Devils Notebook: Cotter & Hughes, Kovacevic & More

New Jersey Devils notes on keeping Paul Cotter with Jack Hughes & Jesper Bratt, Johnathan Kovacevic, and more...

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The New Jersey Devils are 4-2-0 heading into their matchup tonight with the Ottawa Senators. But even so, it looks like head coach Sheldon Keefe could make some minor tweaks to his lineup based on the end of the Carolina Hurricanes game that took place Tuesday.

Plus, notes on excellent starts for a perhaps under-the-radar Johnathan Kovacevic and one of the Devils’ special teams units.

Should Cotter Stick With Hughes & Bratt?

In Tuesday's game against the Hurricanes, Keefe made his first changes to the top six, moving Paul Cotter to a line with Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt and placing Timo Meier with Nico Hischier and Dawson Mercer.

More on the Hischier and Meier in a second, but first, let's focus on Cotter moving to a line with Hughes and Bratt. Time will tell if Keefe sticks with it, but there's good reason to believe it can work.

After Meier, Cotter has been the Devils' most efficient shooter at five-on-five, averaging 8.96 shots on goal per 60 minutes. He's also getting plenty of quality looks, generating 9.78 scoring chances per 60 minutes and 6.52 high-danger chances per 60 minutes.

Only Bratt has averaged more scoring chances per 60 minutes than Cotter through six games, while only Stefan Noesen is creating more high-danger chances. Given the facilitators Hughes and Bratt are, Cotter might be the ideal finishing talent to round out that line.

Of course, you could argue the same for Meier, but there is a difference between the two players. Meier is much more of a facilitator and play-driver than Cotter, and he's much more puck-dominant. That's not to say Cotter is a passenger, but he may be a better complementary piece for Hughes and Bratt.

Plus, it's not like Cotter can't skate. He has some speed to his game and will add some physicality to that line. He's already shown he can finish; he leads the team with four goals. I like the fit, and it could benefit the rest of the Devils' top nine.