The Maturation Of Jack Hughes

2 years ago  /  Kuklas Korner

from Ken Campbell at The Hockey News,


First of all, you need to know that Jack Hughes wanted nothing to do with this story.

But, because he’s as good a young man as he is a hockey player, he felt compelled to do his part. It’s just that when he looks at his NHL career so far, he’s not the least bit satisfied. He wants to shift the focus from himself until he feels he deserves the attention. So, when a chronicler approaches him with an angle about him being on the verge of greatness at the same time other players are laying their bodies on the line to try to win a Stanley Cup, Hughes gets a bit uncomfortable.

So, in the end, he agrees to answer a couple of questions via email. There has been a continual cycle of focus on Hughes since he was about 15 years old, and now he wants to start proving he’s worthy of that buzz. The time to talk is over. He must now begin to show some things. “I haven’t done a ton in this league just yet,” Hughes said. “You watch all these playoff hockey games going on, with guys putting it all on the line, battling and doing what it takes to advance. That’s where we all want to be as a team, what our young group really wants to get to.”

New Jersey Devils GM Tom Fitzgerald is informed of this, and, of course, he’s thrilled.

Having a star player with that attitude makes people like Fitzgerald sleep much better at night. Fitzgerald has watched Hughes progress through his first three NHL seasons, seeing enough after two-plus seasons to sign him to an eight-year extension worth $64 million, which kicks in this fall. “That’s a proud moment,” Fitzgerald said. “It really tells me what his priorities are. I’ve known that about Jack for a long time.”


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