Devils playing dangerous game not protecting stars after ugly hits

What in the world is going on with the Devils? They allow Jack Hughes to be targeted in open-ice by Islanders defenseman Alexander Romanov, and in the same week they stand by and do nothing when Jesper Bratt is obliterated behind the net by Lightning defenseman Erik Cernak?Players should not be obligated to fight after delivering clean hits, which both Romanov and Cernak did, and I believe that.But teams sure have the obligation to protect their skilled players from harm, and that is something I believe implicitly.The Devils failed to do that twice within three games this week.

Indeed, the other game in Detroit ended with Hughes flat on his back with Michael Rasmussen going all Muhammad Ali standing over Sonny Liston in Lewiston, Maine, in 1965, after No.86 bounced off the Red Wings forward while unsuccessfully trying to defend an empty net.The three-ring circus could have come with sound effects from the old Batman TV series: SPLAT! CRASH! WHAM! POW!If there is open season on Hughes, the Devils not only have no chance, but they would also deserve what they get.

If they allow their skilled guys to get bullied, they have no chance.You would think that would be self-evident in the room and in the coach’s quarters, when Sheldon Keefe should have learned long ago during his tenure in Toronto that skill alone does not win championships (or even multiple playoff rounds).It is early, the Devils are just coagulating.

But it is never too early to protect Jack Hughes.Because one of these times it is going to be too late.If the Senators had offered Shane Pinto-plus to the Rangers in exchange for Alexis Lafreniere over the summer of 2023 before the gambling-site issue arose, I’m not so sure that would have been an automatic no on the Rangers side.I’m not sure if baseball is better when the Yankees are winning the World Series — caller Steve from Queens surely would not agree — but I do believe that the NHL is better when Montreal is a perennial contender.

Or maybe...