New Jersey Devils
Devils' Luke Hughes To Play Milestone Game Against Blues
New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes will skate in his 100th career NHL game on Wednesday night.
Nov 30, 2023; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; New Jersey Devils defenseman Luke Hughes (43) scores the game winning goal in overtime against the Philadelphia Flyers at Wells Fargo Center. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports - Devils' Luke Hughes To Play Milestone Game Against BluesIt seems like yesterday, doesn't it?
The moment Luke Hughes jumped over the boards in the New Jersey Devils' third jersey for the first shift of his NHL career.
The reality is that it has been 596 days since the youngest Hughes brother made his NHL debut against the Buffalo Sabres.
Five minutes into the first period of that debut game, he blocked a shot by Sabres forward Kyle Okposo, and the young defenseman never looked back.
"100 games is pretty special for me," Hughes said to NJD.TV. "I mean, it is awesome (and) I am excited."
Over the first 99 games of his career, Hughes scored 10 goals and assisted on 43 others. He found himself named a finalist for the 2024 Calder Memorial Trophy, an award given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition in the NHL.
To start the 2024-25 season, the young defenseman has four assists in 15 games. Offensively, Hughes may have cooled off from last season's pace, but he has been much stronger defensively playing with Brett Pesce and is taking steps in his overall development.
"Playing with someone like Pesce helps him," head coach Sheldon Keefe said to reporters. "Pesce is talking to him, and he puts out fires; that is what Pesce does. He kills plays, and all of that, but, Luke, on his own, has killed plays and has skated really well. [...] Luke, to me, has all the assets that are required for any elite defenseman to defend and be hard to play against and be in the way and kill plays.
"We are well aware of what he can do on offense," Keefe continued. "We think the more that he can defend well, that the offensive stuff will be plentiful. He will be on the offensive side of the red line more frequently. I think we are seeing more of that here as the seasons come on."
Hughes enters Wednesday's night game on a two-game point streak and has three assists over his last five games.
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