Breaking news. New Jersey Devils forward Jack Hughes is good at hockey.
In all seriousness, the NHL announced its initial 32 candidates for the 2024 NHL All-Star Game in Toronto at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto on Feb. 3. Hughes was named an all-star for the third time in his career.
Following a 43-goal, 99-point 2022-23, Hughes picked up where he left off with 15 goals and 45 points so far this season. The Devils forward’s 99 points already hold the Devils’ franchise record for most points by a rookie in a single season. Hughes is aiming to be the first player in Devils franchise history to eclipse 100 points. He’s currently on pace to reach 111 in 77 games, missing five to injury.
All 32 players (one per team) were selected by the NHL. The remaining 12 players (eight skaters, four goalies) will be voted in via the 2024 NHL All-Star Fan Vote presented by MassMutual. The vote will be held at NHL.com/vote and via X (formerly Twitter) and the NHL App through Jan. 11.
According to the Devils’ PR, “Jack Hughes was named the NHL Third Star of the Week (week ending on Dec. 3), after No. 86 recorded seven points (3g-4a), while also posting consecutive three-point games. It marked the third time in Hughes’ career that he was a Star of the Week, last earned: Week ending on Jan. 8, 2023.
Per NHL Pr, “Jack Hughes recorded his 30th point and required the third-fewest games in a season to reach the mark among U.S-born players, behind only Pat LaFontaine (11 GP in 1992-93) and Kevin Stevens (12 GP in 1992-93).”
Hughes also required the fewest amount of games played to reach the 30-point benchmark for franchise history. Per NHL Pr, Hughes surpassed the benchmark of 21 games (reach 30 PTS) set by Paul Gardner in 1977-78.
Hughes logged a career-high 27:16 TOI on Fri., Dec. 1, while his prior career-high was 26:13 TOI – vs New York Islanders on Dec. 9, 2022.
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