Devils coach: Hughes held back by lack of strength, muscle

New Jersey Devils interim head coach Alain Nasreddine believes Jack Hughes needs to physically mature before he can take a step forward in his career.

"At this point, I just think it's time. There's no secret that he's young. He's 18, he's got to grow into his body, he's got to add some strength, he's got to add some muscles, and that's basically what's holding him back I would say right now," Nasreddine said on Sportsnet's Hockey Central on Thursday. "I think everyone can see the talent. Everyone can see what he can bring to the game, but right now, it's a tough league. It's a men's league."

The 18-year-old is listed at 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds. According to NHL.com, only 22 players in the league are lighter.

Hughes has been a major disappointment in his rookie season, tallying just 21 points in 61 games after being drafted first overall last summer. His 0.344 points per game would stand as the lowest mark by a first overall pick in a rookie season since Vincent Lecavalier (0.341) in 1998-99.

"Obviously (the point production) wasn't there this year but that doesn't mean he didn't progress," Nasreddine continued. "It doesn't mean he doesn't have the potential to become a star. It's just going to be a process and we just have to be patient, starting with himself, but eventually he will get there. When is that gonna be? Is that going to be if we come back in July, if we ever come back? Is it going to be next year? I don’t have the answer but at some point he's going to be an impactful player in the NHL."

It's far too early to slap the bust label on Hughes. After all, he's just a year removed from setting the U.S. National Team Development Program's all-time record for points (228). However, he'll need to show more signs of progress in 2020-21, and Nasreddine believes hitting the weights will help significantly.