The face-off circle will be the biggest area for Devils center Jack Hughes to improve his game this season. As the Devils’ top-line center with Timo Meier and Jesper Bratt on the wings, there’s a larger demand for Hughes to succeed defensively and win more faceoffs.

When the New Jersey Devils hit the ice on Friday for warmups against the New York Islanders, Jack Hughes was absent. The Devils superstar center was a scratch from the lineup, despite the belief the full roster heading to Prague would play.

Jack Hughes and the New Jersey Devils fell 5-1 to the New York Islanders in preseason on Friday night. Notably absent from the Devils lineup was star center Hughes, who was held out as a precaution by coach Sheldon Keefe.

Lindgren week to week for Rangers; Marchand practices in full for Bruins; Dahlin hopeful for Sabres' preseason game in Germany

There was a buzz in Newark on Thursday that hadn’t been present for a New Jersey Devils home opener in quite some time. The expectations have been raised and there’s excitement for hockey in New Jersey again.