Luke Hughes (born September 9, 2003) is an American professional ice hockey defenseman for the New Jersey Devils of the National Hockey League (NHL). He played college ice hockey for two years with the University of Michigan of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA), reaching the Frozen Four both seasons. He was selected fourth overall by the Devils in the 2021 NHL entry draft.
| Luke Hughes | |||
|---|---|---|---|
_(1).jpg) Hughes with the New Jersey Devils in 2023 | |||
| Born |
September 9, 2003 Manchester, New Hampshire, U.S. | ||
| Height | 6 ft 2 in (188 cm) | ||
| Weight | 184 lb (83 kg; 13 st 2 lb) | ||
| Position | Defense | ||
| Shoots | Left | ||
| NHL team | New Jersey Devils | ||
| National team |
 United States | ||
| NHL draft |
4th overall, 2021 New Jersey Devils | ||
| Playing career | 2023–present | ||
Playing career
editCollege
edit.jpg)
Hughes committed to play college ice hockey for the University of Michigan during the 2021–22 season.[1] Hughes led the league in goals scored with 13 in conference play and recorded nine assists for 22 points, the second-most points in the league play behind Matty Beniers. He led the nation's defensemen in scoring with 17 goals and 19 assists for 36 points in 37 games and is a 25. He set several Michigan program records this season. His 17 goals surpassed Dean Turner's freshman defenseman record of 13 set in 1975–76, and he passed Jack Johnson's 32 points for the most points by a Michigan freshman defenseman.[2] In March, Hughes recorded one goal and six assists in seven games and was subsequently named the Hockey Commissioner's Association Rookie of the Month.[3] Following an outstanding season, he was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman Team, the All-Big Ten Second Team and was named Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year.[4] He was also named an AHCA West Second Team All-American.[5]
During the 2022–23 season he led the league's defensemen in scoring with seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points, averaging 1.27 points per game. In 39 total games, he recorded 10 goals and 38 assists, ranking second in the nation in points per game by a defenseman. Following an outstanding season he was named a finalist for the Big Ten Player of the Year and Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year and was named to the All-Big Ten First Team.[6] He was also named an AHCA West First Team All-American.[7]
He was considered a top prospect for the 2021 NHL entry draft.[8] On July 23, 2021, Hughes was drafted fourth overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2021 NHL entry draft.[9]
Professional
editOn April 8, 2023, Hughes was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract by the New Jersey Devils.[10] Hughes made his NHL debut on April 11, in a 6–2 win against the Buffalo Sabres.[11] In the game, he blocked two shots, made one hit and one takeaway and skated a total 11:15 of ice time.[12] In the next game, Hughes recorded his first NHL goal, which was a game-winning goal, and an assist in a 5–4 overtime win against the Washington Capitals.[13] Hughes made his playoffs debut on May 7, at home against the Carolina Hurricanes, assisting on two goals in an 8–4, Game 3 win for the Devils.[14]
During the 2023–24 season, in his rookie season, Hughes set a franchise record for points by a rookie defenseman, recording nine goals and 47 points and playing in each of the Devils' 82 games. On April 3, 2024, against the New York Rangers, he recorded 32:49 minutes on ice and surpassed 24 minutes on 13 separate occasions.[15] His 47 points were tied with Brock Faber for second-most points among rookies. Hughes led rookie defensemen in power-play points (25), power-play goals (four), goals (nine), and takeaways (42) and was second in shots (135) and ice time per game (21:28). Following the season he was named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy[16] and was voted unanimously to the All-Rookie Team.[17]
International play
edit| Medal record | ||
|---|---|---|
Representing  United States
| ||
| Men's ice hockey | ||
| World Junior Championships | ||
 |
2023 Canada | |
Hughes represented the United States at the 2019 World U-17 Hockey Challenge where he recorded one goal and three assists in six games and won a silver medal.[18]
On May 5, 2022, Hughes was named to the United States men's national ice hockey team to compete at the 2022 IIHF World Championship.[19] He recorded one goal and three assists in ten games.[20]
On December 12, 2022, Hughes was named to the United States men's national junior ice hockey team to compete at the 2023 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships.[21] During the tournament, at which he served as team captain, he recorded four goals and one assist in seven games and won a bronze medal.[22]
Hughes made his second World Championship appearance at the 2024 World Championship, recording two goals and five points in eight games. The American team, despite being highly skilled and featuring multiple NHL stars, was eliminated in the quarterfinals.[23]
Personal life
editHughes comes from an ice hockey-playing family. His father, Jim Hughes, is a former player and team captain for Providence College, an assistant coach for the Boston Bruins, and director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs.[24][25] His mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, played ice hockey, lacrosse, and soccer at the University of New Hampshire and, in 2012, was inducted into the University of New Hampshire Athletics Hall of Fame.[25] She also played for the United States women's national ice hockey team, and won a silver medal at the 1992 World Championship.[26]
Hughes has two older brothers, Quinn, and Jack. Quinn was drafted seventh overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2018 NHL entry draft, while Jack was drafted first overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2019 NHL entry draft.[27] His mother is Jewish and his father is Catholic.[28]
Career statistics
editRegular season and playoffs
edit| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2019–20 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 28 | 4 | 9 | 13 | 6 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 18 | 4 | 11 | 15 | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | University of Michigan | B1G | 41 | 17 | 22 | 39 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | University of Michigan | B1G | 39 | 10 | 38 | 48 | 26 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2023–24 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 82 | 9 | 38 | 47 | 28 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 84 | 10 | 39 | 49 | 28 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | ||||
International
edit| Year | Team | Event | Result | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2019 | United States | U17 | 
|
6 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2022 | United States | WC | 4th | 10 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2022 | United States | WJC | 5th | 5 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2023 | United States | WJC | 
|
7 | 4 | 1 | 5 | 2 | |
| 2024 | United States | WC | 5th | 8 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 2 | |
| Junior totals | 18 | 6 | 9 | 15 | 2 | ||||
| Senior totals | 18 | 3 | 6 | 9 | 2 | ||||
Awards and honors
edit| Award | Year | Ref |
|---|---|---|
| College | ||
| Big Ten Co-Freshman of the Year | 2022 | [4] |
| All-Big Ten Second Team | 2022 | |
| All-Big Ten Freshman Team | 2022 | |
| Big Ten All-Tournament Team | 2022, 2023 | [29] |
| AHCA West Second Team All-American | 2022 | [30] |
| All-Big Ten First Team | 2023 | [31] |
| AHCA West First Team All-American | 2023 | [32] |
| NHL | ||
| NHL All-Rookie Team | 2024 | [33] |
| EA Sports NHL cover athlete | 2025 | [34] |
See also
editReferences
edit- ^ McNeil, Kristy (June 25, 2021). "Michigan Announces Five-Member Incoming Class for 2021-22 Season". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ McNeil, Kristy (March 15, 2022). "Beniers, Power on All-Big Ten First Team; Hughes Shares Top Freshman Award". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ McNeil, Kristy (April 14, 2022). "Awards and Honors: Hughes Named Hockey Commissioner's Association Rookie of the Month". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 14, 2022.
- ^ a b "Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". Big Ten. March 15, 2022. Archived from the original on March 15, 2022. Retrieved March 15, 2022.
- ^ McNeil, Kristy (April 8, 2022). "Beniers, Hughes and Power Earn All-American Honors". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- ^ McNeil, Kristy (March 14, 2023). "Fantilli Named Big Ten Freshman of the Year". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ McNeil, Kristy (April 7, 2023). "Hughes, Fantilli Named First Team All-Americans; Fantilli Rookie of the Year". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ Masisak, Corey (July 22, 2021). "How Luke Hughes cemented his place as a top NHL draft prospect: 'He earned it on his own'". The Athletic. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ Kasan, Sam (July 23, 2021). "Luke Hughes Selected by New Jersey with Fourth Pick". NHL.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ "Devils Sign Luke Hughes". NHL.com. April 8, 2023. Retrieved April 8, 2023.
- ^ Lane, Jon (April 11, 2023). "Devils defeat Sabres, keep pace in Metro, clinch home ice in 1st round". NHL.com. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ Morreale, Mike G. (April 12, 2023). "Luke Hughes makes strong 1st impression, will 'be a horse' for Devils". NHL.com. Retrieved April 12, 2023.
- ^ Zuke, Ryan (April 13, 2023). "Ex-Michigan top-5 pick scores OT winner for first NHL goal". mlive.com. Retrieved April 14, 2023.
- ^ "Devils answer in Game 3, rout Canes 8-4, deficit now 2-1". ESPN. May 7, 2023. Retrieved May 18, 2023.
- ^ Kasan, Sam (April 30, 2024). "Hughes Named Calder Finalist". NHL.com. New Jersey Devils. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ Satriano, David (April 30, 2024). "Bedard, Faber, Hughes named Calder Trophy finalists". NHL.com. Retrieved April 30, 2024.
- ^ Morreale, Mike [@mikemorrealeNHL] (June 27, 2024). "NHL All Rookie Team G - Kochetkov, CAR D - Faber, MIN D - L Hughes, NJD F - Bedard, CHI F - Rossi, MIN F - Cooley, ARZ" (Tweet). Retrieved June 27, 2024 – via Twitter.
- ^ "Meet the third Hughes brother as Canada faces U.S. at U17 semis". TSN.ca. November 8, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2022.
- ^ Zuke, Ryan (May 5, 2022). "Four UM Wolverines named to Team USA roster for World Championship". MLive.com. Retrieved May 5, 2022.
- ^ Potts, Andy (May 23, 2022). "The kids are alright for Team USA". IIHF.com. Retrieved May 23, 2022.
- ^ Kimelman, Adam (December 12, 2022). "2023 World Junior Championship rosters". NHL.com. Retrieved December 12, 2022.
- ^ McNeil, Kristy (January 2, 2023). "Wolverines at the 2023 World Junior Championship: Fantilli and Canada Win Gold; USA Takes Bronze". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved January 2, 2023.
- ^ Gaudio, Julian (May 29, 2024). "Devils' Luke Hughes Clocked In As Third Fastest Skater At The World Champion". The Hockey News. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
- ^ Mullen, Liz (April 11, 2016). "CAA Hockey adds longtime coaches in staff positions to develop players". sportsbusinessdaily.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ a b Krupa, Gregg (January 14, 2018). "Hockey runs deep in Hughes' family bloodline". The Detroit News. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ Olsen, Becky (December 16, 2015). "Quinn Hughes Follows in Family Footsteps with Hockey". usahockeyntdp.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ Peters, Chris (April 5, 2018). "Meet the Hughes brothers, America's future first family of hockey". ESPN.com. Retrieved July 23, 2021.
- ^ "Sports Shorts". Jewish Sports Review. 11 (125): 13. January–February 2018.
- ^ McNeil, Kristy (March 19, 2022). "Michigan Scores Four Straight to Win Second B1G Tournament Championship". MGoBlue.com. CBS Interactive. Retrieved March 19, 2022.
- ^ "Four players return to 2021-22 Division I men's All-American teams, led by three-time pick Dryden McKay". USCHO.com. April 8, 2022. Retrieved April 8, 2022.
- ^ "Big Ten Hockey Postseason Honors Announced". BigTen.org. March 14, 2023. Archived from the original on March 14, 2023. Retrieved March 14, 2023.
- ^ "Dual winner Adam Fantilli headlines national award winners". collegehockeyinc.org. April 7, 2023. Retrieved April 7, 2023.
- ^ "NHL announces 2023-24 All-Rookie Team". NHL.com. June 27, 2024. Retrieved June 27, 2024.
- ^ Clark, Ryan S. (August 22, 2024). "Jack, Luke, Quinn Hughes on NHL 25 cover in first for brothers". ESPN. Retrieved August 24, 2024.
External links
edit- Biographical information and career statistics from NHL.com, or Eliteprospects.com, or Eurohockey.com, or Hockey-Reference.com, or The Internet Hockey Database