Cap hit
$7.85M
7.5% of $104M cap
Term
1 yr
Through 2026-27, then UFA
Clause
None
Surplus value
—
arrives with the trade tools
Contract details from our records; public announcement not yet matched
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
0
0.0% shooting
Assists
1
1 primary
Points
1
1.00 per game
TOI/GP
27:30
PP 6:01 · PK 0:11
xGF%
60.4
5v5, +6.9 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.35
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
Plus/minus
+1
Blocks 0 · Hits 0
Game log
Last 5 games · NHL API
| Game | G | A | SOG | HIT | BLK | TOI | PP | PK | FO | OZS% | GV | TK | +/- | GS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 1 @ NSH · W 3-1 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 27:30 | 6:01 | 0:11 | — | 80 | 1 | 0 | +1 | +0.35 |
| May 13 @ COL · OTL 4-3 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 30:35 | 1:06 | 0:00 | — | 50 | 0 | 0 | +1 | -0.21 |
| May 11 vs COL · L 5-2 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 34:13 | 4:45 | 0:00 | — | 75 | 3 | 0 | -1 | +0.15 |
| May 9 vs COL · W 5-1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 28:32 | 3:11 | 0:00 | — | 20 | 0 | 1 | +2 | +0.92 |
| May 5 @ COL · L 5-2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 28:07 | 3:16 | 0:00 | — | 89 | 0 | 0 | -1 | +0.48 |
GS = our Game Score, goals above average. FO = faceoffs won-lost. OZS% = share of his 5v5 offensive and defensive zone faceoff starts that were in the offensive zone. GV/TK = giveaways/takeaways.
Advanced metrics
5v5 unless noted · 2025-26 · 1,598 min · percentile vs. NHL defensemen
80th percentile
93rd percentile
52nd percentile
81st percentile
98th percentile
80th percentile
62nd percentile
89th percentile
53rd percentile
94th percentile
0th percentile
76th percentile
50th percentile
62nd percentile
xGF% is his team's share of 5v5 expected goals while he was on the ice, from our own expected goals model; HDCF% counts only high-danger chances (xG of 0.15 or more). IPP is the share of his team's 5v5 goals while he was on the ice that he scored or assisted on. Relative stats compare him with his team when he was off the ice. Goals above expected and ixG/60 use his own shots at all strengths. PDO and OZS% describe luck and deployment, so their bars are grey.
Play styleElite playmaking defenseman
Trait percentiles vs. NHL defensemen · 2025-26
Hughes is an exceptional passer and shot creator who operates at the highest level in transition and setup play, managing the puck with elite speed and shooting volume. His game is built on skill and finesse rather than physical engagement or grinding defensive work, making him most effective as an offensive engine.
- Shooting volume
- 91
- Playmaking
- 99
- Zone entries(est.)
- 18
- Forechecking
- 31
- Physicality
- 0
- Defensive impact
- 33
- Puck management
- 42
- Speed
- 91
Where he shoots from
Slot 13% · Mid-range 39% · Perimeter 49%(286 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Playmaking at the 99th percentile makes him one of the league's best setup men from the blue line
- Shooting volume and speed both at 91st percentile combine to create constant offensive chances off his stick
Watch-outs
- Forechecking at 31st percentile means he rarely initiates pressure in the offensive zone
- Physicality at the 0th percentile shows he avoids contact and does not engage physically
Similar style: Evan Bouchard (EDM), Shea Theodore (VGK)
Built from play-by-play, shift data, and NHL EDGE tracking. Zone entries is an estimate (rush chances while he is on the ice) until tracking data is added.
Where his Game Score comes from
2025-26 · 74 GP · goals above average
Season total +11.3 goals, or +0.15 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +2.6
- Even strength defense
- -0.5
- Power play
- +2.0
- Penalty kill
- +0.2
- Finishing
- -5.7
- Playmaking
- +9.7
- Penalties
- +3.0
Game Score adds up a player's impact in goals compared with an average player given the same ice time: his share of expected goals for and against at even strength, on the power play, and on the penalty kill, plus finishing (goals minus expected goals), primary assists, penalties drawn and taken, and faceoffs. Goalies are measured by goals saved above expected.
By season
Regular season
| Season | Team | GP | G | A | P | +/- | SOG | TOI/GP | FO% | GS/GP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2026-27 | MIN | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | +1 | 5 | 27:30 | — | +0.35 |
| 2025-26 | MIN, VAN | 74 | 7 | 69 | 76 | -4 | 187 | 27:44 | — | +0.15 |
| 2024-25 | VAN | 68 | 16 | 60 | 76 | +2 | 192 | 25:44 | — | +0.29 |
| 2023-24 | VAN | 82 | 17 | 75 | 92 | +38 | 199 | 24:41 | — | +0.25 |
| 2022-23 | VAN | 78 | 7 | 69 | 76 | +15 | 154 | 25:40 | — | +0.14 |
Sentiment & chatter
Fans
—
Beat writers
—
Media
—
Fan, beat writer, and media scores, the 14-day trade chatter chart, and the latest mentions appear once sentiment scoring is switched on. Mentions are already being collected.
Age curve
How players at his position age, and where his contract falls on that curve, arrives with the trade tools.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 22.5 mph
- 83rd pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 174
- Hardest shot
- 95.0 mph
- 79th pct
- Distance
- 307.5 mi
- OZ time
- 46.7%
- 96th pct
- DZ time
- 36.1%