Jack Hughes Is Still a Lock for Team USA - Injury or Not
Jack Hughes can’t seem to catch a break when it comes to staying healthy, but this latest setback? Pure bad luck. The New Jersey Devils star is sidelined for eight weeks due to what’s being called a “freak” injury - and while it’s frustrating for fans and the team alike, it shouldn’t derail his Olympic dreams.
With NHL players returning to the Winter Olympics for the first time since 2014, all eyes are on who will suit up for Team USA in February. And even though Hughes hasn’t officially been named to the roster yet, let’s be clear: he belongs there. Injury or not, his spot should be all but guaranteed.
Timeline Works in Hughes’ Favor
Eight weeks from the date of the injury lands Hughes right around January 8. That gives him a two-week cushion and up to 14 NHL games to get back into rhythm before the Olympic break begins. And there’s even better news - according to ESPN’s Emily Kaplan, there’s a chance he returns earlier than expected.
“The good news is this isn’t as bad as initially feared,” Kaplan said on The Point. “Best case scenario is we can see him back as early as Christmas, more likely it’s early January.”
That’s a win for both the Devils and Team USA. Hughes gets time to get his legs back under him, and the national team gets one of its most dynamic forwards in game shape before the puck drops in Beijing.
Hughes Is Built for the Big Stage
You don’t need to dive too deep into the numbers to know Hughes is one of the top American forwards in the NHL. Just watch him skate.
He’s electric - the kind of player who can shift momentum with one rush or one dazzling pass. Before the injury, he was tied for sixth among American skaters in points (20) and fourth in goals (10).
He was also top-four in even-strength points, trailing only Matthew Knies, Cutter Gauthier, and Dylan Larkin. That’s elite company.
And while he hasn’t been officially named to the Olympic roster yet, Hughes has been in the mix all year. He played in the 4 Nations Face-Off and was part of this summer’s Olympic Orientation Camp. He’s also been named a Polo Ralph Lauren Ambassador for the Games - a nod to his expected presence on the international stage.
Don’t Let the 4 Nations Numbers Fool You
There’s been some chatter about Hughes’ underwhelming offensive output at the 4 Nations Face-Off - just one point in four games. But context matters, and the criticism doesn’t hold up under a closer look.
For starters, Hughes was bounced around the lineup, starting three of four games with different linemates. In the final, he was paired with Brock Nelson and J.T.
Miller - two forwards who didn’t exactly light the tournament on fire offensively. Despite the lack of chemistry and consistent deployment, Hughes still managed to make an impact.
According to data from Dom Luszczyszyn, Hughes posted the second-highest net defensive rating out of 81 skaters in the tournament. Overall, he ranked as the 21st-most effective player - putting him in the 74th percentile. That’s not just passable - that’s solid two-way play.
And the advanced metrics back it up even more. Per Moneypuck, Team USA generated 3.08 expected goals with Hughes on the ice and allowed just 1.46 - good for a 67.8% expected goals share (xGF%).
That’s better than any NHL forward line that’s played at least 100 minutes this season. The only time he was a net-negative?
A rough outing in the preliminary round against Canada. Every other game, including the gold medal rematch, he was north of 70%.
Sure, he’d have liked to put more pucks in the net. He had 11 shots in four games - if one or two go in, the story around his performance shifts completely.
But even without the offense, Hughes showed he’s evolved. He’s no longer the purely offensive, high-risk teenager we saw in his early NHL years.
He’s grown into a more complete player.
Need proof? Last season, he posted a career-best plus-12 rating - tops on the Devils. Before his injury this year, he was on pace to beat that with a projected plus-14.
Olympic Outlook
Of course, the Olympic picture isn’t set in stone. There’s growing concern about the readiness of the arena and whether NHL players will actually make the trip.
But if they do - and if Hughes is healthy - he’s not just going to be on the roster. He’s going to be a major piece of the puzzle.
Jack Hughes is exactly the kind of player you want in a short tournament: fast, fearless, and capable of creating something out of nothing. His ability to elevate his game when it matters most is why, despite the injury and the noise, he remains one of Team USA’s most important assets heading into February.