Luke
Hughes
D · NJD · Offensive · Above average
- PAL
- 60
- WAR
- -0.6
- Value
- 35
- PTS
- 35
2025-26№ 305 / 325
Luke Hughes (New Jersey Devils) stats and profile: offensive production, ice time, advanced stats, WAR and PAL rating.
Luke Hughes
HEIGHT : 188 cm · WEIGHT : 90 kg · SHOOTS : L
Born : September 8, 2003 · Manchester, United States
Drafted : 2021 · NJD · round 1, pick #4
Contract : $9,000,000 · 2025-26 → 2031-32 · Standard Contract (Extension) · UFA · Signing bonus $1,000,000M-NTC
NHL record
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | New Jersey Devils | 18 | 6 | 5 | 11 | 10 |
| 2025-26 | New Jersey Devils | 68 | 6 | 29 | 35 | 32 |
| 2024-25 | New Jersey Devils | 71 | 7 | 37 | 44 | 16 |
| 2023-24 | New Jersey Devils | 82 | 9 | 38 | 47 | 28 |
| 2022-23 | New Jersey Devils | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 |
| NHL totals | 240 | 29 | 110 | 139 | 86 | |
Playoffs
| Year | Team | GP | G | A | PTS | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-25 | New Jersey Devils | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2022-23 | New Jersey Devils | 3 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 |
| Playoff totals | 4 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | |
Luke Hughes: our analysis
2025-26 season: 68 GP, 6 G, 29 A, 35 PTS, -4 +/-, 23:01 TOI. WAR -0.6 (305th of 325) · PAL 60, above average.
In 2025-26, Luke Hughes, 23, posts a PAL Rating of 60 out of 100 (above average), and his WAR of -0.6 ranks 305th among 325 regulars, in the bottom quarter.
His strengths: power play (91, among the best in the league), creation (89, among the best in the league) and shooting (81, well above average). On the other hand, defense (4, among the weakest in the league) holds him back.
Breaking down his WAR (goals above average), his biggest contribution: penalty kill (+0.2); his biggest cost: EV defense (-2.7).
A marked decline: his PAL was 82 in 2024-25, against 60 now; his WAR went from -0.0 to -0.6.
Contract-wise, his Value score of 35 (poor return) weighs his output against what he costs: 50 is what that salary should buy.
Luke Hughes's story
Growing up in a hockey household, Luke Hughes moved with his family to Toronto in 2006 after his father took a coaching job, and the outdoor rink at Wedgewood Park became a regular training ground for the brothers. He shifted from playing centre to defence during his bantam years and followed the path through the U.S. national development program before committing to the University of Michigan in 2018.
At Michigan Hughes made an immediate impact, helping the Wolverines reach the Frozen Four in each of his two seasons. He set program marks for a freshman blueliner with his goal and point totals, finished among the league leaders in scoring for defensemen, and earned multiple conference and AHCA honours across both campaigns. Those collegiate achievements cemented his standing among top prospects ahead of the 2021 NHL draft, when the New Jersey Devils selected him fourth overall.
Hughes signed a three-year entry-level contract with New Jersey on April 8, 2023, and debuted in the NHL three days later. He registered his first NHL goal—a game-winner—and an assist in his second game, and made his playoff debut in May 2023, recording two assists in a single postseason contest. His rookie year, 2023–24, saw him play all 82 games while setting a Devils record for points by a rookie defenseman with nine goals and 47 points; he led rookie blueliners in several categories and was a Calder Trophy finalist and a unanimous selection to the All-Rookie Team.
The Devils locked him up long-term on October 1, 2025, with a seven-year contract. The 2025–26 season included a stint on long-term injured reserve in late January, a return in February, and a late-season procedure announced in April that sidelined him for the final games; he finished that campaign with six goals and 35 points in 68 games. On October 15, 2026, he recorded his first multi-goal NHL game.
Internationally Hughes has worn U.S. colours from the World U-17 Hockey Challenge (silver, 2019) through senior Worlds and junior tournaments. He played at the 2022 World Championship, captained the U.S. at the 2023 World Juniors to a bronze medal, and returned for the 2024 World Championship. His game is built around offensive instincts from the blue line, power-play production and the ability to log heavy minutes while contributing both goals and playmaking.
Facts drawn from Wikipédia, told in our own words.
Advanced stats
- TOI/GP
- 24:23
- PP TOI/GP
- 3:27
- SH TOI/GP
- 1:14
- Pts/GP
- 0.61
- EV points
- 9
- Hits
- 7
- Blocks
- 9
- Takeaways
- 17
- Corsi % (SAT)
- 57.3 %
- Off. zone starts
- 32.2 %
Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)
2026-27 projection
Projected points
44between 28 and 58 (80% range)
- Goals
- 15
- Assists
- 29
- Games
- 76
So far: 11 pts in 18 games. The team has played 18 of 84 games. Projected pace: 0.56 pts per game (last season: 0.51).
The projection follows last season's pace. Tested on 2,265 player seasons (2022-23 to 2025-26): average miss of 9 points over 82 games; for players at 0.9 points per game and up, it ran 5 points high on average.
Trend
Slight decline
- Points per game: 0.57 in 23-24, 0.51 in 25-26
- PAL Rating: 82 → 60
Outlook, age included
→ StableAge 23: usually still improving
This is only a projection. It knows nothing about injuries, trades or role changes; one player in five finishes outside the range.
Player ratings, 2025-26
All ratings →Fourteen ratings from 0 to 100 drawn from data, never by hand: 75 = established NHL player, 95+ = elite.
OV · OverallConfidence 82 %
79
Established NHL
- SK
- Skating
- 94
- Confidence 73 %
- ST
- Strength
- 65
- Confidence 85 %
- EN
- Endurance
- 83
- Confidence 75 %
- DU
- Durability
- 71
- Confidence 73 %
- CK
- Checking
- 55
- Confidence 85 %
- FG
- Fighting
- 67
- Confidence 58 %
- DI
- Discipline
- 80
- Confidence 85 %
- FO
- Faceoffs
- —
- PA
- Passing
- 86
- Confidence 82 %
- SC
- Scoring
- 82
- Confidence 82 %
- DF
- Defense
- 60
- Confidence 79 %
- PS
- Penalty shot
- 62
- Confidence 14 %
- EX
- Experience
- 63
- Confidence 100 %
Why these ratings?Hide details
SK — Skating94
- Top speed (35 %)37.1 · 94
- Bursts > 20 mph /60 (30 %)4.883 · 94
- Distance /60 (20 %)15.3 · 97
- Speed consistency (15 %)33.2 · 59
ST — Strength65
- Contact absorbed /60 (50 %)4.369 · 69
- Body mass (50 %)-0.116 · 70
EN — Endurance83
- Ice time per game (45 %)20.9 · 82
- Total ice time (20 %)1,498 · 78
- Shift length (15 %)51 · 85
- Lowest recent ice time per game (15 %)19.8 · 83
- Special-teams time per game (5 %)2.816 · 80
DU — Durability71
- Share of games played (100 %)0.795 · 71
CK — Checking55
- Hits /60 (70 %)1.274 · 50
- Lowest seasonal rate (20 %)1.336 · 61
- Season volume (10 %)2.996 · 61
FG — Fighting67
- Fights per 82 games (100 %)0.711 · 67
DI — Discipline80
- Net penalty value /60 (50 %)-0.024 · 80
- Penalties taken /60 (30 %)0.557 · 78
- Penalties drawn /60 (20 %)0.416 · 77
PA — Passing86
- Primary assists /60 (40 %)0.572 · 86
- Secondary assists /60 (20 %)0.644 · 87
- Offensive creation (RAPM) (20 %)-0.011 · 73
- Power-play points /60 (10 %)5.694 · 92
- Assist consistency (10 %)0.426 · 87
SC — Scoring82
- Goals /60 (25 %)0.271 · 79
- Individual xG /60 (20 %)0.307 · 88
- Finishing (goals − xG per shot) (20 %)-0.076 · 61
- High-danger chances /60 (15 %)0.146 · 81
- xG per shot (10 %)0.037 · 88
- Shot attempts /60 (10 %)13.6 · 88
DF — Defense60
- RAPM defense /60 (35 %)-0.074 · 61
- Relative xG against (20 %)0.179 · 60
- On-ice xG against /60 (15 %)2.698 · 70
- Penalty kill /60 (10 %)0.055 · 81
- Takeaways − giveaways /60 (10 %)-2.412 · 62
- Shot attempts against /60 (5 %)59.5 · 67
- Blocked shots /60 (5 %)2.639 · 37
PS — Penalty shot62
- Shootouts (60 %)31.2 · 61
- Penalty shots (40 %)26.7 · 76
EX — Experience63
- Career regular-season games (65 %)76
- Career playoff games (25 %)30
- NHL seasons (10 %)55
OV — Overall79
- DF · Defense (30 %)60
- PA · Passing (22 %)86
- SK · Skating (12 %)94
- SC · Scoring (12 %)82
- EN · Endurance (9 %)83
- ST · Strength (6 %)65
- DI · Discipline (5 %)80
- CK · Checking (4 %)55
| Season | OV | SK | SC | DF |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | 79 | 94 | 82 | 60 |
| 2024-25 | 86 | 96 | 85 | 65 |
| 2023-24 | 86 | 96 | 83 | 65 |
The bars show confidence (sample size), not player quality. — : not enough data, not a zero. Engine version 1.0.
WAR and PAL ratings, 2025-26
How we rate →PAL Rating scores performance from 0 to 100 against players at the same position (50 = average player), starting from the player's strength, offensive or defensive. Value Rating compares that performance with what the player costs: 50 means paid what the play is worth.
WAR
-0.6
wins above replacement
305 of 325
PAL Rating
60/ 100
Performance · Above average
95 of 250 at the position
Value Rating
35/ 100
Poor return
9.00 M$ · expected PAL 74
ProfileOffensiveValue comes mostly from offense
- Offense
- 82
- Defense
- 9
See full detailsHide details
- Offense
- 74
- Creation
- 89
- Shooting
- 81
- Possession
- 47
- Defense
- 4
- Discipline
- 54
- Power play
- 91
- Penalty kill
- 49
From 0 to 100; 50 is the average player at the same position, adjusted for ice time.
| Season | Team | WAR | PAL | Value | Cap hit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | NJD | -0.6 | 60 | 35 | 9.00 M$ |
| 2024-25 | NJD | -0.0 | 82 | 93 | 0.93 M$ |
| 2023-24 | NJD | 0.9 | 71 | 82 | 0.93 M$ |
Hockey IQ, 2025-26
Rankings and method →The quality of the player's decisions with and against the puck at 5-on-5, against regulars at the same position (50 = average). PAL measures output; IQ measures how the player plays.
Overall IQ
76/ 100
Very good
better than 76% of defensemen, offense and defense combined
Offensive IQ
74/ 100
Very good
passing, shots, puck
Defensive IQ
72/ 100
Very good
takeaways, discipline, own zone
Why 76, higher than both scores? Overall IQ isn't an average, it's a rank: 53 of 225 defensemen. Few players are good at both ends at once; being so puts Luke Hughes ahead of almost everyone else.
See full detailsHide details
Offense
- Playmaking passes
- 56
- Shot selection
- 82
- Penalties drawn
- 48
- Puck management
- 60
Defense
- Takeaways
- 88
- Discipline
- 42
- Safe zone exits
- 67
Percentiles: 80 means better than 80% of regulars at the same position. Play without the puck (positioning, coverage) isn't measured: the NHL doesn't publish that data.
| Season | Team | IQ | Off. | Def. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | NJD | 76 | 74 | 72 |
| 2024-25 | NJD | 98 | 94 | 96 |
| 2023-24 | NJD | 90 | 88 | 83 |
WAR, 2025-26
How it's calculated →Wins added to the team, compared with a replacement-level player called up from the AHL.
-0.6
wins above replacement
-1.5 to 0.4 — 90% interval
305 of 325 defensemen
-3.4 goals above replacement
Full leaderboard →See full detailsHide details
- EV offense
- -0.6
- EV defense
- -2.7
- Power play
- +0.1
- Penalty kill
- +0.2
- Shooting
- -2.5
- Penalties
- -1.0
- Average → replacement
- +3.2
In goals.
| Season | Team | GP | WAR | 90% interval | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025-26 | NJD | 68 | -0.6 | -1.5 to 0.4 | 305/325 |
| 2024-25 | NJD | 67 | -0.0 | -0.8 to 0.8 | 211/314 |
| 2023-24 | NJD | 82 | 0.9 | -0.5 to 2.6 | 57/316 |
| 2022-23 | NJD | 2 | 0.2 | 0.0 to 0.5 | 136/334 |
Player tracking (NHL EDGE)
League EDGE leaderboards →Speed, shot power, distance covered, time by zone: measured by chips in the puck and shoulder pads. 90th percentile = better than 90% of players.
- Hardest shot
- 149.6 km/h81st percentileleague avg. 139.7 km/h
- Top skating speed
- 34.7 km/h70th percentileleague avg. 34.0 km/h
- Bursts over 20 mph, season
- 3097th percentileleague avg. 8
- Offensive zone time
- 43.0 %70th percentileleague avg. 42.4 %
See full detailsHide details
- Total distance, season
- 101.5 km97th percentileleague avg. 56.1 km
- Distance, single-game high
- 6.80 km93rd percentileleague avg. 4.98 km
- Offensive zone at 5v5
- 40.9 %31st percentileleague avg. 42.8 %
- Neutral zone time
- 18.5 %72nd percentileleague avg. 16.9 %
- Defensive zone time
- 38.4 %79th percentileleague avg. 40.8 %
Shooting
| Shots on goal | Goals | Shooting % | |
|---|---|---|---|
| All | 4095th percentile | 6100th percentile | 15.0 %96th percentile |
| High danger | 394th percentile | 198th percentile | 33.3 %80th percentile |
| Mid range | 1598th percentile | 4100th percentile | 26.7 %84th percentile |
| Long range | 1691st percentile | 195th percentile | 6.3 %77th percentile |
Shots on goal by zone
2026-2027 regular season. Measured by puck and player tracking chips; the percentile ranks the player within the league.
Game log, 2026-27
TOR
NYI
STL
EDM
VGK
COL
DAL
LAK
ANA
WSH
NYR
DET
OTT
VAN
UTA
PHILuke Hughes: frequently asked questions
How many goals does Luke Hughes have in 2026-27?
Luke Hughes has 6 goals and 11 points (5 assists) in 18 games in 2026-27.
How old is Luke Hughes?
Luke Hughes is 23 years old: he was born on September 9, 2003.
How tall is Luke Hughes, and how much does he weigh?
Luke Hughes is 6'2" (188 cm) and weighs 198 lb (90 kg).
Where is Luke Hughes from?
United States: Luke Hughes was born in Manchester, New Hampshire, United States.
What team does Luke Hughes play for?
Luke Hughes plays for the New Jersey Devils in the NHL, at D, wearing number 43.
Is Luke Hughes injured?
No: Luke Hughes is not on the latest NHL injury report. This answer is updated throughout the season.
How good is Luke Hughes?
Luke Hughes produced -0.6 wins above replacement (WAR) in 2025-26, 305th of 325 players at his position in the NHL. His PAL rating is 60 out of 100: above average for his position.
How much does Luke Hughes make?
Luke Hughes earns $9.0M for the 2025-26 season. His Value Rating is 35 out of 100 (poor return): it measures the on-field return for that salary, compared with players at his position.
When does Luke Hughes's contract end?
Luke Hughes's contract runs through the 2031-32 season; he will then be an unrestricted free agent. It includes a M-NTC clause.
Is Luke Hughes overpaid?
Yes, his output falls short of what his salary should buy. His Value rating is 35 out of 100 (poor return), where 50 is the output expected for his salary, compared with players at his position.
Is Luke Hughes a top-10 player at his position?
No: by WAR, he ranks 305th of 325 players at his position in the NHL in 2025-26. Our comparison tool puts him side by side with any other player.
Is Luke Hughes getting better?
No, he is slipping: his PAL rating went from 82 in 2024-25 to 60 in 2025-26 (out of 100, 50 = average player at his position).
How has Luke Hughes played lately?
Over his last 10 games, Luke Hughes has 7 points (3 goals, 4 assists).
What are Luke Hughes's career stats?
Over his NHL career, Luke Hughes has 240 games, 29 goals, 110 assists and 139 points. His best season: 2023-24, with 47 points in 82 games.
Where was Luke Hughes drafted?
Luke Hughes was drafted 4th overall (round 1) by New Jersey Devils in 2021.
Is Luke Hughes better at home or on the road?
At home: in 2026-27, he averages 0.70 points per game at home (7 in 10 games) and 0.50 on the road (4 in 8 games).
How does Luke Hughes perform in the playoffs?
In the playoffs, Luke Hughes has 4 games and 2 points in his career. His pace (0.50 points per game) is similar to his regular-season pace (0.58).
Which player is most similar to Luke Hughes?
Sean Durzi: he is the player at his position whose PAL profile (the 0-to-100 dimensions) is closest to his in 2025-26.
Sean Durzi's page →Is Luke Hughes a good fantasy pick?
A useful depth pick: our projection has him at 44 points in 2026-27, or 0.58 points per game.
Does Luke Hughes have siblings?
Yes: his brother Quinn Hughes (drafted seventh overall by the Vancouver Canucks in the 2018 NHL entry draft), his brother Jack Hughes (drafted first overall by the New Jersey Devils in the 2019 NHL entry draft).
Is Luke Hughes related to anyone famous?
Yes: Jim Hughes (father, former player and captain at Providence College; assistant coach for the Boston Bruins; director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs); Ellen Weinberg-Hughes (mother, played ice hockey, lacrosse and soccer at the University of New Hampshire; inducted into the UNH Athletics Hall of Fame (2012) and the International Jewish Sports Hall of Fame (2024); played for the United States women's national ice hockey team and won a silver medal at the 1992 World Championship); Marty (oncle paternel) (uncle, played in the ECHL and then in the British National League with the Dundee Stars); Teddy Doherty (cousin, primarily played in the ECHL); Adam S. Weinberg (uncle, sociologist and president of Denison University).
What is Luke Hughes's nationality?
Luke Hughes is American. Internationally: Represented the United States: silver medal at the 2019 World U-17 Hockey Challenge; named to the men's national team at the 2022 World Championship (played 10 games); captain of the U.S. at the 2023 World Junior Championship (bronze medal); played at the 2024 World Championship (eliminated in quarterfinals).
What awards has Luke Hughes won?
Hockey Commissioner's Association Rookie of the Month (March, college season mentioned) ; All-Big Ten Freshman Team ; All-Big Ten Second Team ; Co-Big Ten Freshman of the Year ; AHCA West Second Team All-American ; Finalist for Big Ten Player of the Year ; Finalist for Big Ten Defensive Player of the Year ; All-Big Ten First Team; and more.
Where did Luke Hughes play before turning pro?
University of Michigan (NCAA), two seasons; reached the Frozen Four both seasons.
How many points is Luke Hughes projected to score in 2026-27?
Our projection has him at 44 points in 76 games in 2026-27 (28 to 58 points, 80% interval), based on his recent seasons, age and role.
See also: his New Jersey Devils teammates
Full roster →
NHL.com ↗ · Stats and photos: NHL (NHL.com)