VANCOUVER, British Columbia _ Jack Hughes has never backed down from his claim that he is good enough to be the first player selected in the 2019 NHL draft.
As it turns out, he was right.
With the first pick in the draft, the New Jersey Devils selected the 18-year-old center Friday night at Rogers Arena in Vancouver. The top-ranked North American skater and the consensus top player in the draft, the 5-foot-10, 171-pound Hughes has projected to go No.1 overall to New Jersey since the Devils won the lottery April 9.
Hughes becomes their second No. 1 pick in the last three years, joining Swiss center Nico Hischier, the first pick of the 2017 draft class.
A forward for the U.S. National Team Development Program, Hughes produced at a pace of more than two points per game. In 51 games, he amassed 112 points (34 goals, 78 assists). He broke numerous records with the program as well as IIHF records as well. He recently played in the U-18 World Championships and was also promoted to the senior team to play for Team USA shortly before his 18th birthday.
A dynamic playmaker, he boasts tremendous speed, vision and a talent for making others around him better. His creativity and hockey sense make him dangerous. Hughes can execute the type of plays that Hughes makes look easy. Many scouts view Hughes as being ready to play in the NHL right away and he could become the first player to go straight from the program to the NHL.
Hughes comes from NHL bloodlines. His father, Jim Hughes, was a star defenseman at Providence College before transitioning into a career as a coach and executive. He was an assistant coach for the Boston Bruins and worked as the director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs. He was born in Orlando, Fla., a coaching stop for Jim, and spent much of his life in Boston and Toronto.
Jim also briefly played in Europe. The agent who negotiated that contract? Devils' general manager Ray Shero.
Ellen Hughes, Jack's mother, played hockey for the U.S. women's national team, as well as played lacrosse and soccer for the University of New Hampshire. She's a member of the UNH Hall of Fame and Jack has cited her as an influential coach for he and his brothers.
His older brother, Quinn, calls Rogers Arena home. The seventh pick in the 2018 draft, the 19-year-old defenseman plays for the Vancouver Canucks.
His younger brother, Luke, is following his brothers' footsteps going to play for the U.S. National Team Development Program.
