Jack Hughes is playing on the fourth line for Team USA at the Olympics. Obviously, this is not ideal for the New Jersey Devils star. Jack Hughes wants to make an impact similar to that of his brother, who is playing on the top defensive line with Charlie McAvoy.
Instead, Hughes is fighting for his life in this lineup, sitting on the fourth line with Brock Nelson and J.T. Miller. New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan put his rival’s star at the bottom line. Maybe it’s purposeful, but it’s hard to say it’s not deserved.
Hughes was an early name on Team USA's radar, and he appeared on the Today Show when the team announced the rosters. Yet, he’s sitting on the fourth line.
When evaluating the Team USA roster, placing Jack Hughes in the right position at the right time is key. Will the Americans put him at center, his natural position, or does he have to be a wing?
If we’re talking ideal, let’s talk about where it makes sense to put him at center. He could easily center the line he’s on right now. This is a line of three centers who could easily play wing. Is Nelson only playing center so he can take faceoffs? Then let Hughes play center as soon as the faceoff has been taken.
Hughes could also center the third line between Kyle Connor and Tage Thompson. That would be a really good line for Hughes, as Thompson would be able to protect Hughes, and Connor would be able to finish Hughes incredible passes. Finding the right place for Dylan Larkin then becomes a challenge.
Jack Hughes can still find his ideal linemates despite starting the Winter Olympics on the fourth line
If Hughes is ideally a wing on this roster, then let’s try to get him in the top six. We’re not breaking up the Tkachuk brothers, so we’re looking to replace either Jake Guentzel or Matthew Boldy. This seems like a pretty easy choice. Having Hughes replace Boldy adds a lot of the great things he does, but adds Hughes dynamism. He’s an elite stick handler. He can get through traffic, when healthy, like nobody else in the league short of Connor McDavid.
We think Hughes would be fine next to Eichel or Matthews, but ideally, we get Guentzel-Eichel-Hughes. That would be his ideal line. We don’t live in an ideal world, and Eichel is probably sticking with the Tkachuk brothers. So, let’s stick with Guentzel-Matthews-Hughes as the line. Honestly, Guentzel-Larkin-Hughes would be incredible, too.