The New Jersey Devils knew when they drafted Jack Hughes in 2019 that it was going to change the way people looked at this franchise. Even the Nico Hischier pick, which also came first overall, didn't bring this level of excitement. Hughes already had a brother excelling in the league, had the type of personality that could drive fans to an arena, and he was a game breaker on the ice. Mash this together, and the Devils were getting a complete shift in trajectory from the team that built championships on defense and goaltending.
We just wrote about how Jack Hughes is helping the Devils build more fans. The male fanbase is going to show up for hockey, but building in non-traditional demographics is the quickest way to fill an arena.
Then, two years later, the Devils made the most obvious pick outside the number one overall in their team's history. Luke Hughes fell to fourth overall, where the Devils were selecting after another disappointing season. Pairing the Hughes brothers together was a no-brainer.
Jack and Luke Hughes are two of the most popular young stars, with the former already categorized as a top jersey seller and perennial All-Star. Add in Quinn Hughes, who is the reigning Norris Trophy winner and just 24 years old, and this is one of the most popular families in sports. \
And thats why it makes sense EA Sports would come calling. According to social media chatter (take that for what it is), a video was blind-posted on a gaming Youtube channel for EA that showcased the Hughes brothers. Obviously, many are saying this shows they will be the NHL25 cover athlete.
Was just thinking yesterday it's weird we haven't seen anything about NHL 25 yet. This is...promising? Maybe? pic.twitter.com/5FofnScxRW
— Pete Blackburn (@PeteBlackburn) August 19, 2024
Many were up in arms that Jack Hughes wasn't the cover athlete last season, but we mentioned that it made more sense to wait for Luke Hughes to get a season in the league so they could showcase all three brothers. We said last year that it just wasn't the right time to put Jack Hughes in that spotlight.
After an injury-plagued season, maybe the timing still isn't the best, but it's going to sell games, and that's the main thing we're expecting to matter. The Hughes Bros. sell, whether it's jerseys, tickets, social media content, or video games.
The Devils have a surprising history as cover athletes. Martin Brodeur won a fan vote to be the NHL14 cover athlete. Scott Stevens was on the cover of NHL Hitz 2002, on of the best sports arcade games ever. Patrik Elias was on the cover of NHL 2003 and NHL 09 in Czechia specifically, and Stevens also appeared on the cover of NHL 96. Now, the Hughes Brothers add to that legacy, allegedly.