from Arpon Basu of The Athletic,

Now beginning his fifth NHL season, Hughes does not have fond memories of his rookie year. He was a player who had excelled his entire life, an elite player and prospect who had never really known personal failure until that rookie season. Because playing in the NHL as an 18-year-old is not easy, and Hughes’ experience simply confirmed that.

Hughes had 21 points in 61 games and was a minus-26, not necessarily a meaningful stat but the worst plus-minus on the team by a decent margin (P.K. Subban was second worst at minus-21)....

“I was just small and weak, I just got beat up my rookie year,” Hughes said Monday night. “So I was really motivated, went 10 months hard and came back and put some weight on and developed my game. It was just a really good time period for me to fix my head and start to really work on my body.

“That was massive for my development.”

Getting beat up was not only physical for Hughes. It was mental, as well, and that is a big hurdle for someone who has never lacked confidence.

But he lacked it that year.

“Oh yeah, totally,” Hughes said. “When you go 18 games, no goals, you start to wonder. Like, Jesus Christ. But yeah, it’s a part of the game. I’ve always been a really confident kid, all the way since I was growing up, and for a good reason. I put a lot of work in, a fun kid and really passionate.

“But yeah, it’s hard to not lose some confidence when you’re struggling like that.”

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