Look, it’s been a miserable time for New Jersey Devils fans in recent years. There’s no denying that. They’ve won just one playoff series in the last 13 seasons and are well on their way to making it a 14th.
After winning a franchise record 52 games in 2022-23, things were looking up. But instead, barring a storybook turnaround, this will be a third straight season culminating in immense disappointment.
Related: Guide to the 2026 Winter Olympics Men’s Hockey Tournament
That magical 2022-23 season was springboarded by star forward Jack Hughes‘ 99-point affair — the greatest offensive season in franchise history.
Since, in the midst of mostly underwhelming team performance, Jack has missed 61 of 221 games (27.6%) due to injury. After a recent strained groin caused him to miss the team’s final three games before the Olympic break, many coined his inability to suit up as a lack of care for the Devils.
NHL insider and former Devils player Mike Rupp joined those questioning Hughes’ commitment on a recent episode of the Tri-State Hockey Podcast.
“If a player wants to play and is listed as day-to-day, especially with a lower body injury, and that player wants to play, he’s playing in that hockey game without a doubt,” said Rupp. “I’ve seen it a million times… If he went to the team and the team doctors and said, ‘My team needs me tonight, I have to play’, [he would play]. And I’ll take that to the grave. That’s 100%. And the fact that this was the way it played out in the last few days, I think there’s trying to run some interference on that for this point. And then the fact that you’re going to the Olympics. I don’t love the message.”
However, what most don’t realize is the severity of the injury he was already playing through after suffering an unfortunate and unlucky freak accident to his hand at a November team dinner in Chicago. He was certainly not 100% yet pushed himself to be available.
“He played through things that a lot of guys wouldn’t play through. That’s a testament to his character,” said Devils’ forward Connor Brown. “If you look at his season, when he’s been healthy, he’s been one of the best players in the league.”
Despite often being seen in a sling even after his return, he gutted his way to a team-leading 16 points in 19 games, all while shooting at just 3.4% with his bum hand. According to NHL EDGE, just 20% of his season’s “hardest shots” came post-injury, despite that being 53% of the games he’s played.
Even with the shooting woes, he still factored in on 40% of the team’s goals. In a recent interview with The Athletic, a good friend of Jack (unnamed Olympic teammate) said, “Jack’s taken a lot of s— lately, so maybe people will remember just how good he is and how much he just wants to win, here and with the Devils.”
How is a player gutting it out when they’re very clearly not 100% considered a lack of care!? The truth is that for many with that opinion, Jack is an easy target/scapegoat in a season where tension is clearly boiling over amongst the fanbase. But let’s be realistic: even if Jack were fully healthy all season, there are a myriad of issues contributing to the Devils currently sitting at 26th in the NHL. Prime Gretzky isn’t turning a 26th-ranked team to a cup contender.
Furthermore, as with many stars who dominate puck possession, some have labeled Jack as a “selfish” player. His recent successful adoption of a bottom-six role in Milan proves otherwise. “I think the thing that we’ve been talking about is just buying in, and whatever it takes,” said Jack to The Athletic. “If it’s fourth line, whatever it may be, I’m ready to play that role. And when you tap my shoulder, I’m gonna be ready to go.”
Matthew Tkachuk added, “It’s probably different than (the role) he’s playing in New Jersey, but the sacrifice and his commitment — that’s how we’re going to win. A guy like that doing that just makes our team so much better. We’re so lucky to have him. He’s embraced it and he just continues to impress me.”
Jack Trending Upwards
While it very well may be too little, too late in terms of the Devils’ season, it’s great news nonetheless that head coach Sheldon Keefe recently gave a positive update:
“Jack looks like himself [in Milan], which is great to see. Obviously, he was dealing with the [groin] injury before leaving here and it seems he’s put that behind him. And his hand is in a great spot. In fact, I know that he was able to skate here before he left without the brace and got to that 12-week mark where he can take the brace off and have more mobility and such. So it looks like that’s had a positive effect on his game.”
At the end of the day, it’s understandable for fans to be frustrated with the fact that Jack hasn’t stayed on the ice as much as he’d hope. But nobody is as frustrated as Jack himself…and there’s a fine line between criticizing availability versus questioning care.
Not that they’re the same player, but it is worth noting that Sidney Crosby missed 152 of his first 622 career games (24.4%); Jack has missed 106 of 510 (20.7%). Point being: there’s still time for Jack to turn the injury narrative around, and supplementing his case is the fact that his hand injury was an unfortunate off-ice incident rather than on-ice.
In his last 274 games, Jack has 327 points (130 G, 197 A). Here is the full list of players with a higher points-per-game pace in that span: Connor McDavid, Nikita Kucherov, Nathan MacKinnon, Leon Draisaitl, David Pastrnak, Kirill Kaprizov, Mitch Marner, Matthew Tkachuk, Artemi Panarin, Mikko Rantanen and Auston Matthews. That’s it. Some pretty elite company there.
While the Devils have continued to struggle, most frustration towards Jack appears misguided, and likely wouldn’t be happening if the team was in a better spot. The reality is that the franchise would be set back years without him.
Last season, Jack said, “I’m really lucky to be a Devil and we have great fans. I love how much they have my back. I look up in the stands and see a million 86 jerseys; I think this fanbase loves me and I love playing here.”
He’s still under contract through 2029-30. His brother Luke is there through 2031-32…and who knows? Maybe one more brother will join the fold in the future.
