The youngest member of the NHL Hughes brothers, Luke Hughes, made his NHL playoff debut for the New Jersey Devils. The 19-year-old Luke Hughes found his way into the lineup for game three against the Carolina Hurricanes. The reason Hughes was in the lineup was fellow defenceman Ryan Graves is injured. This was a huge opportunity for the young Luke Hughes who joined his brother Jack in the lineup. The Devils did need a shake-up after getting blown out in games one and two in Raleigh. The Carolina Hurricanes won the first two games 5-1 and 6-1, respectively. The team certainly had a bounce back, capturing an 8-4 victory and making the series 2-1.
‼️ It’s official: Luke Hughes will play tomorrow ‼️ pic.twitter.com/SwmSz9gMUD
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) May 6, 2023
Luke Hughes Debuts in Playoffs and his Key Statistics
When Luke Hughes NCAA season wrapped up, he was signed to his ELC but the Devils. Hughes was a highly-vaunted prospect, following in brothers’ Jack (New Jersey Devils) and Quinn Hughes (Vancouver Canucks path to the NHL. He was the fourth overall pick in 2021 for the Devils. The University of Michigan Wolverine product had a remarkable standing registering 87 points in 80 games over two seasons. After signing his ELC, he found his way into the Devils for two games, registering two points. Furthermore, he is a leader, captaining this year’s Team USA to a Bronze medal at the WJC. He also wore the ‘A’ as a sophomore with the Wolverines. In addition, he has lots of international experience, representing Team USA at each of the last two WJC. He also played in the Men’s World Championships in 2022. Each year at Michigan, the team advanced to the semifinals of the Frozen Four tournament. Needless to say, Hughes is well-acclimated to high-intensity games.
What Does This Mean for the Devils
The Devils needed a boost coming back home for game three being down 2-0. They were hoping with the injection of a top prospect in Hughes might just provide that spark. Moreover, Head Coach Lindy Ruff further shook things up by going with Vitek Vanecek in net. Previously, they were going with journeyman Akira Schmid. However, it seems his string of good fortune has taken a turn. Perhaps with the lineup shuffling and some good old home cooking, the Devils can continue to make this a series. We know it is the playoffs, and no one is out of a series until they lose on home ice.
Hughes Playoff Debut Performance
The game three itself was a high-flying contest, one that suits Hughes game. As a result, Hughes was able to adjust to the speed of the game and use his skill set. That is let his skating do the work, crisp first passes, and help drive the play. Furthermore, Coach Ruff must have appreciated his game, giving him some power play time. He registered one assist on the power play, and also one more even strength. All the while playing 14:28 of ice time on the blue line. Admirable, for a rookie making his playoff debut. On the other hand, he did seem intimidated at times, when the Hurricanes forecheck was firing. This cannot be unexpected, the gritty Rod Brind’Amour-coached squad can do this to the most experienced defenders. Ruff was able to shelter Hughes with his team getting the lead in the game, and keep him away from high-stress situations.
It will be interesting to see what direction the team goes in for the crucial game four. Vanecek helped the team get back on track on home ice. Luke playing with his brother Jack, was an exciting opportunity. Coming off the victory and considering injuries, it may be difficult for Coach Ruff to alter the lineup.
