Hughes has solid debut at World Junior Summer Showcase

PLYMOUTH, Mich. -- Luke Hughes is happy to be back and doing what he does best on the ice in his first game action since sustaining an injury four months ago.

The left-shot defenseman (6-foot-2, 184 pounds), chosen No. 4 by the New Jersey Devils in the 2021 NHL Draft on Friday, is here at the World Junior Summer Showcase this week to prove he's ready to earn a prominent role for the United States at the 2021 IIHF World Junior Championship to be held in Edmonton and Red Deer, Alberta, from Dec. 26-Jan. 5.
Hughes, who had a surgical procedure March 17 to repair a lacerated tendon in his foot from a skate cut 10 days earlier, earned plenty of ice time, was good on the transition and in front of his net during a 2-1 exhibition loss to Finland.
"To be honest, there wasn't much rehab at all," Hughes said. "I'm 100 percent now. I've been skating for seven weeks and working out for 10-to-12 weeks, so I've been back a little bit and I feel great."
U.S. coach Nate Leaman said, "He looked fine to me. He's an elite skater, and I like the fact that he's got some bite to him. For not having played in such a long time I thought he had a pretty good game."

Hughes, who scored 34 points (six goals, 28 assists) in 38 games with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program Under-18 team last season and will play at the University of Michigan in 2021-22, was still all smiles when discussing draft night, especially the reaction of his brother, Jack, a center for the Devils, who gave him a big embrace after hearing the selection.
"He was really happy," Luke said. "I don't know if I've ever seen him like that, but it was a really cool moment. It's a dream come true to maybe one day play with your brother (in the NHL), but also to be drafted to a team. I'm just super excited to be a part of the Devils organization."
Here are three things learned at the WJSS on Sunday:

Beniers on the mend

Matthew Beniers, chosen No. 2 by the expansion Seattle Kraken, will not participate in practices or games but is here with the United States team and has been in the video room and shooting pucks off the ice.
Beniers (6-1, 175), who scored 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists) in 24 games as a freshman at Michigan, sustained a lower-body injury at the IIHF World Championship in June.
"If [Beniers] had his choice he'd be playing, but our plan is not to play him this week since he's not cleared for contact," Leaman said. "Matty was on the team last year so I don't think anything's going to surprise him, but I think it more speaks to Matt Beniers and his character of wanting to be here. To be quite honest, I think that's what USA Hockey wants. Maybe they're not healthy enough to be here, but in their heart they want to be part of it, and that kind of speaks to Matt."

Helenius impressive for Finland

Samuel Helenius, selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round (No. 59) Saturday, has impressed Finland coach Antti Pennanen this weekend.
Helenius (6-6, 201), who scored 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in 54 games with JYP in Liiga, the top professional league in Finland, is expected to earn a roster spot for the second straight year. He scored four points (two goals, two assists) in seven games for third-place Finland at the 2021 WJC.
"I think Helenius is a big center and I like him a lot," Pennanen said. "He's so good, he's coachable and his attitude is good. He's humble and he's tough. I think someday, if everything goes well, he's going to be an NHL player because of his attitude, size and his mental makeup."

Sweden reinforcements

The opportunity is there for a few Sweden players to earn a spot on the world junior stage due to the absence this week of defenseman Simon Edvinsson (Detroit Red Wings, No. 6, 2021 draft), forward William Eklund (San Jose Sharks, No. 7, 2021) and goalie Jesper Wallstedt (Minnesota Wild, No. 20, 2021).
Edvinsson sustained an upper-body injury prior to the team departing for the WJSS but should be ready for the start of his season with Frolunda in the Swedish Hockey League.
"You can play through injuries and do different stuff to be able to play, but we don't want to do that in July, not with an 18-year-old kid," Sweden coach Tomas Monten said.
Eklund and Wallstedt each remained home to rest and recover after completing their season. They are expected to play prominent roles at the 2021 WJC.
Among those players looking to earn a roster spot are goalie Philip Svedeback (Boston Bruins, No. 117, 2021), defenseman William Wallinder (Red Wings, No. 32, 2020 NHL Draft), and forwards Isak Rosen (Buffalo Sabres, No. 14, 2021) and Fabian Lysell (Bruins, No. 21, 2021).