The New Jersey Devils got bad news last week when we learned that Jack Hughes was going to miss at least five more weeks with a separated shoulder. It’s terrible news for a team that is still trying to find its identity on offense. Hughes was the driver of this offense, and he was electric for the first 90 minutes of the season before he got injured against the Seattle Kraken.
It’s okay. The Devils can survive this. They added pieces in the offseason, and Jonathan Bernier and Mackenzie Blackwood are returning. The Devils can survive this.
One of the main reasons they were “surviving” was that Dougie Hamilton was playing like one of the best defensemen in the league. His offense was off the chart, and he was setting up his teammates at an insane clip. His defense was just fine, too. The pairing with Ryan Graves was working out better than anyone could have hoped.
How with the New Jersey Devils survive without Dougie Hamilton and Jack Hughes?
Then, on Tuesday night (more like Wednesday morning), Hamilton got hurt against the Anaheim Ducks. He tried to skate on whatever injury he had when he came out for the second period, and he immediately went back down in the tunnel. He was never heard from again.
Hamilton’s loss feels like it’s more devastating than the Hughes injury. Maybe because this is the icing on the cake. How can the Devils survive without Hamilton or Hughes? They lost their two best players, their two superstars that were supposed to drive them to playoff contention this season. Now, they have to take the mentality of a college basketball team playing in March Madness. The Devils must survive and advance.
There hasn’t been an update on Hamilton’s injury, but if it is somewhat long-term, here is how the Devils can make sure they aren’t completely out of it when their two superstars return.