With the NHL season quickly approaching, the New Jersey Devils and its fans are looking ahead to what hopes to be a great season with a stacked roster. Players like Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Dougie Hamilton, and Jesper Bratt are the envy of other franchises.
But instead of looking at our current roster, let’s take a look at some NHL superstars we wish would've played for the Devils instead and what they could have brought to the team.
5. Quinn Hughes
Quinn Hughes is the eldest of three Hughes brothers currently playing for the NHL. He is captain and defenseman of the Vancouver Canucks and was drafted as the No. 7 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. Hughes also recently won the 2024 Norris Trophy and comes from NCAA hockey powerhouse Michigan, where he scored 29 points as only a freshman. Standing at 5’10”, in his most recent season he led all defensemen with a NHL career-high 92 points in 82 games played and had the second-most earned power-play points, with 38.
Now, before those naysayers come for those of us here at Pucks and Pitchforks, a reminder that both of the Hughes brothers — Luke Hughes and Jack Hughes — are currently on the Devils’ roster. A Hughes trifecta would provide Devils’ fans with wholesome family moments and three of the most popular names on the ice in recent times. The Hughes brothers made history by being the first American family to have all members go in the first round of the draft. All three of them playing for the same team would only add to the history books.