Pat Brisson shuts down Jack Hughes drama and protects Devils playoff push

Mar 20, 2026 (10:41)

Photo credit: James Lang-Imagn Images

Pat Brisson cooled the Jack Hughes storm fast, and New Jersey's $8 million star still looks like a roster pillar, not a rumor.

Pat Brisson shifted this from noise to controlled damage.

Jack Hughes, 24, is the New Jersey Devils' first-line center and carries an $8 million AAV through 2029-30.

That contract context matters. This is not trade smoke or cap tension, it is a locked-in franchise piece.

So the real hockey angle flips quickly. This is about focus inside a 35-31-2 team still trying to push its pace late.

You can see the exact moment the tone changes from outrage to clarification in the clip below.

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Hughes scored the Olympic gold medal winner for Team USA on February 22, and the puck now sits with the Hall of Fame.

He has 18-36-54 in 2025-26, and that production is the only number that matters to New Jersey right now.

That is why Brisson stepping in matters more than the story itself.

Fans are already brushing this aside because the only real concern is whether Hughes keeps controlling play through the middle.

When Hughes attacks with speed, Jesper Bratt finds space wide and Nico Hischier benefits from softer matchups in the slot.

That ripple shows up immediately on the man advantage.

New Jersey has converted 9 of its last 17 power-play chances, and the puck movement runs through Hughes every touch.

This is where the "why" locks in. Any distraction around your top driver can stall rhythm, especially for a team still chasing consistency.

Brisson stepping in shuts that door before it leaks into the room.

So the expert read is simple. This was noise, and it got handled like noise.

If Hughes keeps pushing play at this level, the Devils' story stays exactly where it should be, on the ice and on his stick.

Previously on HockeyLatest

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MARS 20\|100 ANSWERS Pat Brisson shuts down Jack Hughes drama and protects Devils playoff push Did Pat Brisson shut down a real distraction for the Devils?
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