After an injury-filled season, New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes appears ready to remind the hockey world just how special he can be. The talented center is coming off an unforgettable Olympic performance, and one former NHL player believes an even bigger season is on the horizon.
NJ Devils’ Jack Hughes Tipped for Career Year
Despite missing time because of finger surgery in November 2025 and a lower-body injury in January 2026, Hughes still performed at an elite level whenever he was on the ice.
Former Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman and Spittin’ Chiclets co-host Ryan Whitney issued a bold prediction for the New Jersey Devils superstar, declaring that Hughes is poised to unleash a career-defining campaign.
“I do remain steadfast, though, that my guy, Jack Hughes right here, I’m blocking his jersey; he’s going to have a season for the record books this year. I’m talking 115 points, dominant. I think we’re about to see some really, really scary things for him. And we know what Quinn Hughes does if he’s healthy, both of them. I think Quinn Hughes gets 100 points as well. That’s where I’m at with the Hughes brothers,” Ryan Whitney said.
Whitney’s confidence isn’t baseless; it’s rooted in Hughes’ underlying scoring pace. During the 2025–26 NHL season, Hughes produced at an elite level, recording 77 points (27 goals, 50 assists) in just 61 games.
Over an 82-game schedule, that translates to a 103-point pace. Had it not been for a mid-season injury that kept him sidelined for several weeks, Hughes was well on track to shatter his personal best of 99 points set during the 2022-23 season.
Olympic Success Added to the Momentum
Although injuries disrupted his NHL season, Hughes shone on the international stage.
Representing Team USA at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, he played a crucial role in the Americans’ historic run to the gold medal. His biggest moment came, of course, in the championship game when he scored the overtime winner against Canada to secure the United States’ first Olympic men’s hockey gold medal in 46 years.
That performance only strengthened Whitney’s belief that Hughes is ready to reach another level.
The timing could not be more important for New Jersey. The Devils endured an inconsistent season and missed the playoffs, leaving plenty of work to do heading into the new campaign.
Hughes remains the centerpiece of the team’s offense, and his ability to stay healthy could determine just how far the Devils go. He continues to drive New Jersey’s power play alongside Nico Hischier and Jesper Bratt, while his brother, Luke Hughes, has become a cornerstone on the blue line.
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If Hughes can stay on the ice for an entire season, Whitney’s prediction of a 115-point campaign may not seem so far-fetched after all.
