NHL Puts Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier Among Its Top-20 Centers, Strengthening the Devils’ Core

The NHL identified Jack Hughes and Nico Hischier as top-20 centers in the league, a recognition that spotlights New Jersey’s long-term strength down the middle. The announcement, published Sunday night, frames the Devils as a team built around two forwards who are expected to drive both ends of the ice through chance creation, puck control, and matchup management.

Hughes, who plays the center position for the Devils, is one of the NHL’s most dynamic young playmakers, and his inclusion in a top-20 positional list reinforces how New Jersey distributes offensive creation. A center ranked among the league’s best typically becomes the hub for entries and zone attacks, whether by setting up teammates off controlled zone possession or by turning rushes into structured scoring chances.

Hischier’s presence on the same list highlights the Devils’ balance. Centers at the top of the league are often valued not only for their ability to generate offense, but also for their role in stabilizing play when the opponent is pressing. In a Devils lineup, Hischier’s recognition suggests the team has its spine in place at a position where defensive reads and line-to-line communication usually matter most.

The NHL’s decision to rank both Hughes and Hischier together is more than a pair of accolades. Centers are responsible for directing tempo, selecting the supporting cast for each shift, and adjusting to matchups. When a team can deploy two centers that are widely viewed as top-tier, it can simplify roster decisions around wings and defense, because the playmaking and break-in/breakout structure are easier to repeat shift to shift.

For New Jersey, the practical impact of such recognition is how it affects expectations entering the next stretch of the season. Opponents typically plan their best defensive resources around the center who dictates the offense. With two Devils centers labeled top-20 by the league itself, matchups may become more evenly contested across shifts, and the coaching staff can press their preferred game plan with less compromise.

It is also worth noting what this type of list does and does not tell you. A top-20 ranking is not a standings update, and it does not quantify current injuries or day-to-day form. It is, however, a league-wide statement about player impact at a specific position, and it can influence how fans and evaluators view the Devils’ ceiling as the season progresses.

The next question for New Jersey will be how consistently both players translate that positional praise into repeatable production and controlled hockey, particularly in games where the opponent tries to reduce quality chances and force lower-percentage looks. If Hughes and Hischier remain at or near the level implied by the NHL ranking, the Devils’ identity as a two-center team with real matchup leverage becomes harder for opponents to neutralize. If one of them is slowed, it may reveal how reliant the lineup is on that core spine to maintain structure.