There’s no denying it: the 2025–26 season has been a mess for Jack Hughes and the New Jersey Devils. Entering the year as a favorite not only to win the Metropolitan Division but also to make some noise in the playoffs, New Jersey instead finds itself second last in the entire Eastern Conference and 10 points out of a wild-card spot just days away from the Olympic break.
Injuries have once again played a huge role in their downfall, with Hughes unfortunately at the forefront of an all-too-familiar storyline for the Devils. The superstar center—who is currently sidelined with a lower-body injury separate from his previous upper-body ailment—spoke to the media on Wednesday about the team’s recent struggles, and his comments didn’t sit particularly well with the fanbase.
When asked what he would say to fans who have already given up on the season, Hughes didn’t appear overly concerned with their frustrations.
“I honestly have nothing to say to them. For us, it’s just our group—we’ve got to figure out a way to win more hockey games. And you know, we’ve got two big games here before the break, and after the break, it’s a long time for people to refresh and gear up for a really good final 25 games. So it’s on us to find a way to win more hockey games. Like I said, it’s on us,”
The 24-year-old Hughes has been productive when available this season, to the tune of 36 points (12 goals, 24 assists) in 36 games played. He’s in year four of the eight-year, $64 million extension signed with the Devils back in 2021.
What Now for Jack Hughes and the Devils?
We’re in year seven of the Jack Hughes experiment, and this marks the fifth of those seven seasons in which he’s missed significant time due to injury—20-plus games, to be specific.