Yahoo Sports Jack Hughes Represents Devils at NHL Player Media Tour
The NHL North American Player Media Tour is underway in Las Vegas, Nevada.
Jack Hughes was the New Jersey Devils' representative for a second straight year. On Monday, he met with the attending media and was asked about various topics, from his new head coach to his brother, Luke Hughes.
Sheldon Keefe & Comparisons to Maple Leafs
The 23-year-old shared that he has had some good phone conversations with Sheldon Keefe and is excited to meet him face-to-face.
"I haven't even been in New Jersey yet, so I haven't even shook his hand. I haven't met him yet," Hughes told reporters at the NHL/NHLPA Player Media Tour in Las Vegas. "I am definitely really excited to break it down with him and get talking to him."
Keefe is coming to New Jersey after coaching the Toronto Maple Leafs since the 2019-20 season. Toronto qualified for the playoffs all five years that Keefe was behind the bench.
Many see similarities between the Maple Leafs and the Devils because of their star power. Toronto has Auston Matthews, Mitch Marner, William Nylander, and John Tavares leading the way, while New Jersey is led by Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Timo Meier.
It led one reporter to ask Hughes if there are comparisons between the two forward groups.
"I don't think you can compare the two," Hughes said to reporters. "They have a team that has been to the playoffs eight years in a row. They have a 70-goal scorer. I think we both have really good forwards, but our forwards might be a little different than theirs."
Keefe will not have to wait long to face his former team. The Devils host the Maple Leafs at Prudential Center on Oct. 10.
"He's Still My Brother, so I Am Still Looking Out for Him a Bit"
The 2023-24 campaign was the first full season where Jack played with his younger brother, Luke.
Luke appeared in all 82 games, finishing with 47 points (nine goals, 38 assists). He was named a Calder Trophy finalist in April and finished third in voting for the award given to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition.
Reporters in Vegas asked Jack if he treats Luke like any other teammate or if that brotherly love is still seeping through during games.
"He is still my brother, so I am still looking out for him a bit," Hughes said in Vegas, "but I have to let him do his thing. I was definitely more comfortable and used to looking at him in the locker room last year. I think this year will be even better, and he will take another step as well."
Last Words on 2023-24 Season
It is safe to say most Devils players and fans want to forget the disappointment and frustration that accompanied the 2023-24 season.
The club took a step back, finishing seventh in the Metropolitan Division with 81 points after earning 112 the season prior.
In true Hughes fashion, the 2019 first-overall pick responded with brutal honesty when asked how he would summarize last season.
"Our team was not as good as it should have been," Hughes told reporters. "Looking back at it, we probably thought we were better than we were. Obviously, we had injuries and things going on. Our team game, defensive game, we were pretty loose."
Hughes only appeared in 62 games last season and underwent season-ending shoulder surgery in April. Like his teammates, he is excited to get back onto the ice and get the Devils going in the right direction.
The NHL North American Player Media Tour will conclude on Wednesday. Hughes and the rest of the Devils veteran players will report to training camp on Sept. 18 and play their first preseason game on Sept. 22 against the New York Islanders.
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