FEATURE: Smith and Hughes, Roommates and Difference-Makers

"What I see is two kids that are having a lot of fun playing."
So you're saying the kids are alright?
Devils Head Coach Lindy Ruff has to be enjoying the play and chemistry of Ty Smith and Jack Hughes right now. For any fan of the sport of hockey, it's just fun to watch. Two of the coach's youngest rostered players have been difference-makers in the team's 3-1-1 start to the 2020-21 season.
Both are first-round picks. Both are just getting started.

YOUR GAME-DAY ESSENTIALS
WRITTEN COVERAGE
BLOG: Monday Practice Updates
PODCAST: Niedermayer Joins the Pod
BLOG: Foote Assigned to Binghamton
Ruff on Managing Workload
BLOG: Johnsson's Game is Coming
BLOG: Ruff on Vigneault, 1,500th Game
VIDEO COVERAGE
Amanda Stein's Practice Report
RAW | Hughes
RAW | Ruff
In Sunday night's 2-0 victory over the Islanders, Smith set up Hughes for what would ultimately prove to be the game-winner at 17:00 of the first. On the power play, Smith calmly gathered the puck off the wall. Hughes tapped his stick on the ice calling for the pass, and Smith obliged. Hughes then worked his way to the faceoff shot where he let rip a beautiful shot that went short-side, up top for the 1-0 lead.
Poetry.
"He's obviously a natural up there," Hughes said of Smith. "Really smooth. I mean, we drafted him to be a power-play guy, you know? I mean, that's his game. He's a natural up there. Just watching him up there, it looks almost like my brother Quinn. Just a real natural up there who can maneuver the blue line. He knows where to put the puck. So, I think he's just got to keep going, keep playing his game and keep shooting the puck, and open things up for us. So he's been good, and he's been really good on the power play."
Ty looks like Quinn? What an impressive statement and compliment for Smith. Hughes' brother is one of the best young defenders in the game right now. The insanely gifted and creative Quinn was taken seventh overall in 2018 and was a member of the NHL All-Rookie Team last season after recording 53 points in 68 games.
Smith's playmaking and vision on the man advantage is one of the most encouraging signs that he's becoming the player the Devils knew he could be when they spent a first-rounder on him. And Jack's finish is a sign of the same.
"I like the compete of both the young kids," said Ruff following the win. "With Jack's compete in tight, I thought he was very good tonight. Ty's vision, his quickness, his deception on the power play led to Jack's goal. And then just a heck of a shot by Jack."

Smith was taken 17th overall in 2018 and nearly made the roster in his first camp, but spent two years working on his craft in juniors before making the cut this season. Hughes spent his rookie season last year falling short of, potentially unfair, expectations as the 2019 first-overall pick. But after committing himself in the offseason to adding strength and maturing on and off the ice, Hughes looks spectacular.
And now the two are key pieces of the present and the future. Just as the Devils drew it up. But did they draw up this type of chemistry between the two players this soon? It wasn't just Sunday night that we've seen the two play off each other.
Against the Rangers, Smith's wrister on net popped behind the netminder, and Hughes swooped in to bury it. The Hughes-Smith connections are growing in frequency, even when they don't lead to goals.
"I think living together, it's kind of brought us pretty close," said Smith. "Hanging out, every day. We have a lot of fun together on and off the ice. So whenever we get out there together it's pretty fun to play with a guy like that."
Yes, the two are roommates with Hughes possibly getting the better end of the deal.
"He's a really good roommate," Hughes said. "Actually, he does the cooking and the cleaning. It's been fun. He's a really good guy, so it's been fun to room with him so far."
Their chemistry off the ice is translating on the ice on almost a nightly basis. It helps when both have a truck ton of talent and almost artistic creativity with the puck on their stick.
"Obviously, (Jack's) got a ton of skill and speed and creativity," said Smith. "He makes plays and scores goals. I mean, it's pretty easy to play with a guy like that. I think maybe our creativity goes together in the way we're thinking and we're just trying to make plays when we're out there."
"It's good," said Hughes. "We're getting there. He's obviously off to a really hot start to his NHL career. That's really good to see him do well. And obviously, we're living together too. So it's been fun to get close with him and see him have success. So, we had to keep it going and we're happy he's on the power play and playing well now."
Five games in? Yeah. The kids are alright.