Jack Hughes is on pace to be one of the best players in New Jersey Devils' history. What could his career totals be in six years?
New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes is just 23 and has six seasons left on his current contract, which he signed in 2021.
By the end of the 2029-30 season, he'll be 29, still in his prime, and could sign another eight-year extension, taking him to his age-37 season.
In a perfect world, Hughes would spend his entire career in Newark and help bring back the Stanley Cup, as the franchise's championship drought extends to 21 years.
At Hughes's current pace of 0.91 points per game, the longer he stays with the Devils, the more likely he will pass Patrik Elias and become the team's all-time leading scorer.
However, before we jump that far ahead, let's look at how far he'll climb the charts by 2030.
Hughes is Close to Breaking Season Records
No one in Devils history has ever collected 100 points in a single season, with Hughes coming the closest with 99 points in 2022-23. At some point, he will surpass 100 and break his own record.
Regarding goals, no one has ever tallied 50 in a season, with Brian Gionta the leader with 48 from 2005-06. During Hughes' magical season, he had 43, the fourth-highest total.
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Meanwhile, with 56 helpers that year, he came within four away from overtaking Scott Stevens' record of 60 from 1993-94.
As the best offensive player in the current lineup, Hughes will likely set all those records for himself, becoming the first 50-goal and 100-point player in franchise history.
Hughes is already on a path to compile roughly 800 points by 2030. If he reaches that total, he'll rank second behind Elias (1,025 points) and be ahead of John MacLean (701).
As mentioned, Hughes produces 0.91 points per game. Outside of his first two seasons, he's bumped that total to 1.21 since 2021.
In his last 189 games, he's scored 96 goals with 133 assists for 229 points.
Over the past three seasons, Hughes has averaged 76 points because he's missed time due to injury. So if he stays healthy and collects at least 76 points yearly, he'll have 739 at the end of his contract.
With a strong supporting cast, there's no reason to believe he can't collect a couple of 100-point campaigns and produce over 80 points a season, getting him closer to the 800-point mark before the end of his contract.
At his current pace, if Hughes signs another extension in 2030, he'll need just three and a half more seasons to surpass 1,000 points and overtake Elias at the top of the chart.
If Hughes can remain healthy and productive, he can achieve that milestone before his 33 birthday in 2024.