Paul Bissonnette and Liam McHugh weigh in on whether they believe the Devils can accomplish what they did last season.
Can the New Jersey Devils exceed their 2022-23 accomplishments?
It's the million-dollar question entering this season. After earning a franchise record of 52 wins, 112 points, and a second-round playoff appearance, it is safe to say expectations are high in the Garden State.
In October, Warner Bros. Discovery Sports hosted a conference call with NHL on TNT studio team members Henrik Lundqvist, Paul Bissonnette, and Liam McHugh to preview the 2023-24 NHL season.
Kristy Flannery of The Hockey News spoke to the studio team members and asked their thoughts on New Jersey. A team that was one of the league's biggest surprises last season and entered this one as a projected Stanley Cup contender.
"I like this team a lot," said McHugh. "It's cool because they are a team that can win, and they play an attractive style, it's fast, it's skillful. I would say in the past, when the Devils were extremely successful, I don't know that you would have said that about their teams. It may not (have been) the most aesthetically pleasing, but they were extremely effective when they were a great team."
To start the season, the Devils are offensively one of the strongest teams in the league. Through 11 games, they have scored 43 goals, fifth-most in the league. Their 18 goals on the man advantage are the most in the NHL, and their power play is currently ranked first at 42.9 percent.
"I would say you'd be hard-pressed to find anybody who would not want to switch spots with (Tom Fitzgerald) right now as far as where this team aligns on age and what their capabilities are for the next five-year window," Bissonnette said.
Entering this season, the Devils were the eighth-youngest team in the league, with an average age of 27.1. However, the team's core, which includes Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, Timo Meier, Dawson Mercer, Luke Hughes, and Dougie Hamilton, has an average of 24.3.
New Jersey drafted five of those players mentioned above. With four of them selected in the first round, Bratt is the biggest surprise, being drafted in the sixth round, 162nd overall.
"It just seems like every one of their picks is popping off, Bissonnette continued. All these guys are growing into the players that they expected."
It is no surprise that the one Devils player McHugh talked about was Jack Hughes.
"As Hughes gets a little bit older and matures, and this is amazing, but I don't think we're at the point where we've seen the best of him," he said.
The studio host was correct. In 10 games, the first-overall pick recorded 20 points (five goals, 15 assists). Before his upper-body injury, which he sustained on Nov. 3, he led the league in points and assists. For October, he was named the NHL's First Star of the Month. It was the second time in his young career he was recognized.
In addition to the players on their roster in New Jersey, the Devils still have an impressive farm system that includes Simon Nemec, Seamus Casey, and Arseni Gritsyuk.
"As far as their pipeline and what they have to work with, as well as their bottom six, it's all lethal. McHugh touched on it; it's just a fun team to watch," Bissonnette said.
Both members of the TNT studio team agree that the Devils' window to contend has just opened, and they are going to be a threat for the next several seasons.
"I think, right now, (this team) is built where they can be in the mix to make the Eastern Conference Final year in and year out," said McHugh.
"They are just a juggernaut in the East and will have sustainable success for a long period of time," Bissonnette added.
TNT will broadcast the Devils' next game versus the Colorado Avalanche at Ball Center on Nov. 7 at 10:00 P.M. It will mark the first time Miles Wood will face his former team.