Jack Hughes embraces fourth-line role for Team USA in Milan, eyes bigger role ahead
MILAN — Jack Hughes, usually the driving force at the center of his NHL team's attack, willingly slid into a fourth-line left wing role for Team USA’s 5-1 opening victory over Latvia and made his presence felt. In just 16 shifts and 11: 14 of ice time, Hughes assisted on both of Brock Nelson’s goals and left coaches with a selection headache before Saturday’s game against Denmark (3: 10 p. m. ET).
Selflessness on display in 5-1 opener
Hughes, who hit a career-high 43 goals and 99 points in 2022-23 and finished eighth in Hart Trophy voting that season, underscored the message GM Bill Guerin laid down before the tournament: be selfless and accept your role for the good of the team. "I’m just so pumped to be here and to be at the Olympics and playing for the U. S., so if it’s fourth line, whatever it may be, I’m ready to play that role, " Hughes said. "When you tap my shoulder, I’m gonna be ready to go. "
The line that featured Hughes, Brock Nelson and J. T. Miller produced the kind of concise effectiveness coaches covet in short tournaments. Hughes helped set up Nelson’s opening and eventual game-winning goals with crisp playmaking, showing that impact is not measured solely by minutes on the ice. Teammates noted the clubroom buy-in; Matthew Tkachuk said the message had been heard and executed, while defenseman Quinn Hughes praised Jack’s competitive spirit and team-first approach.
Lineup decisions loom as U. S. sorts chemistry
Coach Mike Sullivan now faces a choice: keep a clearly effective fourth line intact or elevate Hughes to a higher role to maximize his offensive ceiling. Some top units already look settled — a line anchored by Jack Eichel has been effective — but other combinations, like Dylan Larkin’s wings, struggled to find traction at even strength in the opener. Auston Matthews had a power-play goal but was less impactful at 5-on-5 with his initial linemates.
Sullivan said he learned a lot about Hughes’ professionalism in the opener and will weigh chemistry and matchup advantages before deciding on adjustments for Denmark and the games ahead. The U. S. coaching staff must balance the immediate reward of a clean fourth-line performance against the long-term value of leveraging Hughes’ playmaking in higher minutes.
Family moment and broader implications
The Milan tournament has been special for the Hughes family. Jack and his brother Quinn each recorded two assists in the opener, with their mother also involved with the women’s program in a development role. "The best part for me is being here with Quinn, " Jack said. "We’re lucky that we get to share our first Olympics with our mom, too. Who gets to say that? It’s pretty special. "
For Jack Hughes, the Olympics present both a unique personal milestone and a strategic moment in his broader reputation. Questions had been raised about his commitment to his NHL club earlier in the season, but his willingness to embrace a lesser role for the national team provides fresh evidence of his team-first mindset. Whether that translates to an expanded role as the tournament progresses remains to be seen, but his opening-night impact removed any doubt about his ability to influence results even when the stat sheet might not reflect typical heavy usage.
Team USA will take the ice again Saturday at 3: 10 p. m. ET against Denmark. The outcome of that game and how Sullivan deploys Hughes could determine whether the center remains a situational spark or returns to a top-line role as the U. S. chases medal contention.
