The Jack Hughes Contract Quickly Became A Bargain For The Devils

The Jack Hughes Contract Quickly Became A Bargain For The Devils

Jack Hughes is officially a SUPERSTAR. If you’re just finding out now, you’re already too late. The New Jersey Devils are discreetly building a powerhouse team that’s going to be a problem for years to come. Hughes is the center of that conversation and he’s provided all the answers during his junior season in the NHL.

There is no more room for interpretation. Hughes is now underpaid. The Devils were smart to lock him up to a contract extension. Hughes has come back from his shoulder injury on a tear and is destined for greatness.

Prior to the start of the season, I asked the group in a roundtable post for a breakout star. Jack Hughes was a very popular pick. I made it a point of emphasis that I had to HAVE Hughes in fantasy this year. The breakout season came to fruition.

The truth of the matter is, the Devils aren’t a bad hockey team. They’re a young rapidly improving hockey team that can’t buy a save to save their life. The Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt trio is going to be a problem for a long time. New Jersey isn’t and shouldn’t be done adding to this young core either. Can Johnny Hockey interest anyone in Jersey?

Hughes, 20, has taken massive steps forward during the 2021-22 campaign. He’s more so just been unbelievable any time he takes the ice. Hughes is carrying the first line unit without another top tier star on it. Hughes has notched 54 points in 46 games. That’s the same number of points Kaapo Kakko has in his entire career… That debate has and is dead.

Hughes currently has a CF% of 58.5. A damn good number for a player of his age. His shooting percentage has essentially doubled sitting at 14.7 currently. The skating and shooting ability remains ridiculous in a good way.

The only part of his game that needs work at this point is the ability to win faceoffs cause right now it’s bad. It sits at a 34% win rate which is as bad as it gets. Hughes has gotten better down the stretch but that’s something that will take Jersey from a good to a great team.

I loved this take by JFresh hockey recently. I’ve never been a fan of Mat Barzal so it gave me a chuckle.

The fundamental difference between Barzal and Hughes, two similar transition players, is what happens in the offensive zone. https://t.co/ZBkg6Z57oE pic.twitter.com/nU5Rxy27CP

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 24, 2022

He’s right. Hughes went from a talented kid that looked like a deer in the headlights to making Barzal look like a chump overnight. Barzal stinks compared to Hughes. Barzal loves to do that thing where he looks great but ends up in witness protection the next five games after. Hughes just continues to pick up points night after night.

Jack Hughes (NJ86) had a noteworthy game in NJ's 3-2 SO win over MTL, recording 2 goals, a shootout goal, a season-high 12 shot attempts, and a 90% xGF% at 5v5.

Here are his most notable puck touches and plays from last night. #NJDevils #NHLPotN pic.twitter.com/1klgRuOaGX

— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) March 28, 2022

The New Jersey Devils front office deserves a lot of credit for getting Hughes locked up. They got an extension done a year before they had to and got Jack to sign an eight year deal worth $64 million. Yes, the $8 million AAV isn’t a small number, but it is for a 20-year-old former number one overall pick that’s already putting up more than a point per game on a bad team. I’m not comparing him to either of these guys but Edmonton paid significantly more to keep McDavid and Draisaitl.

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Hughes is going to be a household name soon. He already scores what seems like every night. It feels like only a matter of time before he’s leading them to a Stanley Cup appearance. He’s that good. It’s up to the Devils’ front office to get the rest of the roster right and they’re well on their way.