4 New Jersey Devils Players Who Benefit From Long Layoff
By Nick Villano
Jack Hughes
He’s the other obvious one. Jack Hughes had a terrible rookie season, which had Devils fans clamoring for answers. We quote the rookie seasons of Steven Stamkos and Joe Thornton for hope of what his career could be. It’s insane to think about one player’s career after one tumultuous season, but here we are.
Hughes spent the offseason adding much-needed muscle to his frame. When he was able to get space, he made a lot of plays last season. However, without the necessary strength, a player with Hughes’ skill doesn’t get that kind of space for long. He was having trouble making his own space. So, theoretically, with more muscle comes a much better Jack Hughes.
It will also be really good for him to get a reset from whatever this past season was. The media scrutiny for his lack of consistent play (although, in New Jersey, it can’t be that extensive). Getting a breather to really evaluate what went wrong is huge for a teenager. This is the future of the Devils organization. Sending him right back to the wolves after a season for the dogs would not be good. This was the best possible scenario for him.