Could top prospect Luke Hughes soon be joining his brother, Jack, on the Devils?
“I think Luke would love to play with Jack,” 2019 Rangers seventh-round pick Eric Ciccolini, who trained with Jack in Toronto, told The Post. “As we have seen in the past in the NHL, it’s always cool seeing brothers play together and I’m sure it would be something special if Luke goes to the Devils.”
The Devils have the No. 4 pick in the draft, and Luke, 17, is ranked No. 4 in NHL Central Scouting’s ranking of North American skaters. Luke is hoping four is the magic number, and the Devils call his name Friday night at the 2021 NHL Draft (8 p.m., ESPN2).
“It would be unbelievable to go to the Devils,” Luke, a defenseman committed to the University of Michigan, told the media on a pre-draft conference call. “Jack clearly wants me to be there. It would be super cool to play with him, and I’d love that. But at the same time, there’s 32 great teams out there, and I would be happy to go to any one of those teams.”
In 2021, the Devils surrendered 189 goals in 56 games, the fifth-most in hockey. Members of the organization have had conversations with Luke as the team explores the possibility of selecting him to improve their defense.
“I have talked to the Devils a few times and the conversations went well,” Luke said. “I’ve been to the rink, I know the franchise pretty well. Jack loves it in New Jersey. It’s a really cool rink, really cool fan base. That would certainly be exciting, but like I said, there’s 32 great teams out there.”
If Luke is drafted by the Devils, it would help the brothers become even closer. Luke — who watches Devils games whenever he does not have one of his own — would get a front-row seat to see his brother on the ice.
“The Hughes brothers are really tight,” Ciccolini said. “They are always feeding off each other and especially in Luke’s situation, he has seen his brothers grow and learn so much from them. Watching all three of them in minor hockey was something special because they were always the top players to look out for.”
The Hughes name is becoming NHL royalty. Defenseman Quinn Hughes — the oldest brother — was drafted seventh overall by the Canucks in 2018 and Jack was drafted first overall by the Devils in 2019. They are matching the impressive legacy of their parents — Jim embarked on a long professional hockey career and Ellen won a silver medal with the U.S. at the 1992 IIHF Ice Hockey Women’s World Championship.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Luke was home with his family, and viewed it as a – “We will probably never get time with each other like that ever again,” Luke said – soaking in their advice as he prepared for the NHL.
“They kind of taught me going into the year that you have to be ready for everything,” Luke said. “There cannot be too many highs and lows. You have to stay level headed.”
Last year, however, did feature some highs and lows. Luke scored 34 points in 38 games with USA’s under-18 team – coach Dan Muse told The Post Luke showcased “elite skating, skill, sense, size and compete level to make an impact at both ends of the ice” – but suffered a lacerated tendon to his foot on March 7. The 6-foot-2, 176-pound prospect plans on being on the ice for the U.S. at the weeklong World Junior Summer Showcase, which begins Saturday, after nearly making a full recovery.
“I’ve been skating for five weeks now, I’ve been working out for like eight or nine,” Luke said. “I feel really good. I’m almost 100 percent, just trying to get my timing and stuff back. Finished rehab and there’s no problem with the toe. It feels great and I’ll be ready to go.”
Luke is also ready to be drafted Friday night. And while his brothers could soon be his competition, Luke is not going to compare himself to them — because the trio will always be on Team Hughes.
“I think both my brothers are really good players and all three of us are going to be really good players when it is all said and done, so it is not fair to me to [compare],” Luke said.