Hughes crafting his own identity as top 2022 NHL Draft prospect

The 2022 NHL Draft is scheduled to be held July 7-8 at Bell Centre in Montreal. Every two weeks, NHL.com will take a closer look at some of the draft-eligible players to watch.

Jack Hughes has been able to form his own hockey identity at Northeastern University despite having a name familiar to New Jersey Devils fans and a father who recently was named general manager of an Original Six NHL franchise.
"I get mistaken for the Devils' Jack Hughes all the time," Hughes said. "Whether it's Instagram or Twitter ... wherever. People seem to think that we might be brothers or something."
The 18-year-old freshman center (5-foot-11, 170 pounds),
No. 7 in NHL Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters
eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft, has met his namesake a few times.
"I was on the same team as his brother,
Luke Hughes
, with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program for two years," he said. "A lot of people ask me, 'Does it bother you? Does it get on your nerves?' I think it's pretty funny, honestly. It's a crazy coincidence that there just happens to be two hockey players with the same name."
And while one Hughes is preparing for the 2022 Honda NHL All-Star Game at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Saturday (3 p.m. ET; ABC, SN, TVAS), the left-shot forward continues to do what is necessary during his college season to realize his dream of playing in the NHL.
"I describe myself as a playmaking forward and I think my two biggest assets are my skill and my hockey sense," said Hughes, the highest-ranked NCAA player on Central Scouting's midterm ranking. "I like to make plays, and I think I make players around me better."

Hughes has a strong hockey pedigree that has helped him to this point in his career. His father is Kent Hughes, a long-time NHL player agent who was named general manager of the Montreal Canadiens on Jan. 18.
"We're really fired up for dad," Jack Hughes said. "It's something that we've kind of always thought he would be good at and I think he's going to do a great job.
"I feel I have the same drive and work ethic as my dad. He was my coach when I was younger and he taught me to never be satisfied where I'm at in my game. There's always things I can do to become even better."
Hughes has scored nine points (five goals, four assists), including two game-winning goals, in 25 games. He's playing on a line with left wing
Jakov Novak
(Ottawa Senators) and another big influence in his career, older brother
Riley Hughes
(New York Rangers).
Jack said getting an opportunity to skate on the same line as his brother, a 21-year-old junior, has been an incredible experience.
"My dad has taught me everything I know, but my brother has been the one to push me all along the way," Jack Hughes said. "Since I was probably 10 years old we've done everything together hockey-wise. I've kind of followed him pretty much my entire life, so to play with him now ... he just pushes me to be the best version of myself on and off the ice.
"College hockey has definitely been a challenge but that's part of learning how to play at the next level when guys are bigger, stronger. Our goal is to win a national championship and I think we have the team to do that."

That drive and determination has earned him the attention of NHL scouts.
"He's someone you notice when you're at a game," director of NHL Central Scouting Dan Marr said. "He's been on our radar since high school and with the NTDP. He's one of those players that always contributes, always produces. There's no holes to his game."
Hughes scored 34 points (eight goals, 26 assists), including four power-play goals and two game-winning goals, in 38 games with the NTDP Under-18 team last season.
"I can't say he's elite in any one area, but he's just a very good hockey player in all aspects of the game," Marr said. "When you need a scoring chance, he's the guy you can turn to. He's a player whose hockey instincts are just so natural that he's got that calmness and that composure to his game."

PROSPECTS ON THE RADAR (listed alphabetically):

Josh Filmon, LW, Swift Current (WHL): Filmon (6-2, 158) is second on Swift Current with 35 points (18 goals, 17 assists) in 41 games in his second season in the Western Hockey League. The 17-year-old, No. 51 in Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters, has scored seven points (three goals, four assists) in his past six games.
"He's one of those players that seems to get better with each outing," said John Williams of Central Scouting. "He's a lanky winger with good hands and a good feel around the net. He's got good speed. He lacks strength right now, but as he fills out he'll become even more difficult to handle."
Yegor Guskov, G, Yaroslavl 2 (RUS-JR): The 20-year-old (5-11, 200) is a bit undersized, but he's compensated for that with great athleticism. Guskov, No. 6 in Central Scouting's midterm ranking of International goaltenders, has a 2.89 goals-against average and .917 save percentage with one shutout in 15 games for Yaroslavl in Russia's minor hockey league.
"He needs to work on his net coverage because he goes down fast and leaves room up top," director of NHL European Scouting Goran Stubb said. "But overall he's developed well and has improved year after year. He's kind of a late bloomer, competitive with fine concentration and attitude."
Jordan Gustafson, C, Seattle (WHL): The left-shot forward (5-10, 178) is fourth for Seattle with 36 points (16 goals, 20 assists) and is second with seven power-play goals in 35 games. Gustafson is No. 43 in Central Scouting's midterm ranking of North American skaters.
"He's a real good hockey player, does everything well," Williams said. "He's the type of player who can play up and down a lineup, a player the coaches can trust in any situation with a real good motor. He's smart and skilled."
Photo credit: Jim Pierce, Northeastern University
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