New Jersey Devils: Where Is Jack Hughes’ Ceiling?
Jack Hughes is having a historic 2022-23 season for the New Jersey Devils. Hughes is just one point shy of becoming the Devils’ single-season points leader with two games remaining. Not only can he become the Devils single-season points leader, but Hughes can also be the first New Jersey Devils player ever to record 100 points in a single season. He currently has 96 with two games remaining.
At 21 years old, Hughes is staring down an opportunity to do something a Devils player has never done. Hughes can re-write the franchise record books at his ripe age and continue to chase his own records for as long as he dons the red and black. With that being said, does Jack Hughes have the potential to be as good as Connor McDavid? Can this player ever win the league MVP and attain the title of the best player in the NHL?
One pretty important person believes that Hughes has that ability. During the 2023 NHL All-Star Weekend, “The Great One,” Wayne Gretzky was asked about Jack Hughes, in which he answered, “I think he’s the only one who can catch 97 [Connor McDavid]”.
If you have watched any single game in Connor McDavid’s career, you would know that he’s a generational talent, and if he continues to play at this level, he will likely go down as the best NHL player of all time. So again, some really high praise from the NHL’s all-time leading scorer.
It’s safe to say that the Devils faithful would be thrilled to know that Hughes has the ability to reach the caliber of one of the aforementioned hockey players.
Jack Hughes can be a 100+ point player for the next 15 seasons, and there is one unstoppable force that can keep him from winning a Hart Trophy. That is Connor McDavid. The Edmonton star has two Hart Trophy awards under his belt, with a third honor on its way for the 2022-2023 season.
Hughes has improved on his season totals in goals, assists, and points each season in the NHL. We are just seeing a glimpse of Hughes’ offensive capabilities this season at 21 years old. The Devils have a player capable of scoring 100+ points each season, winning multiple league MVP’s and being one of the league’s best players.
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As his historic offensive season comes to a close, Hughes has something to look forward to for the first time in his career, a playoff run. The stars will likely align for the Devils to face their bitter rival the New York Rangers to open the 2023 playoffs. This will be a huge test for Jack Hughes. As the franchise cornerstone and an obvious offensive force, the Devils will look to Hughes to lead the pack against their most-hated rival. A big postseason performance from the 21-year-old superstar and any team success will excite this fanbase for many years to come. Jack Hughes has an opportunity to start something special in New Jersey this spring.