Devils Sign Luke Hughes | RELEASE

The New Jersey Devils today signed defenseman Luke Hughes, the fourth-overall selection in the 2021 NHL Draft, to a three-year, entry-level contract starting with the 2022-23 season. He has been assigned jersey No. 43. The announcement was made by Executive Vice President/General Manager Tom Fitzgerald.
Hughes, 19, completed his sophomore season at the NCAA level with the University of Michigan where he was an alternate captain for the Wolverines. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound defenseman ranked second on Michigan for scoring this season, after tallying 42 points (9g-33a). Hughes' 42 points also ranked second for all NCAA blueliners in 2022-23. Of his many NCAA accolades, Hughes scored his first NCAA hat trick, and added a fourth goal, vs Penn State on Jan. 28, 2023. He also earned Big 10 All First-Team Honors for his sophomore campaign. Hughes earned first team AHCA/CCM All-America honors from the American Hockey Coaches Association yesterday, after being named to the second team last season.

Hughes help lead the Wolverines win consecutive Big 10 Tournament titles and clinch a spot in consecutive NCAA Tournaments. On March 24, Hughes inked a five-point night (1g-4a) in Michigan's first-round contest vs. Colgate at the NCAA Tournament.

Born on September 9, 2003, in Manchester, NH, Hughes has also represented the United States on the international stage. The defenseman earned a silver medal at the U17 World Hockey Challenge in 2020 and skated for Team USA at the IIHF's World Junior Championship (WJC) in 2022 and 2023. He led all USA defensemen with six points (1g-5a) at the 2022 WJC. Team USA named Hughes team captain for the 2023 WJC, where he led all defensemen in the tournament with four goals, and captained USA to a Bronze Medal. He also played for Team USA at the IIHF's 2022 World Championship.
New Jersey selected Luke's older brother, Jack, with the first-overall selection in the 2019 NHL Draft. Luke's eldest brother, Quinn, was selected by Vancouver with the seventh-overall selection in the 2018 NHL Draft. Luke and Jack will mark the third set of brothers to play for the franchise simultaneously. Patrik and Peter Sundstrom played for New Jersey in 1989-90, while Bob and Paul Miller played for Colorado in 1981-82.