In Las Vegas, Nevada, Luke Hughes of the Devils secured a notable achievement at the 2024 NHL Awards by finishing third in the Calder Memorial Trophy race, an honor bestowed upon the NHL’s most outstanding rookie. Despite narrowly missing out on the top spot, Hughes, aged 20, amassed 686 points, including five second-place votes. The accolade ultimately went to Connor Bedard from the Chicago Blackhawks, who dominated with 1808 points and 152 first-place votes.
Reflecting on his season, Hughes expressed pride in his performance amidst the competitive NHL environment: “I’m pretty proud of myself and the year that I had. It’s a really tough league. Just to be nominated in the top three is a pretty good accomplishment. I’m just happy to be here.”
During his rookie campaign in the 2023-24 season, Hughes made a significant impact by appearing in all 82 games for the Devils. He achieved nine goals, 38 assists, and 47 points, setting a new team record for rookie defensemen. Beyond his offensive contributions, Hughes logged substantial ice time, averaging 21:28 minutes per game and notably quarterbacking the team’s top power-play unit throughout the season, leading in power-play minutes per game with 3:48.
Hughes emphasized the importance of his overall growth and development: “I was proud of the way I developed throughout the year, how my game become more confident throughout the year. That’s the important thing. Just getting better every day.”
Following the NHL season, Hughes joined Team USA at the 2024 World Championship, where he continued to showcase his skills with four goals and five points in seven games. Afterward, he took a brief break before diving into his off-season training regimen: “Took a couple weeks off and getting back in. I’ve been training for a couple of weeks and starting to ramp up.”
Despite falling short in the Calder race, Hughes found solace in his brother Quinn’s success. Quinn Hughes, an older brother and standout defenseman for another NHL team, clinched the Norris Trophy for the league’s best defenseman, marking a momentous occasion for the Hughes family. Luke shared his admiration for Quinn’s achievements: “He had an unbelievable year. That’s all you can say. He’s a special player. Definitely one of the best in the world.”
With their family’s presence at the awards ceremony, including older brother Jack who was a previous Lady Byng Award runner-up, Luke highlighted the significance of sharing these experiences together: “It’s really special for me and really special for our entire family. To have two of us in the awards and Jack here the year before. It’s pretty cool for all five of us to be here and enjoy it together.”
In addition to Luke Hughes, another Devils rookie defenseman, Simon Nemec, received recognition with a fifth-place vote, adding to the team’s promising future in the league.
Luke Hughes’ debut NHL season not only showcased his individual talent and growth but also underscored the collective achievements and support within the Hughes family, setting a strong foundation for future endeavors in professional hockey.
