Latest news with #JackHughes
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
How Far Can the Devils Go with this Projected Lineup?
The NHL has released the New Jersey Devils' projected lineup for the 2025-26 season: Projected Lineup: Ondrej Palat – Jack Hughes – Jesper Bratt Timo Meier – Nico Hischier – Stefan Noesen Arseni Gritsyuk – Dawson Mercer – Connor Brown Advertisement Paul Cotter – Cody Glass – Evgenii Dadonov Brenden Dillon – Dougie Hamilton Luke Hughes – Brett Pesce Jonas Siegenthaler – Simon Nemec Jacob Markstrom Jake Allen The NHL posed the question: How far can the Devils go with this projected lineup? The Devils certainly have the potential to make a deep playoff run; however, their success depends on several key factors. Injuries remain their biggest challenge. Star center Jack Hughes must stay healthy for the entire season if the Devils hope to contend for the Stanley Cup. Hughes has endured two significant shoulder injuries in the last five years, requiring season-ending surgeries in both the 2021-22 and 2024-25 seasons. If Hughes can remain in the lineup this year, the team's Cup chances will increase dramatically. Advertisement Offseason moves have strengthened the roster. The Devils re-signed Jake Allen and Cody Glass, signed Connor Brown and Evgenii Dadonov, and are expected to make one more move before the puck drops on October 9 in Carolina. Their season opener will be a rematch against the team that has eliminated them in each of their last two playoff appearances, the Carolina Hurricanes. The Hurricanes are arguably the Devils' second-biggest hurdle, right behind injuries. In 2022-23, Carolina knocked the Devils out in the second round, and in 2024-25, they were eliminated in the first round, both series ending in just five games. The final move will be resigning defenseman Luke Hughes to fill out the Devils' blueline. The blend of veteran leadership and young talent gives the Devils an edge. At the end of last season, Brett Pesce reflected on the team's progress to the media: Advertisement 'I think we are building something here that's pretty special… We have something that most teams don't.' When asked to elaborate, Pesce added: 'Just everything. The guys in the room, the way we blend together, and the personnel.' This strong locker room culture is echoed by Dawson Mercer, who emphasized the team's off-ice chemistry at the end of the season media availability as well: 'Away from the rink, we are a good group of guys,' Mercer said. The Devils aim to push past previous playoff disappointments and make a deeper run this season. Jesper Bratt summed up what needs to change: 'We knew and found the recipe for winning, but we were lacking that consistency.' Advertisement The puck will drop at the Prudential Center on October 16th, 2025. Photo Credit: © James Guillory-Imagn Images
Yahoo
7 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Devils Superstar Jack Hughes Gets Big Praise
New Jersey Devils superstar Jack Hughes had another excellent season in 2024-25. In 62 games with the Metropolitan Division club on the year, he posted 27 goals, 43 assists, and 70 points. It was the fourth season in a row where he averaged over a point per game. Now, due to his incredible play over the years, Hughes has received some major praise. In a recent article for Adam Kimelman ranked the 10 best players in the NHL who are under 25. For it, Hughes ranked second on the list, with Ottawa Senators star Tim Stutzle being the only player ahead of him. Given how much success Hughes has had early on in his career, it is understandable that he has been ranked so highly by Kimelman. The 2019 first-overall pick has lived up to the hype early on in his career, and he should only get better as he continues to inch closer to his prime years. In 368 career NHL games over six seasons, Hughes has recorded 141 goals, 210 assists, and 315 points. His best season so far was in 2022-23, as he set career highs with 43 goals, 56 assists, and 99 points in 78 games. Exciting Devils Goalie Prospect Named Among NHL's Best The New Jersey Devils are currently golden at the goaltender position, as they have veteran Jacob Markstrom and Jake Allen on their NHL roster. This veteran duo worked exceptionally well together this past season, and there is no reason to believe that this can't be the case again in 2025-26. Photo Credit: © Ed Mulholland-Imagn Images
Yahoo
09-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Devils predicted to land Norris Trophy defenseman
Could the New Jersey Devils pull of the impossible and pair Vancouver Canucks captain Quinn Hughes with his little brothers, Jack and Luke? The Canucks would have to be out of their minds to fulfill a pipe dream that Devils fans have longed for since Luke was drafted in 2021. Advertisement Quinn has established himself among the game's elite blue-liners, winning the Norris Trophy in 2024 and recording 33 goals and 168 points over the last two seasons (150 games). But, it is not completely off the table. Here is what NHL Analyst Mike Johnson had to say about a potential Hughes trio in New Jersey: If there is a path for Quinn to the Devils, his contract would have to play a big role. He has two years left with Vancouver at $7.85 million, and should nearly double that figure on his next contract. The Canucks have had an affinity for drama, highlighted by the Elias Pettersson-J.T. Miller saga that resulted in Miller's shipment to the New York Rangers. Vancouver also took a big step back in 2024-25, missing the playoffs entirely after a 50-win, second-round appearance in 2023-24. Advertisement Should that negative trend continue, Quinn could seek exit options. Why not vie to join his brothers out east? He is also an American, and Canadian markets have historically struggled to retain those players. New Jersey has plenty of issues itself and is far from an ideal on-ice destination for Quinn. However, dangling some top prospects such as Šimon Nemec, Seamus Casey, or even Dawson Mercer, who has not quite panned out for the Devils, could entice the Canucks to blow up the organization and start from scratch. If Vancouver gets even a hint that Hughes wants out, getting something in return could be their only choice.
New York Times
09-07-2025
- Sport
- New York Times
Devils depth chart breakdown: Evaluating Tom Fitzgerald's offseason, where roster stands
Tom Fitzgerald had a tidy offseason. The New Jersey Devils president and general manager added necessary depth to his forward group, did not overpay for veterans on the unrestricted free-agent market and left room to extend restricted free agent Luke Hughes, which is his top remaining summer priority. A brief review of the Devils' major moves: On paper, this looks like a far more capable playoff team than the one eliminated by Carolina in five games this past spring. As always, health remains an X-factor. It's eluded New Jersey the past two seasons. Jack Hughes went down with season-ending shoulder injuries in 2024 and 2025, and New Jersey lost three defensemen in its first-round series against Carolina. One of them, Johnathan Kovacevic, will not be ready for the start of the season after undergoing knee surgery. Fitzgerald will continue to explore options as the summer progresses, but a current Devils lineup would look something like this: Other options: Left wing Kurtis MacDermid, center Juho Lammikko, center Thomas Bordeleau (restricted free agent), defenseman Johnathan Kovacevic, defenseman Seamus Casey, defenseman Dennis Cholowski, goalie Nico Daws Here's a position-by-position breakdown of where the Devils stand. Gritsyuk is perhaps the most intriguing forward going into training camp. A fifth-round pick in 2019, he's now 24 and set to make his North American professional debut. He has been in the KHL the past five years and had 17 goals and 44 points in 49 games for SKA St. Petersburg in 2024-25. The Athletic's Scott Wheeler ranked Gritsyuk as one of the Devils' top prospects before he aged out and projected him to be a top-nine wing. He'll have a legitimate chance to crack the Devils roster out of training camp. Advertisement Meier, who can play both wings, has yet to crack 30 goals in a full season with New Jersey, and the Devils would surely benefit from him providing a bit more offense. He had 35 goals in 77 games his last full season in San Jose, then 40 goals in 2022-23, which he split between the Sharks and Devils. His floor when healthy is 25-plus goals with 50-plus points, as he's shown the past two seasons, and he's undoubtedly a top-six wing who can play with some snarl. Palát has played with top-line teammates dating back to his time with the Lightning. The 34-year-old did not have strong underlying numbers this past season and had only 28 points in 77 games — not the production a team wants from a player with a $6 million cap hit. He shined a bit more in the playoffs, as has been the case throughout his career. He mostly played on a line with Hischier and Meier, and the Devils had 57.59 percent of the expected goal share with him on the ice at five-on-five, according to Natural Stat Trick, up from 46.26 percent in the regular season. That, of course, came in only a five-game sample size. Palát's situation is worth monitoring if the Devils want to open up more cap space. He has two years left on his deal, and on July 1, his contract shifted from including a full no-movement clause to a 10-team trade list with a no-movement clause still protecting against waivers. New Jersey is not opposed to having him on the roster to start the year, but Fitzgerald could pounce on a trade if one presents itself. Cotter had a solid first season with the Devils, but his scoring dipped in the second half of the year. He'll be a restricted free agent after this season, so he'll have plenty of motivation coming in. The bruising MacDermid will be a left-wing option if Sheldon Keefe ever wants a more physical lineup. He did not log a point in 23 games this past season. Jack Hughes and Hischier make up one of the best top-two center duos in the league. Hughes is an offensive force who has averaged well over a point per game over the past four seasons when he's been in the lineup, and Hischier is a Selke-caliber center who can also score more than 30 goals in a year. As mentioned already, the Devils will need Hughes healthy for the playoffs if they're going to have a legitimate chance to make a deep run. Advertisement Mercer can play center or right wing. He played more than 250 minutes last season on the wing with Hischier and Meier as his linemates. That was his most frequent line combination. Still only 23, Mercer has yet to replicate his strong 2022-23 season (56 points in 82 games), but he's shown he can be a solid middle-six contributor. He's also as durable as anyone in the NHL over the past four seasons, having not missed a game since entering the league. If Mercer shifts to wing, Glass would likely move from 4C to 3C. He's equipped to play either. Glass, a deadline addition, was a restricted free agent this summer, and the Devils initially hoped to sign him for under his $2.5 million qualifying offer. Their approach shifted as it became clear Glass might be able to get more on the open market, and the team ended up presenting him with a qualifying offer. The sides settled on a two-year contract with a $2.5 million AAV, which means they won't have to go through the process again next summer. Glass had seven points in 14 games with the Devils last season and raved about playing under Keefe. Lammikko provides Keefe with another center depth option. The Finnish forward spent the past three seasons in Switzerland but previously played 159 NHL games for the Panthers and Canucks. Vancouver gave him an extended bottom-six run in 2021-22, and he won fans over with his high battle level. If Mercer plays wing, Keefe could go with Hughes, Hischier, Glass and Lammikko as his four centers. The Devils need to reach an RFA deal with Bordeleau, recently acquired for Shane Bowers. He should provide some organizational depth. The Devils prioritized adding forward depth this summer and did so by adding Dadonov and Brown. Dadonov is a good bet on a one-year, $1 million deal with additional earnable bonuses. He made the Western Conference final with Dallas each of the past three seasons and has had 20 or more goals in five seasons, including this past one. The Devils can try him in different lineup spots, but he'll certainly be a top-six option. The 36-year-old could also serve as a good mentor for Gritsyuk. Advertisement Brown beat Dadonov's Stars in the conference final while with Edmonton in the past two seasons. He emerged as a capable third-line player who performed well for the Oilers in their runs to back-to-back Stanley Cup Final appearances. Bratt is set to remain the top winger on the team. He has been better than a point per game each of the past two seasons and is on a team-friendly $7.875 million cap hit. Like Palát, Dadonov and Brown, Noesen can also play up and down the lineup. He is a special-teams weapon and had 11 power-play goals this past season. Recently signed prospect Lenni Hämeenaho will get a look in training camp. The 20-year-old will most likely start the year in AHL Utica, but he could play his way into roster consideration if he blows the staff away during camp. The Devils' biggest remaining question for the offseason centers around Luke Hughes. He's a restricted free agent who could either sign a long- or short-term extension. New Jersey has just under $7 million in space currently, according to PuckPedia. Hughes would almost certainly command more than that on a long-term deal. The Devils could create a bit more cap flexibility if they choose to put Kovacevic on long-term injured reserve to start the year, but they would then have to get back under the cap when the right-shot defenseman gets healthy. After playing all 82 regular-season games, Dillon suffered a season-ending neck injury in Game 1 against Carolina. He's now entering his second season with the Devils and is a capable penalty killer who also brings a leadership presence to the dressing room. Siegenthaler has established himself as a steady NHL presence and recently won a silver medal with Switzerland at world championships. With the Devils' group of defensemen battered in the Carolina series, Cholowski got his first taste of postseason action, playing two games. He's a serviceable injury fill-in but likely not someone New Jersey wants to rely on again for playoff minutes. Advertisement Like Palát, Hamilton's full no-movement clause shifted to a 10-team trade list on July 1. He still has a no-movement clause to protect against waivers, though that wouldn't be an option for the Devils. Fitzgerald could look to move Hamilton and his $9 million cap hit, but the team would need to replace his production. The team feels no urgency to get a deal done and would be fine with Hamilton, Pesce and Nemec as its right-shot defensemen on opening night. Still, a trade can't be ruled out. Pesce had an excellent playoff showing for New Jersey, all while less than 100 percent healthy. He averaged 26:43 a game against Carolina. Nemec's postseason performance was also encouraging. He scored the overtime winner in Game 3 and looked confident on the ice. It was a promising end to a disappointing season for the 2022 No. 2 pick, who spent more time in the AHL than he would have liked. 'We love where he ended, where his game was, and he looked like the player we thought we were drafting,' Fitzgerald said at his end-of-season press conference. Kovacevic will almost certainly be in the lineup when healthy. New Jersey extended him for five years at $4 million AAV. If the defensive corps is ever fully healthy, Keefe will have a difficult decision to make. New Jersey should be happy about that; having too many good players is better than not having enough. Additionally, Casey could push for playing time. The 21-year-old prospect played 14 regular-season games last year, then got into Game 5 against Carolina. The Devils acquired Allen at the 2024 deadline, and it proved to be a good match. He's had a .904 save percentage since coming to New Jersey and was a strong backup for Markström this past season. Fitzgerald clearly didn't want to lose him, and Allen clearly didn't want to leave, as evidenced by his five-year extension. Allen, 34, presumably could have gotten a higher AAV on the open market, but by signing a five-year contract, he allowed the Devils to keep his cap hit at a palatable $1.8 million. Markström had a strong start to the season before suffering an MCL sprain in January. His numbers dipped upon his return to the lineup, but he played well against Carolina, posting a .911 save percentage in five games. He's entering the final year of his contract, so New Jersey will have to decide how aggressively it wants to pursue extending him. The 24-year-old Daws is no longer waiver exempt. He's shown he's capable of playing NHL games, so the Devils will risk another team claiming him on waivers if they try to send him to AHL Utica. (Photo of Evgenii Dadonov shooting against the Devils: Rich Graessle / NHLI via Getty Images)
Time of India
01-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Who is Jack Hughes? The Los Angeles Kings signed him to an AHL contract after his NCAA breakout, and an NHL deal may follow soon
NHL-Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils (Credit: Getty Images) Jack Hughes was selected 51st overall in the 2022 NHL Draft by the Los Angeles Kings, but his future with the organization was in serious doubt for most of the past year. The team, under its former management, showed little interest in extending a contract to him. That changed drastically after Hughes delivered his best NCAA season to date with Boston University. The 6-foot forward played all 40 games for BU, producing 18 assists and 25 points, both career highs. He held down a key role on the Terriers' second line, contributing at even strength and on the power play. Hughes played a pivotal role during BU's deep postseason run, helping the team reach the NCAA national championship game. He added a shorthanded goal and multiple assists during key victories over top-ranked Ohio State and Penn State. His late-season impact helped revive his stock within the Kings organization, just in time for a shift in leadership. Jack Hughes Guesses the Secret Hockey Player Why Jack Hughes is now back in Kings' plans The signing of Jack Hughes to an AHL contract by the Ontario Reign reflects renewed confidence in his development. It also gives the Kings more time to assess his long-term potential before deciding whether to offer him a full NHL entry-level deal before the August 15 deadline. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch vàng CFDs với mức chênh lệch giá thấp nhất IC Markets Đăng ký Undo New General Manager Ken Holland views Hughes differently than the previous regime did. The AHL contract offers a low-risk opportunity to integrate Hughes into the Kings' system and assess his performance against pro-level competition. Now 21 years old, Hughes will get a shot to compete with other promising forwards in Ontario, including Koehn Ziemmer, Kenny Connors, and Jared Wright. His participation in LA's upcoming Development Camp further shows that the club sees him as a serious candidate for advancement. What Jack Hughes brings to the Los Angeles Kings system If Jack Hughes signs an NHL entry-level contract, he would become the sixth player from the Kings' 2022 draft class to do so. That group already includes forwards and defensemen who are making an impact at various levels of the organization. Hughes' game is built on vision, hockey IQ, and calm decision-making under pressure. His postseason production in the NCAA proved that he can deliver in high-stakes moments. That potential, combined with his familiarity with the Kings' development structure through past camp appearances, makes him a valuable depth option for the franchise. His story reflects the importance of timing and performance, and how a single standout season can turn doubt into opportunity. Also Read: Mitch Marner says emotional goodbye to Toronto as Maple Leafs prepare for new era without star winger Game On Season 1 continues with Mirabai Chanu's inspiring story. Watch Episode 2 here.
