Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils is quickly becoming one of the National Hockey League’s brightest young stars. Hughes, 22, has progressed delightfully in his four-year NHL career. Hughes point totals rose from 21 in his first season to 99 this past season.
Is it inevitable that Hughes will score 100+ points this season for the first time in his career? His steady progression indicates that the century mark is entirely in play for him when the puck drops on the 2023-2024 NHL season. Here are three reasons why Hughes can and will become the first 100-point scorer in Devils franchise history.
1. Timo Meier
When the Devils acquired Timo Meier from the San Jose Sharks last spring, they exponentially improved their hockey team. Meier is a star, and although he struggled to get acclimated to New Jersey in his short 32-game sample, it’s safe to say that the Devils will be getting the absolute best version of Meier in his first full season in the red and black. He just signed his eight-year contract extension, giving him stability with his new home.
With a full training camp with this star-studded Devils team, Meier will have time to learn more about his teammates, especially Jack Hughes. The pair scuffled a bit when paired together this past season, but that can be chalked up to two uber-talented hockey players being unfamiliar with one another.
Hughes and Meier seemed to get too fancy and run into each other at times. Because of this, we expect them to get some time together this year in training camp. If the duo hits it off this fall in camp and enters the new season on a line together, look out. A Jack Hughes and Timo Meier connection might take the Metropolitan Division and the National Hockey League by storm.