Jack Hughes' health is going to be a storyline this season, whether he likes it or not. The New Jersey Devils forward has already dealt with injuries throughout his career, and after leaving the game the other night, the conversation around his health is only going to get louder.
The viral interview during the game didn't help, either. Hughes was asked if he was going to be wrapped in bubble wrap and use plastic cutlery to stay healthy. To which he replied, "I mean, I think that's a weird joke midgame," and skated away, looking anything but impressed. The clip quickly started making its way around social media. It brought even more attention to something that has followed him for a while.
Jack Hughes’ career may be defined by injuries
Hughes has missed time with injuries before, and that has created a reputation that is probably going to be difficult for him to shake. Whether that reputation is completely fair or not doesn't really matter at this point. Every time he leaves a game, people will wonder how serious it is and how long he could be out.
That is probably going to be frustrating for Hughes. No player wants their health to become one of the main things people talk about when discussing them, especially when they are one of the most talented players on their team. For the Devils, though, it is something they have to consider. Hughes is a huge part of what they are trying to do, and keeping him healthy is obviously important if New Jersey wants to have a successful season. When he is in the lineup, he changes what the Devils can do offensively.
The problem is that every injury is now going to bring the same questions back. Is Hughes injury-prone? Can he ever stay healthy? Or, how long will he be out? Those questions aren't going away just because Hughes doesn't want them to be part of the conversation. Unfortunately, the past is the best predictor of the future, and in Hughes' case, he hasn't been consistently healthy. And frankly, that sucks for him because there is a lot of skill that is missing from the Devils' lineup when he is out of it.
At the same time, Hughes can change the narrative by trying his best to stay healthy and play. If he is able to put together a long stretch without missing time, the conversation will naturally become less important. But until that happens, his health is going to continue being discussed.
That is really the frustrating part of the situation for Hughes. He can disagree with the idea that he is an injury-prone player, but he isn't going to be able to completely control how people view him. Every time he gets hurt or leaves a game, the same discussion is going to come back.
The Devils need Hughes in their lineup, and Hughes needs to show that he can stay there. Until he does, his health is going to remain one of the bigger narratives surrounding him, whether he likes it or not.
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