New Jersey Devils must learn this one lesson after watching Jack Hughes at Olympics

The USA Olympic team is heading to the Semifinals with a heartstring-pulling overtime win over Sweden. The Americans, through it all, have proven that they can win in multiple ways, and on the big stage, the stars can deliver. One of the stars is Jack Hughes, who has stood out on a USA squad that has plenty of standouts. 

What stands out for the New Jersey Devils and their fans is that Hughes looks like one of the game’s best when he’s on the right line. In the Olympics, he’s spent a lot of time alongside Brock Nelson, a center who can play a physical game and win, to unlock Hughes's skill. The Devils must find their version of Nelson, which, admittedly, is easier said than done. 

Devils Can Trade For That Missing Piece

It’s the thought that has been brewing since the offseason. The Devils had to add that missing piece to put them over the top. Ideally, that player would be Jack’s brother Quinn Hughes. The star defenseman was traded to the Minnesota Wild, and based on his play in the Olympics, it would have been a great addition, one that singlehandedly could have put the Devils in a playoff spot. 

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Then the topic shifted towards the other elite skill players. There’s always the fantasy of the Devils making a big splash, landing a Tage Thompson or Jason Robertson, two players who certainly would work well with Hughes. The problem is that the Devils are having a terrible season, one that makes it easy to say that they should hold off on a big trade. 

So, this is an idea thay must bookmark. The Devils will probably go back to the drawing board in the summer because adding this type of forward is pivotal for the Devils in the long run. Otherwise, the Hughes era will look a lot like it has in the past few seasons. 

Drafting That Players is Also an Option

With the way the Devils have played this season, there’s a good chance they end up with a top-five pick. By points percentage, they have the seventh-worst record in the NHL, so a miserable return from the break can put them in that spot. This is the type of draft where it’s good to have a top pick where, even at five, a team can land a difference maker. 

There’s a good chance that Gavin McKenna or Ivar Stenberg goes number one. That said, one of them can fall to the Devils depending on how the draft shapes up. Likewise, another elite forward like Tynan Lawrence or Caleb Malhotra can be available for the Devils. Sure, there are elite defensemen as well in this draft but the Devils can find that ideal player to pair with Hughes. 

Adding McKenna or Stenberg, even Malhotra, would do wonders for Hughes. These prospects will take time to develop but they have the skill to unlock Hughes. Yes, Jesper Bratt is a talented forward but limited in what he can do. These skaters have the upside to be complete players. 

Related: Nico Hischier, Timo Meier, Switzerland end their Olympic dream in devastating fashion

Can Devils Solve This Internally?

There’s always the thought of moving Hughes to the wing, something the Americans did for the Olympics, and it’s worked. If the Devils wanted to play him on the same line as Nico Hischier, that would be one way of having Hughes in a spot that can get more out of him, at least one would think. 

The idea was debunked a while ago. Hughes is a center and a good one at that. The Devils should worry about moving him around or trying to change him at this point in his career. Instead, it’s about finding a forward who can play a complete game with Hughes. 

Ironically, if they acquired Nelson last season, they would be in a better spot. The thing is, nobody knew this combination would work as well as it has. The Devils don’t have their version of Nelson or even, to a lesser degree, JT Miller playing at a high level. So, they must find that player.