Is Devils' Tatar the Best Fit for Hughes & Bratt?

Tomas Tatar has played everywhere but Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt's line. Should Sheldon Keefe give him his chance there?

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It's only been nine games, but the New Jersey Devils have had a rotating cast of left wingers on Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt's line. First, it was Timo Meier, then it was Paul Cotter for a game and a half, and now it seems like Ondřej Palát is getting his chance there.

Meier had some success with Hughes and Bratt, but the last few games have shown why he's such a great fit with Nico Hischier. Now, it's about finding something that works with Hughes and Bratt, and I don't think it'll be Palát.

The Devils brought Tomáš Tatar back on a one-year deal this summer, and he began the season on Hischier's line. Now, he finds himself on the fourth line, but could he be the best fit for Hughes and Bratt?

Nothing Has Worked With Hughes & Bratt So Far

Even though Keefe broke up the Meier, Hughes and Bratt line, it's probably been the best iteration of the Hughes line early this season. They posted an expected goals share (xG%) of 52.05 percent, but it wasn't the perfect combo, either.

One) Those are three pretty puck-dominant players, and as we've seen with Meier and Hischier the last few games, spreading the wealth and placing Meier with Hischier and Dawson Mercer has worked quite well.

Two) Though Meier, Hughes and Bratt were creating offense, averaging 3.23 expected goals per 60 minutes, they were giving plenty of it back, allowing 2.98 expected goals per 60.

It's understandable why Keefe broke them up, but he still hasn't found the right fit for Hughes and Bratt. I don't think it's worth talking about Cotter, Hughes and Bratt because Keefe barely played them together for a game, but it did not go well.

Cotter seems like a fine enough bottom-six or potential above-average third-line winger, but a top-six winger? I'm less optimistic about that happening right now.

Since Cotter didn't work there, Keefe is giving a struggling Palát a chance to find his game with two of the team's best players. Palát did pick up his first point of the season, a secondary assist on Jack Hughes' goal in the 8-5 debacle against the Tampa Bay Lightning. But the five-on-five numbers have not been great.

In a small sample of 20 minutes this season, Palát, Hughes and Bratt have an xG% of 37.89 percent. They've allowed 3.73 expected goals per 60 while generating just 2.28 expected goals per 60. Again, it's a small sample. But also...yuck.