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With absolutely nothing happening in the hockey world right now, and for the foreseeable future, I’ve decided to take the plunge and write player profiles for each member of the New Jersey Devils.
As was the case when I did them last summer, we’ll be looking at the season they just put together and expectations moving forward.
I’ve written up four players thus far, with Miles Wood being the most recent.
Today we’re going with Jack Hughes.
Counting stats: 61 games played, 21 points (seven goals, 14 assists), 15:52 average time on ice
5v5 underlyings: 0.99 points/60, +0.78 CF% Rel, -12.97 GF% Rel, +0.47 xGF% Rel, 97.1 PDO
2019-20 review:I think I speak for everyone when I say Jack Hughes’ rookie season did not go the way anyone would have hoped. Not for Jack, not for the team, not for the coaching staff. Not for anyone, really.
His first ~30 days in the league actually went fairly well. He was held off the scoresheet for a handful of games but ended up with nine points through 14, a rock solid 53 point pace.
The wheels fell off entirely after that. He found the scoresheet just 12 times over the next 47 games (~21 per 82) and everything that could go wrong, well, did.
Hughes couldn’t convert on any of his chances, scoring on three of his last 95 shots and finishing 7.13 goals below expectation during that time. He played long stretches in the bottom-6 with a washed up Wayne Simmonds attached to him. When he did play with good players, it was out of position. Nothing went right.
I’ll be the first to defend Hughes and the player I’m still very confident he can become. I’ll also be the first to admit that this season was a disappointment, even relative to the situation the Devils find themselves in. The only way you’re happily signing up for 28 points from a 1st overall pick is if he’s playing defense.
Fun fact(s): From November 8th onward, only Austin Wagner scored fewer goals below expectation than Jack Hughes.
2020-21 outlook: I think Jack Hughes will be used in a similar role next season. By that I mean he’ll largely center the 2nd ‘scoring’ line. Nico Hischier will head the all-situations unit, while Travis Zajac will no doubt still play a good chunk of minutes against the toughs.
There will be a couple of differences, if all goes well. Individually, Hughes will be stronger and more equipped to handle the NHL game. His shot should benefit from more power, helping him convert on more of the chances he creates.
Around him, there should be a better supporting cast. I think the Devils learned their lesson playing Hughes with older players on the decline (Wayne Simmonds) and younger players who just don’t have enough ability (Miles Wood). They have a ton of cap space, a ton of draft picks, and I think they’ll look to cash some of those in for commodities capable of making meaningful contributions in both the short and long-term.
If all goes well, I still think Hughes could be a ~50 point player as soon as next season. I’d happily take that from a 19-year-old.
numbers via naturalstattrick.com and hockey-reference.com
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