Projecting the New Jersey Devils' lineup

From first line to third pairing, JP Gambatese took a stab at predicting Lindy Ruff's go-to lineup.

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By JP Gambatese (@JP_Gambatese)

It’s somehow already August, which means training camp is almost here. That’s the real time for the “who makes the lineup?” and “where is he going to play?” questions, but it’s always fun to think about it before that happens. 

As such, I put together my own lineup projection. This was done considering a handful of factors, with play style and talent being the most obvious driving forces behind my decisions. Without further ado…

Forwards

Line 1: Timo Meier - Nico Hischier - Dawson Mercer

The Devils’ top two lines are effectively interchangeable. Time on ice should be roughly the same, contingent on special teams work for the likes of Hischier and Mercer. 

With that said, Hischier’s line has always been the top line on Amanda Stein’s written lineups, so I figured I’d follow suit.

This line would be an annoyance to oppositions in their own zone, to put it lightly. Each player has a different style – Timo Meier is a shoot-first-and-from-everywhere player, Hischier slots in as the playmaker of the group, and Dawson Mercer is an ace at finding open space and making high quality shots from wherever he receives the puck. 

All three are among the Devils’ best forecheckers, too – especially Meier and Mercer. The defenders would simply never be able to get the puck out of the zone. Each one is also capable of playing any role, really, despite the profiles I laid out above.

There truly isn’t a spot on the ice where any of them would feel out of place (whereas you’d be shocked if Jack Hughes was playing netfront).

On transition, Mercer would act more as the passenger player than the transitioner, which Meier and Hischier do quite well. Plus, on the defensive end, Mercer ranked just under league average defensively, while Meier was well over the 75th percentile. It goes without saying that future-perennial Selke nominee Nico Hischier is defensively responsible, too.

What I’m implying here is that this line has no real weaknesses. And yet, the upside isn’t even the highest on the team, which belongs to…

Line 2: Jesper Bratt - Jack Hughes - Tyler Toffoli