Jack Hughes doesn't have a clear role on Team USA, but we know one role he won't have

New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes is in Milan as we speak, practicing with Team USA. New York Rangers head coach Mike Sullivan is taking a break from that disaster to be the head coach of the Americans. He’s trying to find the right lineup for his forwards, a star-studded group that includes Hughes, Auston Matthews, Jack Eichel, the Tkachuk brothers, and Jake Guentzel. 

Sunday was the first practice for Team USA, and we’re starting to get an understanding of where everyone will land in the lineup. There is still a lot of uncertainty, but we’re getting an idea of who are the priority players in both the forward and defense groups.

Right now, Jack Hughes is not one of those premier forwards. Sullivan’s practice made it clear who the top six is going to be, and the New Jersey Devils star was not among them.

During the 4 Nations Face-Off, Hughes started the tournament playing next to Auston Matthews as a winger. By the championship game against the Canadians, Hughes was playing fewer minutes than Brock Nelson. 

Sullivan was trying to find the right chemistry, and Hughes didn’t do anything that proved why he should stay in the top six. However, he wasn’t bad. 

Now that they are in Milan, there are a lot of questions to answer. Hughes is just coming off an injury, and he hasn’t been the same player since hurting his hand in November. Hughes has one goal in his last 18 games. 

We did get some serious clarity about the USA top six, with Matthews being paired with Matthew Boldy and Jake Guentzel, and Jack Eichel being paired with the Tkachuk brothers. Hughes’s brother Quinn is surprisingly paired with Charlie McAvoy on the top line. It’s surprising because he’s already built chemistry with Brock Faber. 

This is only the first practice, and Hughes has time to prove he belongs in the top six. Sullivan said he was a full go after his most recent injury. He is not held back by whatever the recent injury he suffered is.