Jack Hughes’ Comments Hit a Nerve With New Jersey Devils Fans

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.

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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.

Hughes said:

“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.

When healthy, there’s no question Hughes is among the most dynamic players in the game and completely changes the outlook of the Devils. The problem is that far too often, he isn’t available, and many of those absences have come during the most important parts of the season—down the stretch and into the playoffs.

Very few, if any, teams can withstand being without their best player for extended periods of time, let alone such large chunks year after year. New Jersey has built everything around Hughes since drafting him first overall in 2019, and it’s abundantly clear they can’t afford to be without him.

With that in mind, the idea of moving on from Hughes would seem to make no sense. That said, if another team were to approach GM Tom Fitzgerald with a massive return package—one that provides the Devils with more stability and reliability—it may be something the organization would at least have to consider.

Not landing Quinn Hughes has drastically altered the perception of Jack’s future in New Jersey, and another injury-riddled, lost season could—and quite frankly should—force everyone involved to re-evaluate where this is all headed moving forward.

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