If the practice lines from Saturday's session remain in-tact, which head coach Lindy Ruff suggested they likely will, the Devils All-Star will be challenged with taking on a winger role, as opposed to his natural center position.
"With our system, I don't think it matters too much," Hughes shared, "So it's exciting and Nico, you know, I don't get to play with him much. So it'll be good."
A line of Sharangovich, Hughes, and Hischier puts three natural centermen on one line. Sharangovich has played the majority of his Devils career on the wing, both Hischier and Hughes have played the bulk of their young careers at center. In a different way, there is diversity in pairing the three together.
"I had a conversation with Nico," Ruff shared after practice on Saturday, "Where you know, Nico can go on the wing, Jack can be in the middle, You've got really three guys that have played center with Shar, Jack, and Nico."
The Devils coaching staff is in a predicament, but it's a good one of sorts. They have iced the same lineup in two consecutive games, produced 14 goals in the process, and seen the blossoming of certain players,
Jesper Boqvist is up to a career-high 10 points with three points in his last two games and six points in his past six outings. Michael McLeod, with Mason Geertsen and Nathan Bastian has been a reliable line in all areas of the game, McLeod with three goals in his last two games. Things on all lines, when Bratt too was in the lineup, were clicking. There is chemistry brewing.
"I think you've pretty well nailed exactly what the thinking is," Ruff emphasized after practice on Saturday. "the other lines have gone really well (...) We've gained some traction with the way Boqvist has played, I've liked how well Zacha has skated through the middle and what that line has been able to do. Som we really don't want to change the McCloud, Geertsen, Bastian line, they've gone well for us. So it doesn't mean during the game you won't see Jack in some different spots."
It also wouldn't be out of the ordinary.
"He's got a history of going in between different lines at different times. So but you know, I'm not going to count the empty net goals, but to score five or six goals a game and the other lines going so well, it's really tough to change them around."
Hughes says all he wants to do is be back in the lineup and "hopefully produce". That's something he's done all season when he's been in the lineup, with 27 points in his 28 games played, and now he gets to work for more points alongside his captain.
"It will be good, I get to play with Nico."
