Three New Jersey Devils will attend Team USA’s Olympic Orientation Camp. In total, 44 players will be there, including Jack Hughes, Luke Hughes, and Brett Pesce.
Jack Hughes was the only one of the three to play for Team USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off, but all three of them have a path to be on the Olympic team in 2026.
Jack Hughes
For Jack Hughes to stay on the team, he just has to stay healthy. When he’s healthy, he’s one of the 10 best forwards on the planet, regardless of country. He’d make an all-NHL team.
Hughes, if healthy for 95% or more of the games, should storm out of the gates as he always does to begin a season. As he starts to enter his true prime, the sky is the limit for him with the speed, skill, and tenacity that he plays with.
By Christmas, expect Jack to have 15-20 goals and 45-60 points. If that’s the case, he will be about on his 100-point over 82 game pace. Few American-born players are that prolific. Up front, only Auston Matthews and Jack Eichel have been equally or more productive in recent seasons.
Luke Hughes
Luke Hughes seemed to be a little motivated by not making the 4-Nations team, as he came out of that break on fire. There weren’t many defenders in the NHL who put up the points that he did from mid-February to the end of the season. He finished the season with 22 points in his last 22 games, giving him a final stat line of seven goals and 37 assists.
Chances are that he will be the main quarterback on power play one in 2025-26. With that and Jack healthy again, his point totals should continue to rise. If he takes a big step like his brothers did early in their careers, Team USA will consider him.
Brett Pesce
Olympic teams don’t only look for offensive skills when they are picking their best-on-best teams. They proved that with Jaccob Slavin at the 4 Nations Face-Off. Slavin is the best defensive defenseman in the game, but he doesn’t provide as much offense from the back end as the Hughes brothers, Zach Werenski, or Adam Fox.
Brett Pesce played with Slavin as a member of the Carolina Hurricanes before coming to New Jersey, and how he could be paired with him again on Team USA if they decided to go that route.
Coming into the year, Pesce needs to stay healthy and continue helping the Devils in their own end at a high level. If they have a good showing, he just might be considered for this Olympic squad.