What to do with Jack Hughes?

[Darkwing Puck]

One question that's been on my mind since the end of last season is what to do with Jack Hughes and the Dobber article earlier this week about players ranked too low on Yahoo has brought him back to the forefront of my thoughts. We all know that he started to break out (or even broke out) last season with better than a point per game and an 82-game pace of 94 points. The Devils have improved and it seems like Hughes shouldn't have much problem scoring at a 100-plus point pace. The problem is that while he was better than a point per game last season, he only played 49 games and his career high is only 61 games played. In non-salary cap leagues I'd absolutely agree that he should be getting drafted higher than the mid-90s. But salary cap leagues are another beast altogether. I think we have to assume that Hughes is going to miss at least 25 games and in that case how much is he worth given that he comes with an $8 million cap hit?

In my case, I'm definitely planning to keep him but there's an element of "what would I do with those $8 million if I didn't keep him?" This has me wondering if it might be a good idea to try and trade him for someone who is maybe less talented but more durable. Or am I overreacting to a three-season sample and Hughes should be a cornerstone that I build my team around? I grant that while his $8 million price tag is hefty now, in three or four seasons he might be a bargain.

[tweetdrivr]

You’re overreacting. If you trade him you will regret it. His injuries have been freakish (or in the case of last year, an intent to injure by another player). It’s too small a sample size to say he’ll miss 25 games. Keep him.

[Smurf54]

To answer the question in your title? Keep him. Assuming he will miss 25 games is nuts. Thompson just signed a deal north of $7m. I think Hughes at $8m will turn out to be a steal.

[Belexus75]

i agree that you over reacting...you going to regret this 10 games into the season if you trade him...

[stevegamer]

It highly depends on what you can get for him. There may be somebody in your league is overly bullish on Hughes to the point that you can get a safer player back with the same talent level. However, you should likely hold, as I'd give him a pass on last year's injury, for obvious reasons.

[Axeman33]

No one is untouchable. As mentioned above, it would depend on what you could get for him, but as far as his injuries go, it can happen to anyone at any time so I don't worry about that nearly as much as others.