Jack Hughes is one of the most talented players in the NHL; there’s no debating that.
The New Jersey Devils’ superstar has shown massive improvements after a slow start to his career, emerging into what everyone expected him to be as the first overall pick from 2019.
From year 3 onwards, Hughes has produced well over a point per game in every season, including a career-high 99 points (43 goals, 56 assists) in 2022-23. However, the one thing that’s held him back is health.
Hughes has been limited to 62 games or fewer in three of the last four seasons, having dealt with various upper-body injuries, particularly to his shoulder. Unfortunately, last year was more of the same, as the 5’11”, 175-pound center’s season was cut short in early March after crashing into the end boards following an accidental collision with Golden Knights superstar Jack Eichel.
He underwent shoulder surgery soon after, forced to watch his team from the sidelines the rest of the year. Coming into 2025-26, Hughes’ health is a major focus, and he was asked if he made any changes to his offseason training on Thursday, which he wasn’t too fond of. Spittin’ Chiclets shared the clip on X (formerly Twitter).
“Well, I mean, my game’s in a good spot, no? So I mean, at the end of the day, if you go into the end wall a million miles per hour and you get hit, you’re going to get hurt no matter what you do in the summer. So, for me, I think the most important thing was just to refresh my brain and be excited for this year. And, you’ve asked me this twice in one scrum, so I think we can call it there for the year, alright,” Hughes said.
“You’ve asked me that twice in one scrum. So I think we can call it there for the year, alright.”
The season hasn’t even started and Jack Hughes is already done with reporters 😂
pic.twitter.com/N5ATYJ7o0Z— Spittin’ Chiclets (@spittinchiclets) September 18, 2025
The 24-year-old wound up finishing with 70 points (27 goals, 43 assists) in just 62 games in 2024-25, almost identical production and games played to the previous campaign.
The questions are valid
While it’s understandable that Jack Hughes doesn’t like being constantly asked about his durability, the media isn’t wrong to do so.
Hughes is being paid big money ($8 million AAV), and the New Jersey Devils heavily rely on him as their best player and face of the franchise. They need him in the lineup, especially at the most important time of the year, which hasn’t been the case far too often.
The organization and hockey fans in general have to hope that he can put these injury issues behind him moving forward, because the game is better when a superstar like Jack Hughes is on the ice and doing his thing.
