Jack Hughes is one of the best players in the NHL, yet the league continues to underrate the star center. Could this ranking be because he was injured last season? Or is it just that no one thinks he is one of the better centers in the league?
Although he only played 62 games last season, Hughes finished the year with 70 points and was on track to finish with about 92 points. He averaged 1.13 PPG, 2.05 P60 (Points per 60 minutes), and a 59.0 GF% (on ice Goals for %). These numbers alone display why Jack Hughes is a special player. In the 2023-24 season, Hughes only played 62 games but finished the year with 74 points and was on track to finish with around 98 points. Jack Hughes isn't new to this; a player gaining experience year by year is only getting better.
As for this upcoming season, Jack Hughes could be in for a huge year if he recovers from the shoulder injury and stays healthy. This year could finally be the one where he reaches the 100-point mark, a milestone he has yet to reach after just missing it by finishing the 2022-23 season with 99 points in 78 games.
Two Questionable Players ranked ahead of Jack Hughes
Nick Suzuki was ranked ahead of Jack Hughes, something most found shocking. Suzuki helped lead the Canadiens to a playoff berth for the first time since 2021, but his numbers simply weren't better than Hughes. In 82 games, Nick Suzuki had 89 points, which was a career high for him, topping his 77 points from the 2023-24 season. In the 2024-25 season, Suzuki averaged 1.09 PPG, 2.20 P/60, and a 57.8 GF%.. The case could be that NHL Network expects Suzuki to have a better season than Hughes, but the numbers wouldn't support that argument.
The other player that was ranked ahead of Jack Hughes that raised question marks around the Devils fanbase is Mark Scheifele of the Winnipeg Jets. The 32-year-old center had a career-high 87 points last season. The last time he reached the 80-point mark was in 2016 when he had 82. Jack Hughes surpassed that total in his fourth season at the age of 21. Mark Scheifele averaged 1.06 PPG, 3.1 P/60, and a 57.4 GF% which brings him close to Jack Hughes' numbers but not close enough to be considered the better center.
Nick Suzuki and Mark Scheifele are both fantastic players, but it's hard to see why NHL Network would rank them above Jack Hughes. If you asked people who they would rather have starting at center on their top line, Jack Hughes would more than likely be the answer.