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Jaromir Jagr's mini me? Dallas Stars' 18-year-old rookie Valeri Nichushkin (43)

( Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports)

NEWARK -- Devils right wing Jaromir Jagr joked after a recent practice that he'd someday join the media and make everyone jealous at how good he'd be analyzing hockey talent.



From there, No. 68 started auditioning by talking up a Dallas Stars 18-year-old rookie he'd seen play a few times on television.

His report was so glowing that he predicted Valeri Nichushkin, a 6-foot-4, 205-pound winger, has the talent to develop into what Jagr was during his heyday in Pittsburgh.

Asked what player Nichushkin reminds him of, Jagr responded, “Me when I was young.” He added, “Just kidding,” even though he probably wasn’t.

They’re both big and strong wingers with lots of skill, Jagr’s fading somewhat at age 41 and Nichushkin’s still needing polish as a teen.

“I saw, like, three (of his) games,” Jagr said. “He was a great player. Maybe it was his best three games I watched, but I said this guy is going to be the best in the world one day.”

Jagr will get to see how good Nichushkin is in person for the first time Thursday night, with the Devils and Stars squaring off at Prudential Center.

The 10th overall pick of last year’s draft, Nichushkin has nine goals and 22 points in 41 games, including seven goals and 14 points over his last 17.

Nichushkin's scoring really began to take off after a recent promotion to Dallas' top line, which includes two of the league's top young forwards -- center Tyler Seguin and left wing Jamie Benn. On Thursday, he's expected to skate on the Stars' second line with Cody Eakin at center and Erik Cole at left wing.

“I’ve seen a little bit of film on (Nichushkin),” Devils coach Pete DeBoer said Tuesday. "He's pretty impressive. He’s a big guy. He handles the puck. I’m not an expert on him because we don’t see him very much, but I can see what (Jagr’s) talking about."

Jagr, by the way, also will be facing the Stars for the first time since his one season in Dallas ended with a trade last April to Boston, which was beefing up for it run to the Stanley Cup Final.

“I liked it in Dallas,” he said.

Jagr was asked if liked Nichushkin's potential better than 20-year-old, high-scoring San Jose Sharks rookie winger Tomas Hertl, who, like Jagr, is a native of the Czech Republic.

“What from I saw? Yes,” Jagr said. “(Nichushkin) is more explosive. He was like, ‘Bang.’ … He was impressive. And he’s like 18 years old. I’ve never seen anybody dominate at that age the way he dominated. I think he’s going to be one of the best in the league because he is strong on the boards and he beats guys one-on-one.

“Some (top scorers) are fancy. When you're fancy, the defense can limit it. But when you're strong, they can't do anything about it. He overpowers you. He’s so strong. He's got the tools to be the best player in that world."

DEVILS NOTES

• Rookie D Eric Gelinas will return to the lineup after sitting out two games in a row, the first during a one-day AHL demotion and the second as a healthy scratch. Gelinas will be one of seven blueliners dressing for the Devils, who undoubtably will use him on the power play.

• The off-man odd with the Devils going with seven defenseman is fourth-line center Andrei Loktionov, who has one assist over his last 11 games.

• The Devils, 0-2-1 since beating Pittsburgh on New Year’s Eve, need a win over Dallas to avoid their second-longest winless streak of the season. They began the campaign 0-4-3.

• The Devils’ 2.34 goals per game is lower than all but four NHL teams, but a slight increase from last season’s 2.29.

• The Devils have a 3-13-3 record and NHL-worst .158 win percentage when allowing the first goal.

• Jersey is 1-3-2 in home games against the Western Conference, the victory a 5-0 shutout of Nashville on Nov. 10.

• C Travis Zajac missed Wednesday’s practice, but according to GM Lou Lamoriello, was just resting.

• Top-line LW Dainius Zubrus, tied for seventh on the team with 19 points, is scoreless in his last seven games. Earlier, he had no points in eight games from Oct. 22 to Nov. 8.

• Cory Schneider will be in goal for his first home start since Dec. 20 and second since Dec. 6. He has two home victories, an Oct. 19 win over the Rangers and a 1-0 overtime blanking of Buffalo on Nov. 30.

• The Devils’ power play was 0-for-3 in Tuesday’s 3-2 overtime loss to Philly and has scored just two goals in 20 opportunities in seven games.

• Since returning from a long concussion absence, LW Ryane Clowe has no goals, one assist and is a minus-5 in six games. For the season, he has no goals, three assists and is a minus-7 in 12 games.

STARS NOTES

• The Stars are 4-1-1 in road games against the Eastern Conference, the loss a 7-3 setback in Long Island this past Monday.

• Streaky LW Eric Cole, acquired season from Montreal for Michael Ryder, has eight goals in his last 17 games after beginning the season with 3 in his first 25.

• The Stars allowed just 14 goals in going 5-0-2 from Dec. 17-31, but since were torched for a combined 17 goals in losing 3 in a row to Montreal, Detroit and the Islanders.

• Dallas is allowing 3.02 goals per game. Only 5 teams are worse – Florida, Ottawa, Calgary, the Islanders and Edmonton.

• LW Antoine Roussel, one of two active NHL players from France, has been involved in seven of Dallas’ 18 fights.