The New Jersey Devils are making things a family affair. It is reported that defenceman Luke Hughes will be joining the Devils this weekend. However, it is not clear if he will play yet. Hughes finished out his sophomore season in the NCAA with the University of Michigan. The Wolverines suffered a 5-2 loss to Quinnipiac University in the Frozen Four. Hughes is the younger brother of Devils superstar Jack Hughes. While nothing has been made official, a Luke Hughes signing seems like it is just a matter of time.
Hearing Luke Hughes will join NJ this weekend in Boston. Not sure on when he’ll play, but he’s going to immediately acclimate himself with the team.
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) April 7, 2023
Luke Hughes Officially Signs
LLLLLUUUUUUUUKKKKKKKKKEEEEEE!!!
We have officially signed the fourth-overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft to a three-year, entry-level contract. 🤌
📰: https://t.co/3gPbVVOjyd#NJDevils | #MadeinJersey pic.twitter.com/7E2wT1De9K
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 8, 2023
Hughes was drafted fourth overall in the 2021 Draft. He returned to the University of Michigan to finish out a final NCAA season. Hughes has 26 goals and 55 assists in 76 career NCAA games and won a Big Ten Championship with Michigan in 2022. He also helped Michigan to a Frozen Four appearance in 2022. In addition, he led NCAA defencemen in scoring with 39 points in his freshman season.
In his sophomore year, he led Michigan to a first-place finish in the 2023 Big Ten Tournament. He has also had success on the international stage, captaining the 2023 World Junior team and leading them to a bronze medal.
Hughes’ Impact on the Devils
Luke Hughes brings a physical presence to the Devils’ blue line. At 6’2” and 190 pounds, he’s the biggest Hughes brother and uses his size to his advantage. He’s an extremely skilled skater, and stick handles well to control the rate of play better than just about anyone. His ability to move the puck is a huge asset to a Devils team that relies on the speed of their players to generate offence.
His mobility and speed are a help in the offensive zone and also give him the ability to get back and cover quickly on the defensive side. This style fits in very well with the system that the Devils’ young talent has perfected this season and puts Hughes in a position to make an immediate impact.
Older brother Jack had a more difficult transition to the NHL than many people were expecting, so it’s unclear if Luke will do a stint with the Utica Comets in the AHL before making the jump to the big leagues, but he’s certainly got the potential to be a massive piece of this Devils team moving forward. As of right now, even without an official Luke Hughes signing, he will be getting to know the team. If the Devils lock up home ice in their next game or two, it is very possible Hughes draws in for the final few games of the season.
Main Photo: Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK
