If there was any doubt about Jack Hughes being able to play on the Olympic stage, he is silencing most of his critics. Jack Hughes showed in the semifinals of the Olympics that, when healthy, he is a difference-maker for any team he plays on, including his NHL club, the New Jersey Devils.
Hughes recorded two goals as Team USA defeated Slovakia by a score of 6-2 in the semifinals of the Men’s Ice Hockey Tournament at the Olympics. The Americans will now face Canada in the Gold Medal Game on Sunday. Hughes is up six points in the tournament and looking like the dominant player he is on the NHL level.
Jack Hughes and Quinn Hughes to be Teammates on Team USA
There were some questions about his health going into the tournament. The Devils held him out of the final three games before the Olympics. Reports were that he was dealing with a pulled groin. However, that injury was not made public, so many questioned his heart and resolve. The big question was whether Jack Hughes prioritized the Olympics over helping his NHL club get back into the playoff race.
It was a fair question to ask, given Brad Marchand‘s limited action for the Florida Panthers right before the Olympics. Not to mention the countless other NHL players dealing with injuries, playing for their respective clubs, prioritizing the playoffs over the Olympics.
Then there was the Four Nations Faceoff last year, when Jack Hughes was invisible, leading many to question whether he should be on the Olympic roster. Team USA GM Bill Guerin wanted checkers on his team. Is Jack Hughes a checker? He has become better defensively, but he isn’t a grinder. Then he was skating on the fourth line during practice ahead of the Olympics. More questions were raised about his health and his role on the team. So many were right to question Jack Hughes and whether or not he would rise to the occasion.
However, since the drop of the puck in Game 1 of the Olympics for Team USA, Jack Hughes has taken the criticism he heard and read personally, raising his level of play. This is what great players are supposed to do. It helps when he has guys like Vincent Trocheck, Brock Nelson, Tage Thompson, and Dylan Larkin on his line.
New Jersey Devils Need To Prove Offense Doesn’t Run Through Jack Hughes
Head coach Mike Sullivan turned Jack Hughes into Patrick Kane. He put bigger centermen and wingers with Hughes, which allowed him to use his skills to his advantage. The goal he scored against Slovakia in the semifinal was a perfect example of what Kane did with the Chicago Blackhawks in his prime years.
Jack Hughes showing flashes of Patrick Kane! pic.twitter.com/iaHFG0pvcW
— NBC Olympics & Paralympics (@NBCOlympics) February 20, 2026
Hughes took the puck and skated through the Slovakian defence, made a pass and scored a goal from the top of the circle, passed Slovakian goalie Samuel Hlavaj. It was vintage Jack Hughes. Hughes looked like the player he was at the beginning of the season for the Devils. But he wasn’t finished.
Jack Hughes added another goal later on in the second period. It was close to his signature shot, where he banks the puck off the goalie’s mask. However, he was to take advantage of the puck being passed off the boards and shot it into an open net. This is the best his passing and shooting have looked in a while.
Auston Matthews and Jack Hughes Have High Praise for Each Other
Not to mention, this is the best Jack Hughes has looked on the International Stage for Team USA on the Senior Level. He was great at the Under-18s and World Junior Championships for Team USA. There were signs at the World Championships in the one he played in 2019. However, this is the Jack Hughes everyone expected to see last year. The way he is so dynamic with the puck.
His skating and skill are really on display this tournament for Team USA. It helps moving up in the lineup, but it also helps when he is a complementary piece and not the main attraction. He can take advantage of matchups.
While he might think he has been playing well all year, the eye test says otherwise. Watching every game closely over the past six games, Jack Hughes has looked his best all season. If the New Jersey Devils can get this player in the final 25 games, New Jersey has a chance.
But it is good to see number 86 raise his level of play in the biggest moments.
