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New Jersey Devils: Jack Hughes Changes Everything In Present And Future

By Vincent Parise

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: Jack Hughes, first overall pick by the New Jersey Devils, poses for a portrait during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA - JUNE 21: Jack Hughes, first overall pick by the New Jersey Devils, poses for a portrait during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, Canada. (Photo by Andre Ringuette/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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The New Jersey Devils can finally talk about how Jack Hughes and the impact he will make in the present and the future. This is an exciting time.

Jack Hughes is a New Jersey Devil. How awesome does it feel to finally say without that little bit of doubt in the back of your head? It’s amazing the New Jersey Devils are adding a player of this caliber. This is a player that we feel is going to change everything about this team.

This is the type of player that can go on to be the best offensive player in team history. Hoping that he challenges Patrik Elias‘ career numbers isn’t something that is out of the realm of possibility. He is the kind of player that will impact this team in the present and future. We can expect him to have a good rookie year and improve as time goes on and be a leader on this team for a decade or more.

Jack Hughes will come into the Devils lineup in 2019-20 and he could be anywhere from the third-best player to the very best player. It isn’t unfair to think he will be near the top of the team in scoring. Hughes will likely get to see some time with Taylor Hall, Nico Hischier, and Kyle Palmieri on the power play. He will have a line that is probably considered the second line and Hischier’s line will probably be considered the first line. When at all possible, Hughes will probably be given more favorable matchups as Hischier gets the tougher assignments.

As Hughes develops teams will target him and then both lines will need to be at their best so the Devils can take advantage of having that level of center depth. The awesome thing about the center depth is how different Hischier and Hughes are. Nico is a two-way guy who plays at a high level at both ends of the ice while Hughes is going to spend his time trying to create offense.

If Taylor Hall signs an extension a case can be made that offense is no longer an issue for this team at all. They need to get better at defending but if Hall stays that is four guys who are capable of scoring 20+ goals minimum and all have the potential to get up to 70 points minimum.

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This is also the type of guy that if he reaches his full potential, he could be the kind of guy that attracts other players. Free agents who are highly touted might see a chance to play with him and make the New Jersey Devils a destination. That is the future impact of this selection. He will one day be the number one center who drives this team with them on his back. He is the present and future of this team and it is so sweet to see. It is a great time to be a New Jersey Devils fan.

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