Awards Season: Devils Considerations | FEATURE

The Devils open the 2023 Stanley Cup playoffs Tuesday against the New York Rangers at Prudential Center. But before we fully turn the page on the 2022-23 season, voting is already underway by members of the PHWA for the NHL's league awards. So, here's a look at some members of the Devils organization that deserve some consideration for their incredible and record-breaking 2022-23 season.
Tom Fitzgerald - Jim Gregory Award (General Manager of the Year)
The Devils have returned to the postseason for the first time since 2018, and for the second time in the past 11 years. New Jersey set franchise records with 52 wins and 112 points while setting an NHL record with a 49-point improvement from last season (82-game season). The Devils finished third overall in the NHL standings (a mere point behind Carolina for second) after a 28th finish a season ago.
The playoff berth and a record-setting 2022-23 season were the culmination of many years of work put in by general manager Tom Fitzgerald and his hockey operations staff.

While serving as assistant general manager, Fitzgerald helped in the acquisitions of Nico Hischier, Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt - the foundational pieces of the organization. But once he took full control of the team in 2020, Fitzgerald boldly traded away veterans Blake Coleman, Andy Green, Travis Zajac and Kyle Palmieri for future assets in a well-constructed rebuild plan. The team absorbed temporary short-term pain in exchange for long-term success.
Fitzgerald leveraged his plethora of draft picks into players like Dawson Mercer, Luke Hughes, Simon Nemec, Alexander Holtz and Chase Stillman. He leveraged his cap space to sign free agents Dougie Hamilton, Ondrej Palat and Tomas Tatar. Finally, he used specifically targeted trades to acquire key pieces like Timo Meier, Vitek Vanecek, John Marino, Jonas Siegenthaler, Ryan Graves and Erik Haula.
Fitzgerald didn't just add pieces, he added the "right pieces" to the team. Every decision was shrewd and calculated.
But perhaps Fitzgerald's wisest decisions was hiring head coach Lindy Ruff (more on that below) to steer the ship. It was Ruff's stature, experience, presence and patience that allowed him to mold this team over time into a record shattering 2022-23 campaign. Fitzgerald believed in Ruff and stood by his man. In the end, his belief was rewarded and justified.
It took the Devils several years to become an overnight success. Every step of the way, Fitzgerald made the right moves to not only set up the Devils for success now, but for years to come. The team's window as a competitive club is just opening.
Fitzgerald and his staff played the biggest role in that ascension with a well-conceived, orchestrated and executed plan.
Lindy Ruff - Jack Adams Award (Coach of the Year)
The story of Lindy Ruff and Fitzgerald are linked. While Fitzgerald gave Ruff the key pieces with which to work, it was Ruff that had to maneuver them on the chess board.
Ruff oversaw the most remarkable transformation in NHL history. Literally. As mentioned above, the Devils 49-point improvement in 2022-23 from 2021-22 is the greatest jump from one season to the next (82-game season).
What's more, of all the legendary people involved in the Devils organization's remarkable history from the front office to the bench to the ice, none had the success that the club in 2022-23 did. The 52 wins and 112 points are both franchise records. And it was at the hand of Ruff.
The story of Ruff is also a story of time and perseverance. He took over a club, in 2020, that was stripped to the bones. It was filled with young promise but required patience and polish. Ruff permitted his young team to make mistakes while learning in real time (however, repeated mistakes did not go unpunished). But his primary role was that as a teacher and developer.
A few years later, the fruits of those labors have flourished. The players from that 2020-21 team have developed their offensive and defensive talents. They've grown as players thanks to the efforts of many, but a lot of credit belongs to Ruff and his staff. The Devils jumped to 4th in the NHL in goals (19th last season) and 8th in goal against (29th last season). The penalty kill (4th) and power play (13th) also improved from 14th and 28th respectively last season.
All of those on-ice improvements are the result of development, buy in and trust in their head coach. They're also the result of Ruff's patience and perseverance. The result was a season in New Jersey like no other.
Jack Hughes - Hart Trophy (NHL's Most Valuable Player)
Jack Hughes enjoyed the most prolific offensive season in Devils history. He posted 99 points, a new franchise high (besting Patrik Elias' 96 from 2000-01). If he hadn't missed four games due to injury, Hughes no doubt would have become the first New Jersey player to top 100 points in a year.
Hughes' 99 points were 19 more than second-place finisher Nico Hischier (80). There is no doubt which player drive's the Devils' offense. In fact, Hughes led the team in goals (43) and assists (56) while accumulating his record 99 points. The Devils were 23-7-2 when Hughes scored. During one span, Hughes posted 17 goals and 28 points in 15 games (Dec. 30 to Feb. 6) before an injury stopped his run.
There is no doubt that Hughes is the Devils' MVP. And an argument could be made that among all NHL players he is the most important player to his individual team. The absence of Hughes from the Devils may have the greatest impact on his team than any other in the league.
Without Connor McDavid, Edmonton still has Leon Draisaitl and Ryan Nugent-Hopkins. Without David Pastrnak, Boston still has Brad Marchand and Patrice Bergeron. Without Nikita Kucherov, Tampa Bay still has Brayden Point and Steven Stamkos. Without Nathan MacKinnon, Colorado still has Mikko Rantanen. Without Matthew Tkachuk, Florida still has Aleksander Barkov.
When viewed through the lens of how losing a single player effects a team, Hughes is certainly worthy of consideration for league MVP.
Dougie Hamilton - James Norris Memorial Trophy (Defensive Player of the Year)
Personally, Dougie Hamilton enjoyed a season like no other in his career. He posted highs across the board in goals (22), assists (52), points (74), power-play goals (8), power-play points (28), game-winning goals (7) and shots (275) while his plus-23 was the second-best mark of his career.
On a team level, Hamilton's 22 goals tied for the franchise mark for a defenseman (Barry Beck, 1977-78) while surpassing the Devils' team record (Scott Stevens, 18, 1993-94). He surpassed Stevens' club record for game-winning goals (6) by posting seven. Hamilton also posted a franchise record (and personal record) 21 multiple-point games for a blueliner (17, Stevens, 1993-94).
On a league level among defensemen, Hamilton finished second in goals, tied for second in even-strength goals (14), second in overtime goals, fourth in points, fourth in even-strength points, first in game-winning goals, first in shots and tied for first in power-play goals.
Hamilton has been a productive offensive threat the entire season. And as far as defensively, his plus-23 mark is the best among the top seven scoring blueliners in the entire league. That balance combined with the team success are why Hamilton deserves some recognition for the Norris Trophy.
Nico Hischier - Frank J. Selke Trophy (Best Defensive Forward)
The Selke Trophy is given "to the forward who best excels in the defensive aspects of the game." Hischier is the Devils' top defensive centerman, drawing the assignment to go head-to-head against the opposing teams' best players night in and night out.
He's also the first forward over the boards for the Devils' penalty killing unit that finished 4th in the NHL (82.6%). Hischier led all Devils' forwards with 2:06 shorthanded minutes per game. The Devils rely on their captain late in games while trying to hold leads. Whether it's taking faceoffs (53.9%) or blocking shots (61, second among team's forwards), Hischier will do whatever it takes in his own zone.
Hischier's plus-33 (all the more impressive considering 19 of Hischier's points have come on the power-play) is better than eight of the past nine recipients of the Selke Trophy, and better than each of the last seven.
You'd have to go back to 2015-16 when Los Angeles' Anze Kopitar posted a plus-34 (just one mark better than Hischier) to find anything even comparable. Kopitar had 74 points that season (25g-49) which still means Hischier was still more offensively productive while being just as affectively in the defensive zone.
While Hischier has exceled in the defensive zone, he's also been a threat at both ends of the ice. He's arguably been the NHL's best two-way forward. In 2022-23, Hischier finished the season with 80 points (31g-49a) to go with his plus-33. And just compare his stats to past Selke winners:
When it comes to getting things done at both ends of the ice, Hischier showed he is amongst the best in the entire league. His 31 goals, 49 assists and 80 points are better than the past four winners while blowing away the previous three recipients.
Jack Hughes - Lady Byng Memorial Trophy (Most Gentlemanly Player)
The Lady Byng Trophy is awarded to the "player adjudged to have exhibited the best type of sportsmanship and gentlemanly conduct combined with a high standard of playing ability." Typically, that is adjudged by a low number of penalty minutes (gentlemanly) combined with solid offensive or defensive numbers (excelling on the ice).
And Hughes fits that bill perfectly.
Hughes recorded a mere six penalty minutes on the season, due to three minors. That would be six more minutes than he recorded in 49 games during the 2021-22 season when he spent exactly zero minutes in the penalty box (Hughes went 63 straight games without taking a penalty over three seasons).
Along with Hughes' six penalty minutes is his "high standard of playing ability," which is evident in his record-breaking 99-point season. Hughes' 99 points are the most in the NHL this season by any player with six or less penalty minutes. The next highest total is 74 points by Anze Kopitar (4 PIMs) followed by teammate Jesper Bratt at 73 points (6 PIMs).
For context on how impressive Hughes' numbers in the points and PIMs category are, consider that the last player to win the award having six or less penalty minutes and recording 99 points or more in a single season was Paul Kariya in 1996-97 when he matched Hughes in points (99) and penalty minutes (6). Hughes accomplished something that hadn't been done in 26 years.
Those accomplishments are well worth consideration for the trophy.