Jack Hughes Calls Mid-Game Injury Joke 'Weird' and Leaves Interview
Hughes called the remark a weird joke after ESPN analyst A.J. Mleczko referenced his finger injury during the first intermission interview.
- On Thursday, October 1, 2026, New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes ended an on-ice interview with ESPN analyst A.J. Mleczko at the Prudential Center in Newark after she made a joke about his injury history.
- Mleczko's comment about using 'plastic cutlery' referenced a November 2025 incident where Hughes required surgery after cutting his finger on broken glass during a dinner in Chicago with Barstool's Frank 'The Tank' Fleming.
- Responding to the remark, Hughes said, "Let's wrap you in bubble wrap and use plastic cutlery this year, that sound good?" before calling it a "weird joke" and skating away.
- Minutes later, Hughes scored the overtime goal to secure a 3-2 victory for the Devils against the Philadelphia Flyers. The team's social media account highlighted his performance following the exchange.
- This performance echoed Hughes's heroics at the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics, where he scored the overtime goal to win Team USA its first gold medal since 1980.
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Social media reacts to excruciatingly awkward moment between Devils Jack Hughes and ESPN analyst - NEW YORK TIMES POST
The NHL season is just a few days old, and it’s safe to say that we have a frontrunner for “Awkward Moment of the Year” already. This one comes courtesy of New Jersey Devils star Jack Hughes and ESPN analyst AJ Mleczko. This page may contain affiliate links to legal sports betting partners. If you [...]
Social media reacts to excruciatingly awkward moment between Devils Jack Hughes and ESPN analyst – Democratic Accent
The NHL season is just a few days old, and it’s safe to say that... The post Social media reacts to excruciatingly awkward moment between Devils Jack Hughes and ESPN analyst appeared first on Democratic Accent .
Social media reacts to excruciatingly awkward moment between Devils Jack Hughes and ESPN analyst
Jack Hughes and ESPN analyst AJ Mleczko shared an awkward moment during the New Jersey Devils' season opener when she joked about his injury history in an interview.
There was an awkward moment during the halftime interview. The reporter tried to joke with Jack Hughes. The New Jersey Devils star interrupted and walked away.
Jack Hughes Caught Off Guard by ESPN Reporter’s ‘Weird’ Joke in Awkward In-Game Moment
The New Jersey Devils star skated away from the ESPN reporter after the joke on Thursday, Oct. 1Jack Hughes speaks to ESPN on Oct. 2, 2026Credit: ESPNNEED TO KNOWJack Hughes had an awkward moment with an ESPN reporter during the New Jersey Devils’ 3-2 win over the Philadelphia Flyers on Thursday, Oct. 1A.J. Mleczko joked about putting Hughes “in bubble wrap” and using “plastic cutlery” — a reference to his “freak accident” at a team dinner last …
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