Jack Hughes had no patience for the joke tonight, and the Devils center made it obvious before the second period even started.
During the first intermission of New Jersey's season opener against the Flyers, he was asked on the broadcast about bubble wrap and plastic cutlery.
The jab pointed straight at last season's off-ice injury at a team dinner. His reply was short: "It's a weird question. Big game."
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Fair enough. Asking a franchise center about cutlery on opening night is like quizzing a pilot about turbulence while the plane is still taxiing.
He wasn't biting, and he shouldn't have to. Last season, Hughes dressed for 61 games and still piled up 77 points.
Career-wise, the former first overall pick sits at 428 points in 429 games. A point a night, give or take one.
Sheldon Keefe can't afford another Jack Hughes absence
The money explains the edge in the building. Hughes carries an $8,000,000 cap hit through 2029-30.
And New Jersey also pays Luke Hughes and Dougie Hamilton $9,000,000 apiece. That's a heavy core to build around if your best forward keeps watching from the press box.
Availability is the nagging thread. The 2022-23 campaign, when he played 78 games, remains the only NHL season he's cleared 70.
Here's the blunt version. When number 86 is healthy, this team looks dangerous, and when he isn't, the top six suddenly looks thin.
So was the bubble wrap line unfair? A little. But an injury at a team dinner is the kind of story that follows a player into every new season.
Sheldon Keefe is entering his third season behind the New Jersey bench. He's seen enough of both versions of this lineup to know which one wins.
The Devils' last game before tonight was a 4-1 road win over the Islanders on September 26.
The Flyers walked in on the back end of a back-to-back, still stinging from a 7-0 home loss to the Penguins on Wednesday.
Next up is a Saturday trip back to face the Islanders. The health questions won't stop until he gives people a full season of reasons to quit asking.
Was Jack Hughes right to shut down the bubble wrap question on opening night?
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