Luke Hughes is redefining his game and can become the New Jersey Devils’ best defender

Luke Hughes has been getting noticed lately. No, it’s not about scoring a highlight-reel goal or stacking the scoreboard. He’s being noticed for a part of his game that’s starting to come together. His defensive game. When Hughes was drafted fourth overall in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft, he was considered a top-notch defenseman with superstar ability.

However, he found that his defensive game needed work. This was evident in his first full season in the NHL last year. He finished the 2023-24 season with a +/–25 and turned the puck over in his zone quite often. There were many voices debating whether or not he should start with the Comets in Utica this season. Today we see that those feelings have changed for the better and Hughes is looking much better on both ends of the ice. Especially on defense.

Head coach Sheldon Keefe’s defensive system is based on his guys acting responsibly and not pinching too often. While Hughes still tends to carry the puck and play more like a forward, he has taken Keefe’s demands and implemented them into his defensive game. So far this year it’s evident that he’s being more responsible with the puck, slowing things down and waiting for things to open up rather than just trying to do things on his own.

His stick is also much more active and he can generate more takeaways and help drive the rush into the strike zone. While his defensive game has certainly picked up, that doesn’t mean his offensive game has slowed down. While he got off to a slow start recovering from an injury, he’s been finding his lethal game again of late. In the last six contests, the 21-year-old from Manchester, New Hampshire has scored six points at +/- +4. His plays, such as setting up his brother Jack Hughes for a goal against Rangers on Monday, show the maturity of Luke’s game.

General manager Tom Fitzgerald and his team have wanted such performances from the young defender since the day he signed him. While he won’t be joining his Team USA brothers at the Four Nations Faceoff, it’s worth noting that Luke Hughes is getting more attention lately with his impressive play.

It won’t be long before he’s mentioned among the other top defenders in the game today. The best part is that it’s not just about his offensive abilities, but also what he can do on his end. He has redefined his game and it is paying off immensely.