Summary
Head coach Sheldon Keefe started the season with Evgenii Dadonov, who was sidelined by a hand injury. Stefan Noesen has since joined Jack Hughes and Jesper Bratt, forming a productive line and adapting to Hughes's instinctive style. Hughes and Bratt nicknamed their duo “PB&J” after a media quote describing their on-ice chemistry.
Original Content
Head coach Sheldon Keefe began the season with newly acquired veteran Evgenii Dadonov. Unfortunately, the 36-year-old sustained a hand injury in the team's season opener against the Carolina Hurricanes, and has been sidelined since Oct. With Dadonov's injury, Keefe went back to what he was familiar with, moving Ondrej Palat to the top line. After keeping that trio together for 10 games, New Jersey's coach made another change. Stefan Noesen has been glued to Hughes and Bratt's side over the last three games against the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, and Montreal Canadiens. “It is the first time playing with (Hughes),” Noesen said. “Obviously, I have played with (Bratt) before. It is getting used to the way Jack plays the game. He is so talented and plays the game based on instinct, so it is about adapting to him and learning. I am just trying to do my part.\" During a postgame media availability on Dec. 14, 2023, Hughes was asked about playing alongside Bratt and said, “When we play together, it is like peanut butter and jelly.\" It was at that moment that the nickname PB&J was born. The young duo is dynamic and responsible for multiple highlight reel plays throughout a season, and in some cases, a single game. Their chemistry is off the charts as they always know where the other one is on the ice. “They are always looking for each other,” Noesen said. “You know, you can put anybody on that line, and I don't even know if they know anyone else is on that line.\"
Author's Summary
Stefan Noesen explains adapting to Hughes's instinctive playing style on a line with Bratt, highlighting chemistry that led to PB&J nickname and standout on-ice moments.
Notes
- Quotes preserved from the original content where possible.
- No new facts added beyond the source text.
- 20% human-style rephrase applied to the surrounding narrative.