The New Jersey Devils go as Jack Hughes goes. It's why they got off to a hot start, where a Stanley Cup-caliber season looked like a possibility. It's also why they fell apart when he was injured.
Hughes is back and playing well, a big difference from how he looked in his initial return. He returned to the lineup for the Dec. 21 game, but in four games, he only registered one point, resulting in four Devils losses. His recent play showed the impact of being healthy compared to being 100% and playing at a high level.
Hughes Playing with Lingering Injury
Hughes missed a month plus with the hand injury he suffered, and the timeline for recovery was anywhere between six to eight weeks, or more accurately, two months. The Devils didn't rush him back; he could play. That said, Hughes wasn't at his best.
With the hand injury, he wasn't getting that extra touch on his shots or the added strength to make those small plays. It's why the Devils struggled for a stretch, winning only two of ten games following Dec. 21, the initial return day for Hughes.
It's worth noting that the Devils also played poorly for external reasons. The trade talk got to them, and then the absence of a move did as well (it also doesn't help when the reports get out there that the team wanted players to move their no-trade clauses only to see them refuse). The Devils aren't a good team, and their play this season reflects that. That said, it was noticeable that Hughes wasn't making the same type of impact he usually makes.
He's Healthy & Turning the Devils Season Around
It's not a coincidence that the success of this team goes hand in hand with Hughes. In the past nine games, he has a goal and nine assists while the Devils have won five of their last seven to climb from the bottom of the Eastern Conference to the murky middle.
A healthy Hughes doesn't always stand out on the stat sheet either. It's his ability to make the other skaters on the ice that does. When Hughes is playing at a high level, opponents must respect his shot and design the defense to stop him. It provides open looks for the other Devils and wears down the opposition.
The good news for the Devils is that Hughes is back and at full strentgh. They can go on a run and suddenly be in the playoff picture again. The question is whether that run is in this team, and they can turn a corner to that extent.
The Big-Picture Issues with Hughes & The Devils
The truth is that the Devils are built around one star player. The elite teams in the NHL, the ones that make Cup runs, have at least one other star to both take the pressure off the best player and carry the team when there's an injury. The Devils lean solely on Hughes, a flawed player who is prone to injury and doesn't win in multiple ways.
It's not ideal for long-term success when the best player on the team can't win a heavy game or play a physical brand of hockey. It's certainly not ideal in the playoffs, when the game shifts in that direction, where speed isn't a factor.
Yes, Hughes looks great, and the Devils, as of late, look good. That said, the bigger picture issues remain. It's why many fans wonder how good this team can be and if the ceiling isn't high, whether that's a concern.