Jack Hughes

Hughes made legitimate progress in his second NHL campaign. His scoring numbers (11 goals, 31 points in 56 games) increased considerably and his plus-minus rating improved from a minus-26 in 2019-20 to just a minus-3 this past season. The fact Hughes didn't miss a game all year is also a positive sign. It can be difficult at times to get excited about anyone on the Devils from a fantasy perspective, but Hughes is the unquestioned No. 1 center for a club which signed the best free agent on the market in Dougie Hamilton and projects to be a considerably better team in 2021-22. This may very well be the final year fantasy owners can get Hughes at a potential discount on draft day.

Hughes struggled as an 18-year-old rookie last season, finishing the campaign with seven goals, 14 assists, nine power-play points and an ugly minus-26 rating in 61 games. Part of his poor performance can be attributed to the fact he was playing for a bottom-six Devils team that fired its head coach and general manager mid-season, but he also looked outmatched physically at times, which isn't exactly surprising considering he was a teenager playing against full-grown men. With an elongated offseason of training under his belt, the number one pick from last year's draft should perform far better in year two, although his upside will be capped by the fact he'll be playing for a New Jersey squad that will likely only be marginally better in 2020-21. Nonetheless, virtual managers shouldn't hesitate to snag Hughes with a late-round pick in this year's fantasy drafts due to his breakout potential alone.

Hughes was billed as the top prospect in the 2019 draft for a while, so it was no surprise to see him drafted first overall by the Devils. He needs to fill out a bit at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds, but defenders can't hit what they can't catch, and Hughes' combination of skating ability, puck skills and vision often allows him to easily get by defensemen. Hughes has often drawn comparisons to star Blackhawks winger Patrick Kane, and Kane-like production could well represent his realistic ceiling after some development. The 18-year-old will likely need some time to adjust to the NHL, but Hughes should make a difference right away, especially if he can beat out Nico Hischier for the first-line center job alongside Taylor Hall.