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Luke Hughes is looking forward to a well-deserved holiday after joining his brothers in Toronto for the 2024 NHL All-Star Game.

The New Jersey Devils wasted no time throwing Hughes to the wolves, immediately assigning him to a top-four role on a team that many projected to compete for a playoff spot this season. Hughes has swiftly established himself as one of the NHL’s greatest young defensemen, following in the footsteps of his older brother, Quinn.

Hughes had a quiet month on the scoresheet, with one goal and four assists in 12 games. However, his ice time continued to climb, with a career-high 28:10 vs Boston on Jan. 15 and at least 22 minutes on seven occasions.

Hughes is on track for a 45-point season, which is ideal for a rookie who has taken on more responsibilities owing to Dougie Hamilton’s injury. The Devils need some defensive help, especially with Hughes and fellow rookie Simon Nemec doing much of the heavy work, but Hughes is doing well in his first NHL season.

 

Connor Bedard and Brock Faber appear to be vying for the Calder Trophy. But ask anyone, and they’ll tell you Hughes is a strong contender to be a finalist when voting begins this spring, especially with Bedard’s recovery from a fractured jaw still weeks away.

Here’s how the rest of the league’s top rookies line up heading into February:

Bedard remains a Calder contender based on his pre-injury performance, especially with limited help. Bedard has 33 points in 39 games, which still ranks first among first-year players. Prior to the accident, he was on track for more than 70 points, which is a remarkable accomplishment these days. We’ll see if he can win the rookie scoring championship when he returns, but it’s difficult to imagine he’s still not the Calder leader.