The New Jersey Devils have something special with Jack Hughes, but right now it is only showing in the offensive zone. He needs help.
The New Jersey Devils are off to a bit of a slow start with their 0-1-1 record. It could be much worse, but things haven’t gone according to plan just yet. It honestly makes sense when you evaluate how much talent has been added to the lineup. It takes a while to gel sometimes. The new number-one overall pick in Jack Hughes has struggled with his play without the puck so far and there are ways that he can be helped along.
The team tried out some new line combinations on Monday morning and the idea seemed to be that the new guys who aren’t great defensively are going to be moved along with other lines. They switched Nikita Gusev up to the top line with Nico Hischier and Taylor Hall and had Jack Hughes skate with Blake Coleman and Wayne Simmonds. This could help them both develop what they need to be competent in their own end but still be the great offensive players that they are.
Coleman provides some grit and skill that could really help Jack out in his own end. He can also score goals as good as any bottom-six forward in the league. If he and Hughes are off to the races, Coleman would be able to keep up. Simmonds is likely there for some physicality. Jack needs protection as he fills out into an NHL body and Simmonds will create lots of extra room out there. Simmonds can also be great around the net if Hughes were to be able to find him in front of the net for a good chance in tight.
One option outside of what they have done in practice could be Kyle Palmieri. Hughes is incredible when he has the puck on his stick. He can flat out make things happen. Palmieri is a natural shooter and has shown that by playing with elite playmakers (Taylor Hall) he can be a very dangerous scoring threat. Hughes is developing into a similar-level playmaker. Palmieri would still be able to score. What Palmieri brings that some other skill players on the team don’t is the defensive side.
Palmieri is very good defensively, but people don’t talk about it as much because there are centers in the lineup like Nico Hischier and Travis Zajac. He would definitely be able to help out Hughes in all three zones. Hughes is a special player and there is no reason to be worried by any stretch of the imagination, but there is a reason to use your resources to help him succeed early in his career.