“He let the Devils down”: Jack Hughes finds himself at the center of criticism

Marc-Olivier Cook
“He let the Devils down”: Jack Hughes finds himself at the center of criticism
Credit: Screenshot/Twitter

Jack Hughes has been selected by Team USA to participate in the Olympics.

This isn't really a surprise… because we're talking about one of the best forwards in the world. When he's healthy, Quinn's little brother can be truly dominant on the ice.

The two brothers are reunited for the competition, by the way. And they seem happy to be able to share the experience together:

Rightly so, you might say. But…

But right now, Jack is the target of a lot of criticism. He didn't play in his club's last three games before the break because he was “slightly” injured… and seeing him at the Games right now with a big smile on his face isn't going down too well in New Jersey.

Mike Rupp explained it well: Jack let down the Devils and their fans. Because he could have played if he wanted to: 

It's understandable that there is criticism of him.

It would be the same in Montreal and everywhere else in the NHL, after all. If Nick Suzuki had decided not to play to help the Canadiens before the Olympic break, but was fit enough to go to Milan and wear the Canadian jersey… everyone in Montreal would be talking about it.

And we can agree that Canadiens fans wouldn't necessarily be happy about the situation either.

That said, Jack Hughes didn't help the situation before leaving for Milan by saying he had “nothing to say” to Devils fans who have lost prospects for the upcoming playoffs.

And I tend to think that says a lot about the guy's character: 

All this to say, then, that Jack Hughes isn't the most popular name in New Jersey right now.

And knowing that he's healthy enough to play in the Olympics, it's normal for there to be discontent among Devils fans.


Overtime

– I'm not surprised.

– Wow.

– I can't wait to see this.

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