New Jersey's Jack Hughes Takes a Dig at his Haters After Huge Year
The pressure to perform at a high level out of the gate can be huge for 1st overall NHL draft picks. Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils got a lot of it, and he's taking aim at his haters after putting up career highs in 2022-23.
Since the 2019 draft
After being selected 1st overall in 2019, Hughes's rookie season was more of a meow than a roar. He scored 7 goals and 21 points in 61 games. He then progressed year over year, ending the regular season in 2023 with 43 goals and 56 assists for 99 points. Despite the constant progress, some chose to label him a bust. In and end-of-season interview today, Hughes wanted them to know that he heard them.
"I think I...established myself as a really good player in the league. Maybe the goal-scoring a bit, I don't know if anyone expected me to score 40 in my career, let alone three years after everyone was calling me the biggest bust ever, you know."
At 21, Hughes still has plenty of time to continue his development, and this year proved he has all the making of a star player. Despite getting eliminated in the second round of the 2023 playoffs at the hands of the Carolina Hurricanes, New Jersey took a big step, making the post season for the first time since 2018. Both Hughes and his teammates have a bright future to look forward to.
Hughes told reporters today that he played through injury, almost to the point of not playing. He would not say what was wrong, only that he was "banged up."
| POLL | ||
MAI 13 | 533 ANSWERS New Jersey's Jack Hughes Takes a Dig at his Haters After Huge Year Will New Jersey win a Cup in the next decade? | ||
| I think so | 275 | 51.6 % |
| No, not a chance | 136 | 25.5 % |
| I'm not sure | 122 | 22.9 % |
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