Jack Hughes's golden moment shows how high his ceiling is

A USA Gold Medal was years in the making. The Four Nations Final, the 2010 Olympic Gold, the 1980 Miracle team, which was the last time they won it, all leading up to this point. And Jack Hughes is the one who delivered for the Americans. 

For Hughes, this moment was years in the making. The number one pick from a hockey family, where he seemed to play second fiddle. His brother Quinn Hughes scored the overtime winner in the 2-1 win over Sweden and has always overshadowed the younger Jack. It looked like it would happen again in the Gold game against Canada. 

Then he delivers in the biggest moment, certainly the biggest moment in American hockey in the past 46 years. Hughes showed that he’s a star who is finally playing to his ceiling, which is a high one based on his play at the Olympics.

Related: Jack Hughes scores the Golden Goal, wins the gold medal for Team USA

The Rocky Road To This Moment

For some time, it didn’t look like Hughes would become this type of player. He was selected by the New Jersey Devils with the top pick in the 2019 draft with plenty of hype. Yes, he was small but the skill was unquestioned, and he’d turn around a team that seemed stuck in a rebuild. 

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Then the Devils and their fans had to wait for Hughes to develop. It took a few seasons for him to turn them into a contender, which happened in the 2022-23 season. Even now, Hughes is having a rough tenure with the Devils, and this era is considered a disappointment. With expectations to compete for the Stanley Cup, the Devils have only made the playoffs twice in the last four seasons and are on pace to finish with the second-worst record in the Metropolitan Division. 

At the Four Nations, the questions surrounding Hughes were brought to the front and center. Could he play his best in a best-on-best game? Hughes was a non-factor in the event as the physicality overwhelmed him. Without question, it fueled him for the Olympics. 

On The Biggest Stage, Hughes Delivers!

It’s worth mentioning that Hughes was one of the best forwards on the USA roster during the Olympics. He had four goals and three assists in the six games and settled into a bottom-six role alongside multiple veterans. 

Then he stood out in the Gold Medal game. Leading up to the goal, he was unfazed by the size and the checking of the Canadian skaters. They tried to rattle him, and he kept pressuring Canada. It allowed him to remain a factor in the game. 

Then came the Golden Goal. The overtime allowed him to stand out, and thanks to Zack Werenski and his ability to win the puck and center it, he did. The extra ice gave Hughes the open look in the slot, and he made the most of it, firing the puck past Jordan Binnington and sending the Americans into a frenzy.

Some will say that the Olympics and the three-on-three play aren’t a fair way to evaluate Hughes. The games are officiated differently, and the game suits Hughes better. Yet, it’s these moments where the stars must take over, and he did. 

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Devils Can Only Build Off The Hughes Olympics

The Olympics showed that on the biggest stage, Hughes can take over games. He’s not too small for the spotlight, and his skill is up there with the best in hockey. He can step up against anyone and win games. 

This is only good news for the Devils, who can use some, considering how the season is going. Eventually, the Devils should have the right supporting cast around Hughes to be a playoff team and a perennial Cup contender. And when the pressure is at its highest, Hughes can get the job done.