The NHL announced that New Jersey Devils rookie defenseman Luke Hughes was named a finalist for the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded “to the player selected as the most proficient in his first year of competition.” Hughes joins the Chicago Blackhawks’ Connor Bedard and the Minnesota Wild’s Brock Faber on the list of finalists.
Hughes made his debut with the Devils at the tail end of the 2022-23 season, scoring one goal and one assist in two games. Furthermore, he joined New Jersey for their playoff run last season, where he cemented his roster spot for the 2023-24 season. Quinn and Luke Hughes became the first pair of brothers to be voted as Calder Trophy Finalists in NHL history.
Hughes’ 2023-24 Rookie Season
Hughes had a record-breaking season with the Devils during his rookie campaign. In 82 games, he scored nine goals added 38 assists for 47 points, setting the Devils’ franchise record for points by a defenseman. Among rookies, he ranked second in points and led rookie defensemen in goals.
Despite being a rookie, Hughes earned the most playing time among the Devils, averaging 21:28 of ice time. He also ranked first in 22-plus mile per hour bursts by a defenseman with 25. His top speed this season was 24.19 mph. Moreover, Hughes ranked second in power-play points with 25, only trailing his brother, Jack Hughes.
Hughes’ 2023-24 campaign was impressive and allowed him to gain valuable experience that will further improve his overall play. The Devils have a special player who will help the team in the near and far future and a Calder Trophy nomination is a fitting end to his rookie campaign.
Hughes’ Competition
Brock Faber
The Minnesota Wild defenseman finished his rookie campaign with the same number of points that Hughes did. He registered eight goals and 39 assists for a total of 47 points. He also appeared in all 82 games for the Wild. Faber averaged a whopping 24:58 in time on ice, almost three and a half more minutes than Hughes. Furthermore, the native Minnesotan was used heavily on the power play, finishing with 16 power-play points. Nevertheless, Hughes registered nine more points on the power play with 25.
The comparison between Faber and Hughes is extremely close. However, Hughes is a year younger than Faber and stepped into a role that no one expected him to fill due to New Jersey’s injuries. Faber also was thrown into a position where he had to play more minutes than…
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