Revisiting my New Jersey Devils predictions for the 2021-22 season

I made four key predictions back in October. Let's take a look at how they turned out.

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By now you all know that I am a big fan of predictions. I love making them and I love looking back to see where I was right and wrong.

I think reflecting provides a real opportunity to learn and I’d be doing a disservice to everyone to make claims and just let them go by the wayside.

With that in mind, let’s review the four New Jersey Devils-focused predictions I made prior to the 2021-22 campaign.

Prediction No. 1: Jack Hughes will be in the Hart Trophy conversation

Okay, okay, that doesn’t look great on the surface. Jack Hughes played in just 49 games and the New Jersey Devils were much closer to finishing dead last in the NHL than in a Wild Card spot.

I stand by the logic of the prediction, though. I rightfully expected Hughes to take a big step forward and produce at a point per game clip (or better).

The thought process: if he was that productive, and the Devils snuck into the post-season, he could get some backing; much like Taylor Hall did a few years ago.

I believe this Devils team can contend for a playoff spot, if not claim one outright. Hart candidates usually put up a bunch of points for top teams or a bunch of points for a surprise team. The Devils would certainly be the latter.

I don’t see Hughes getting into the 90+ point range it’ll take to really get considered for the award, but if he’s a point per game guy and the Devils sneak in…he could finish top-10 in voting.

There is a world where this could have worked out. Hughes produced at a 44-goal, 94-point pace and the Devils were mostly effective at 5v5. With remotely good goaltending, and a competent power play, the Devils could’ve been a legitimately playoff contender. Obviously that wasn’t the case.

Hughes did his part when healthy. The Devils didn’t do theirs. I’ll probably run this one back in the fall.