On Saturday, the New Jersey Devils signed Luke Hughes to an entry-level contract after his college career came to a close. The Devils drafted Hughes fourth overall in the 2021 NHL Draft but did not sign him right away as he pursued his collegiate career at the University of Michigan.
The Wolverines made it to the Frozen Four in both seasons Luke Hughes was on the blue line. This season, they fell to the eventual national champions, the Quinnipiac Bobcats.
Hughes scored 39 points in 41 games his first year in Ann Arbor, 17 goals, and 22 assists. That earned him a Hobey Baker nomination as the best player in college hockey. Hughes had stronger numbers this past season with 48 points in 39 games, 10 goals, and 38 assists.
Now to the thick of it, the Devils are having one of its best seasons since the 2011-12 campaign when they made it to the Stanley Cup Final. That year, the Devils finished the season with 102 points in the standings. This year before the season has even concluded, New Jersey has 108 points.
From the goaltending to the defense, up to the pure goal scorers, the Devils have been doing everything right. However, there are a few holes that could be filled prior to the postseason, and that is where Luke Hughes gets drawn into the lineup.
The Devils are in fifth place in the NHL for shots against, as the strong physical defense has given up 1,788 total shots. Here is a better look at it, the third to last-place team in the league, the Anaheim Ducks has given up 2,491 shots, 703 more than the Devils.
New Jersey has been solid defensively for the first time in years. Dougie Hamilton is having his best season ever with 73 points, Ryan Graves has a +/- of 32 (tied for 11th in the NHL) along with 148 shots blocked, and Jonas Siegenthaler has a +/- of 26 with 147 shots blocked.
Do the Devils even need Luke Hughes? Some argue that he can fill the spot of Kevin Bahl, who is not producing as much as the Devils would like. While some argue there is no need to throw a rookie with no NHL experience into the lineup two games before the playoffs.
Bahl has seven points in 40 games played. He is not what is considered an “offensive defenseman.” Luke Hughes, however, is. Bahl is 6 feet 6 inches tall and provides a huge physical body in the back end, but Luke Hughes is 6 feet 2 inches and also provides a physical aspect of his game. The difference is Hughes is far and away a better offensive presence than Bahl. They are both physical, but one can score while doing it.
"I'd like to think in the next couple of games there's a chance we see Luke Hughes and give some guys a rest."@CatherineBogart goes 1-on-1 with Tom Fitzgerald to discuss the plan for Luke now that he's signed. pic.twitter.com/NBG65tihpA
— New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils) April 8, 2023
If we analyze this quote, it seems Fitzgerald may suggest to head coach Lindy Ruff to give one of the regular starting defensemen a break before the playoffs. We got a confirmation from the head coach of that on Monday. If that is the case, we could see Luke Hughes trying to get some experience before next season, or we could just see Hughes as a backup defenseman in case something goes south in the playoffs.
Would you like to see Hughes get the nod in the playoffs? Or would you rather the Devils wait to get him acclimated to the team and league? Let us know in the comments!