Luke Hughes
Age: 22 Position: Defense
Statistics: six goals, 29 assists, 35 points (68 games)
Contract: Seven years, $64 million (six years remaining)
Grade: C
2025-26 Review
Many were expecting the former fourth-overall pick, Luke Hughes, to take a huge leap forward in 2025-2026. Unfortunately, that was not the case. At least not right away.
According to Evolving Hockey’s goals above replacement metrics, Hughes ranked in the league’s eighth percentile defensively. Despite having a decently strong offensive season (62nd percentile on-ice offensive impacts), the defensive game as so poor it resulted in overall on-ice impacts in the league’s 38th percentile.
The more traditional possession metrics were kinder to Hughes. He ranked second among Devils defensemen in Corsi-for percentage (CF%) and fourth in expected goals-for percentage (xGF%) at five-on-five. Additionally, Hughes was second among team defensemen in shots (150) and power play points (13) while leading defensemen in takeaways (29).
Hughes also showed great signs to end the year. After returning from injury on February 28, he ranked second on the team in CF% and fourth in xGF%. He also had a stretch of nine points in 15 games across that time. Hughes did ultimately see that run cut short as the team rightfully decided to shut him down so he can get ahead of some rehabbing.
All in all Hughes posted a solid offensive season while still excelling in transition. He did so while playing extremely tough minutes all season long, leading the club in ice time by a wide margin (23:01; almost two minutes more than anyone else). There is no secret his defensive game is not where it needs to be just yet, but everything factored in, especially the strong finish to the season, it was an average to slightly below average season for a very young defenseman.
2026-27 Outlook
If Hughes can pick up how he left off in 2025-26 and replicate that success while staying healthy in 2026-27, you should see the step forward everyone expected to see in 2025-26. The offensive talent has been on full display since the get-go, however, he just needs some more consistency in the defensive zone. He has all the tools to develop into a serviceable player there as the ending to this past season serves as further proof of that.
Note, the above statistics are courtesy of Natural Stat Trick and Evolving Hockey.