutes than every other forward on the team. And he did that job well, too.

Hischier was on for 17 power play goals against in ~170 minutes of work, essentially meaning it took opponents five full power plays to net one goal. In an extremely high scoring NHL season, that’s a pretty good mark.

Combine Hischier’s offensive prowess, strong play without the puck, and ability to draw penalties in bulk (while somehow never taking them), and he finished with a GAR of 20.3.

That tied him with Brayden Point for 14th among all forwards. Yes, 14th. That’s pretty good for a 3C.

Norris: Dougie Hamilton

I don’t have it in me to write nice things about Dougie Hamilton following his playoff performance. In my opinion Hamilton’s playoff performance was a lot closer to what everyone made Jesper Bratt’s out to be.