Jack Hughes
Jack Hughes | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jack Rowden Hughes May 14, 2001 Orlando, Florida, U.S. |
| Occupation | Professional ice hockey player |
| Years active | 2019–present |
| Known for | Alternate captain for the New Jersey Devils of the NHL; first overall pick in 2019 NHL Entry Draft |
Jack Rowden Hughes (born May 14, 2001) is an American professional ice hockey center who serves as an alternate captain for the New Jersey Devils in the National Hockey League (NHL). Developed through the U.S. National Development Team, Hughes was chosen first overall by the Devils in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Minor and junior career
During his time with the Mississauga Rebels in the Greater Toronto Hockey League (GTHL), Hughes sought exceptional player status to join the Canadian Hockey League a year ahead of schedule. After this request was declined, he concluded his minor hockey tenure with the Toronto Marlboros, accumulating 159 points.
Selected eighth overall by the Mississauga Steelheads in the Ontario Hockey League draft, Hughes instead fulfilled his commitment to the U.S. National Team Development Program (USNTDP) for the 2017–18 season. Splitting his time between the U17 and U18 squads, he amassed 116 points, coming close to surpassing Auston Matthews' record. His outstanding performance earned him the Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award, recognizing him as the best American-born junior player.
In the 2018–19 season of the USHL, Hughes surpassed Clayton Keller’s all-time NTDP points record by reaching 190 points. In that same contest, his teammate Cole Caufield established a new NTDP record for most goals scored.
New Jersey Devils
At the 2019 NHL entry draft on June 21, 2019, Hughes was selected as the first overall pick by the New Jersey Devils. He signed a three-year entry-level contract with the team on July 12. Hughes notched his initial NHL point on October 17 against the New York Rangers, becoming the third-youngest player in Devils history to do so. Two days later, he netted his first NHL goal during a 1–0 victory over the Vancouver Canucks and their defenseman Quinn Hughes.
In the opening game of the 2021–22 season, Hughes scored an overtime goal against the Chicago Blackhawks, celebrating by throwing his stick into the stands—a celebration later mimicked by Anaheim Ducks forward and former NTDP teammate Trevor Zegras. On November 30, 2021, he secured an eight-year contract extension worth $64 million with New Jersey. Despite missing seventeen games due to a dislocated shoulder, Hughes experienced a breakout season. He was named to his first NHL All-Star Game in 2022, becoming the earliest player from his draft class to receive this distinction. After achieving personal bests with 26 goals and 30 assists over 49 games, his season was cut short by an MCL sprain.
During the 2022–23 campaign, Hughes achieved career highs with 43 goals, 56 assists, and a total of 99 points. His efforts helped lead New Jersey to a franchise-record 52 wins and a third-place finish in the NHL standings. Ranking among the league’s top ten goal scorers with his 43 goals and setting a new franchise record with 99 points, he earned his second All-Star selection and made his playoff debut. Notably, his franchise-record 99th point was an assist on his brother Luke Hughes’s first NHL goal. That season, he was also nominated for the Lady Byng Memorial Trophy in recognition of sportsmanship combined with high skill.
In his postseason debut against the New York Rangers, Hughes scored on a penalty shot—the fourth player ever in NHL history to do so—although New Jersey lost Game 1. He finished with three goals and five points as New Jersey triumphed over the Rangers in seven games, advancing to their first Second Round appearance since 2011–12. The Devils were subsequently eliminated in five games by the Carolina Hurricanes.
In just six games during the 2023–24 season, Hughes tallied 17 points—the fastest pace since Mario Lemieux accomplished this feat in 1995–96. On November 3, he sustained a shoulder injury during a contest versus the St. Louis Blues, but returned on November 18 contributing a goal and an assist against the New York Rangers. On December 16, Hughes reached his 100th NHL goal in his 267th game, becoming both the quickest Devil and second-fastest player in franchise history to achieve this milestone. In January 2024, he earned selection to his third consecutive All-Star Game and was appointed co-captain alongside brother Quinn and singer Michael Bublé. However, an upper-body injury sustained on January 5 sidelined him from play and prevented participation in that All-Star event. He made his return on February 8 after missing eleven games. On April 9, it was announced that Hughes would undergo shoulder surgery ending his season; he completed it with totals of 27 goals and 74 points across 62 games.
On November 15, 2025, Hughes underwent finger surgery following a cut caused by glass during a team dinner—described as a "freak accident" by coach Sheldon Keefe. The estimated recovery period is approximately eight weeks.
International competition
Hughes has donned the United States jersey in several global tournaments, notably the 2017 Four Nations Cup and the 2017 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, where he played a key role in securing gold medals. During the 2018 World U18 Championship, he topped the charts with seven assists and twelve points over seven games, receiving accolades such as tournament MVP, a media all-star nod, and best forward distinction.
In 2019, Hughes was named to the World Junior Championship roster alongside his brother Quinn. Despite missing three games due to injury, he returned to help Team USA reach the gold medal game, finishing with four assists. That same year, he participated in the World U18 Championship, surpassing Alexander Ovechkin's goal record as Team USA earned the bronze medal.
On May 1, 2019, Hughes was added to the senior United States squad for the 2019 World Championship alongside Quinn, becoming the youngest player ever to compete for Team USA at an IIHF World Championship. Nevertheless, his NHL team, the New Jersey Devils, chose not to release him for the 2020 World Junior Championship.
Personal background
Born in Orlando, Florida and raised initially in Toronto, Ontario, Hughes relocated to Michigan during his high school years while playing for the US NTDP. He has expressed admiration for Patrick Kane due to their comparable size. Growing up, Hughes engaged in various sports including ice hockey and baseball. He is of Jewish heritage through his mother and Catholic descent from his father. His education includes attendance at Iona Catholic Secondary School and graduation from a high school within Plymouth-Canton Educational Park in Canton, Michigan.
Hughes hails from a family deeply rooted in ice hockey. His elder brother, Quinn, was selected seventh overall in the 2018 NHL entry draft by the Vancouver Canucks, while his younger brother, Luke, was picked fourth overall by the Devils in the 2021 NHL entry draft. Their father, Jim Hughes, captained Providence College's hockey team, served as an assistant coach for the Boston Bruins, and held the role of director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs. Their mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, was a multi-sport athlete at the University of New Hampshire, excelling in ice hockey, lacrosse, and soccer; she was inducted into its Athletics Hall of Fame in 2012 and earned a silver medal with the United States women's national ice hockey team at the 1992 World Championship. Moreover, Hughes' uncle Marty and cousin Teddy Doherty have been involved in professional ice hockey leagues.
Regular season and playoffs
| Regular season | Playoffs | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Season | Team | League | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | ||
| 2016–17 | Toronto Marlboros | GTMMHL | 33 | 23 | 50 | 73 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2016–17 | Georgetown Raiders | OJHL | — | — | — | — | — | 9 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 2 | ||
| 2017–18 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 27 | 21 | 33 | 54 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2018–19 | U.S. National Development Team | USHL | 24 | 12 | 36 | 48 | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2019–20 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 61 | 7 | 14 | 21 | 10 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2020–21 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 56 | 11 | 20 | 31 | 16 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2021–22 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 49 | 26 | 30 | 56 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2022–23 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 78 | 43 | 56 | 99 | 6 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 2 | ||
| 2023–24 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 62 | 27 | 47 | 74 | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| 2024–25 | New Jersey Devils | NHL | 62 | 27 | 43 | 70 | 18 | — | — | — | — | — | ||
| NHL totals | 368 | 141 | 210 | 351 | 62 | 12 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 2 | ||||
International
| Year | Team | Event | Outcome | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2017 | United States | U17 | Template:Gold1 | 6 | 5 | 10 | 15 | 2 | |
| 2018 | United States | U18 | Template:Silver2 | 7 | 5 | 7 | 12 | 2 | |
| 2019 | United States | WJC | Template:Silver2 | 4 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2019 | United States | U18 | Template:Bronze3 | 7 | 9 | 11 | 20 | 8 | |
| 2019 | United States | WC | 7th place | 7 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 0 | |
| 2025 | United States | 2025 4 Nations Face-Off | Runner-up | 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 0 | |
| Junior career totals | 24 | 19 | 32 | 51 | 12 | ||||
| Senior career totals | 11 | 0 | 4 | 4 | 0 | ||||
Awards and honors
| Award | Year |
|---|---|
| USHL | |
| Dave Tyler Junior Player of the Year Award | 2018 |
| NHL | |
| All-Star Game | 2022, 2023, 2024 |
| EA Sports NHL cover athlete | 2025 |
| International | |
| World U-17 Hockey Challenge – All-Star Team selection | 2017 |
| World U18 Championship – Tournament MVP and Best Forward honors | 2018 |
| World U18 Championship – Media All-Star Team selections | 2018, 2019 |
See also
- List of first overall NHL draft picks
- List of New Jersey Devils draft picks
- Notable Jewish ice hockey players
External links
- Pages with script errors
- Articles with short description
- Articles with hCards
- No local image but image on Wikidata
- 2001 births
- Living people
- 21st-century American Jews
- American men's ice hockey centers
- American people of Canadian descent
- Sportspeople of Canadian descent
- Ice hockey players from Florida
- Jews from Florida
- Jewish American sportspeople
- First overall NHL draft picks
- NHL first-round draft picks
- New Jersey Devils draft picks
- New Jersey Devils players
- Sportspeople from Orlando, Florida
- USA Hockey National Team Development Program players
- 21st-century American sportsmen
- 4 Nations Face-Off players