The Aporia · Jack Hughes calls out ESPN reporter for mid-game ‘plastic cutlery’ joke in awkward scene

Jack Hughes calls out ESPN reporter for mid-game ‘plastic cutlery’ joke in awkward scene

Read the original at New York Post ↗

Cite

APA MLA Chicago

Arnold, C. (2026, October 2). Jack Hughes calls out ESPN reporter for mid-game ‘plastic cutlery’ joke in awkward scene. New York Post. https://nypost.com/2026/10/01/sports/jack-hughes-calls-out-espn-reporter-for-mid-game-interview-joke/

Dated when The Aporia collected the article, usually within hours of publication. Check the original for its exact date and byline.

Quick Summary

During the Devils' season opener against the Flyers, ESPN analyst A.J. Mleczko made a joke about Jack Hughes needing plastic cutlery to avoid injury, referencing his past surgery due to an accidental glass cut at a team dinner. This comment upset Hughes, who responded by saying it was “a weird joke mid-game.” The incident occurred during the first intermission as the Devils were trailing after the first period.

Written by AI on 2026-10-02, from this article's own text only (the story summary below draws on all the coverage).

AI analysis

Story summary

During the 2025-26 NHL season opener for the New Jersey Devils against the Philadelphia Flyers at the Prudential Center, an awkward moment occurred when ESPN analyst A.J. Mleczko made a joke about Jack Hughes' injury history, referencing a dinner incident from the previous year that led to surgery and caused him to miss 18 games. When interviewed during the first intermission with the Devils trailing 1-0, Hughes seemed unamused by Mleczko’s comment: “Let’s wrap you in bubble wrap and use plastic cutlery this year.” This incident has sparked debate on social media, with some criticizing Mleczko for her inappropriate timing and others defending her intentions as a joke. The Devils had just come off a tough start against the Flyers who lost their season opener to the Penguins 7-0.

Written for “Jack Hughes ESPN Awkward Moment” on 2026-11-04, grounded in this article and the 1 other(s) covering the same event.

Compared with similar articles

This article reads unscored and hedges 13% of its claims. Each row says how that neighbour differs.

Social media reacts to excruciatingly awkward moment between Devils Jack Hughes and ESPN analyst Same event

Fox News

Hedges 3 of 19 claims Outlet record 68/100

Signals How these are calculated →

Claims extracted

sentences that state something as happening or true

Uncertain

13%

2 of 15 hedged ("reportedly", "may", "according to")

Leaning

not political

takes no side on a contested political question

Publisher signals

66/100

New York Post's corrections and hedging, across everything collected from it. Not a measure of accuracy.

Outlets on this story

Sports

Same framing elsewhere

articles that frame the event the way this one does

Who wrote this

Christian Arnold

159 article(s) here · 1 carrying a prediction

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Also by Christian Arnold

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2026-11-03 · New York Post

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2026-11-03 · New York Post

Ravens could be down to undrafted rookie QB after Lamar Jackson, Tyler Huntley injuries

2026-11-02 · New York Post

Harrison Butker’s latest brutal field goal miss opened door for Chiefs loss with Justin Tucker in waiting

2026-11-02 · New York Post

Nothing else under this byline is closely related to this article, so these are simply their most recent.

All 159 articles by Christian Arnold →

Narrative

Claims (15 extracted, 2 hedged)

A.J. Mleczko made a joke that cut Jack Hughes a little too deep, causing an awkward moment in the middle of Thursday’s Devils season opener against the Flyers. asserted

that → make → Flyers

Speaking with the ESPN analyst at the start of the first intermission, Hughes did not seem to like a humorous comment that Mleczko made referencing the freak accident that happened during a team dinner last year that forced him to undergo surgery and miss time. “Well, it’s great to see you healthy. asserted

you → speak → time

Let’s wrap you in bubble wrap and use plastic cutlery this year. asserted

’s → let → cutlery

That sound good?” she asked, clearly trying to joke around with the American hockey star. asserted

she → sound → star

But Hughes was not in the joking mood and pushed back on the attempted quip. “I mean, I think that’s a weird joke mid-game,” he said before skating away. asserted

he → joke → quip

It could be understandable why Hughes wasn’t in a joking mood at that moment after a first period that saw the Devils trailing the Flyers, who had been shellacked 7-0 by the Penguins in their season opener the previous night. uncertain

who → joke → opener

The injury may still be a sore subject for Hughes, who ended up missing 18 games during the 2025-26 season. uncertain

who → end → season

Reports indicated that Hughes suffered the injury that required finger surgery during a team dinner that involved him getting cut by glass. asserted

him → indicate → glass

At the time, Hughes was off to a hot start, scoring 10 goals and 20 points through his first 17 games. asserted

Hughes → score → games

Following the comment and Hughes’ reaction on Thursday night, Mleczko tried to transition away from the interview. asserted

Mleczko → follow → interview

“No sense of humor here in a big game, but I appreciate his time and he had a good start here this season asserted

he → appreciate → start

,” she said. asserted

she → say → ?

Hughes became a national hero earlier this year when he scored the game-winning goal in the gold medal game against Canada to secure the United States’ first Olympic gold medal in men’s hockey since 1980. asserted

he → become → 1980

And he became a Devils hero on Thursday night when he scored the game-winning goal 3:23 into overtime to lift New Jersey to a 3-2 win over the Flyers in the season opener. asserted

he → become → opener

Hughes tapped in the winner after receiving a pass from Jesper Bratt. asserted

Hughes → tap → Bratt

Jack Hughes calls out ESPN reporter for mid-game ‘plastic cutlery’ joke in awkward scene

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Claims (15 extracted, 2 hedged)