The Jack Hughes injury was devastating to the New Jersey Devils. One of their few offensive weapons who has actually been contributing in 2025, Hughes went down with a shoulder injury against the Vegas Golden Knights. He eventually got surgery on the shoulder, the second surgery he's had on his shoulders in the past 12 months.
The Devils aren't going to be a better team with Jack Hughes on the sidelines. There was nothing to be done, even with the NHL Trade Deadline a few days after the injury. The Devils focused on their other needs, adding depth forwards like Cody Glass and depth defensemen like Brian Dumoulin.
Now, Sheldon Keefe is going to earn his paycheck unlike ever before. The first-year Devils head coach was a fantastic hire by Tom Fitzgerald, but there were some points in the season where he used Jack Hughes as a safety blanket. It's not his fault. Hughes is their best player, and he has a tendency to take over games when they are on the line.
Now that Hughes isn't an option, Keefe will have to get creative to add offense to the lineup. That's especially true when the Devils are playing from behind. He won't have the "break glass to unlock Jack Hughes" option, so he'll need to find desperation offense in new ways.
The most obvious option is Nico Hischier, who is tied with Hughes for the most goals on the team this season (both with 27). However, his goal scoring isn't nearly like Hughes. Eighteen of Hischier's goals came front and center to the net, just a few feet out. He's taken 80 shots from these areas. Hischier has only taken seven shots from long range. Hischier has a type, and it's shooting from a high-danger area.
Jesper Bratt is the next option on the list. He's been an assist machine this season, sitting sixth in the entire NHL with 55 apples. If Bratt can take some of his supreme passing and push it towards scoring, it can only help. He has been a play driver in the past, and his connection with Cody Glass has been great, which is a testament to Sheldon Keefe taking a chance with his lines in the biggest game of the season.
Sheldon Keefe's new role could help him be an even better head coach when Jack Hughes returns next season.
Timo Meier is another player who should help with the offense with Hughes out of the lineup. He is finally getting hot on the scoresheet. He has two goals in his last four games, all of which had Hughes on the sidelines. He looked fantastic against Columbus, and we're hoping for an offensive explosion for the rest of the season.
If Keefe can get those three players scoring at an increased rate, that would be huge for the Devils this season, but where he's truly going to see his best foot forward is depth scoring. Cody Glass scoring goals and putting up assists is great, and he might be a long-term piece for the Devils. Dawson Mercer should find a spot in the lineup, and if he can sustain at center, if could change how the Devils approach the offseason. Keefe surprisingly benched Paul Cotter against the Philadelphia Flyers. It looks like it worked because he scored an important goal against Columbus.
Getting the most out of the Devils' depth scoring will have long-term impacts. It will also help the Devils' quest for the playoffs. It's important for this team to get that experience, even with Hughes out of the lineup. It would be delicious if Keefe could get the Devils out of the first round after the reputation he had in Toronto. Doing it without Hughes will only help his career.