PuckSleuthCap hit
$8M
7.7% of $104M cap
Term
4 yrs
Through 2029-30, then UFA
Clause
M-NTC
10-team no-trade list
Surplus value
+$3.81M
vs. $11.81M market estimate
Confirmed by the public signing announcement · source
2026-27 regular season
GP
1
Goals
1
20.0% shooting
Assists
0
0 primary
Points
1
1.00 per game
TOI/GP
25:48
PP 5:28 · PK 0:22
xGF%
71.3
5v5, +17.9 vs. last yr
Game Score
+0.30
per game, goals above average
Faceoff %
—
3 W · 11 L
Plus/minus
+2
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 vs PHI · W 3-2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 25:48 | 5:28 | 0:22 | 3-11 | 100 | 2 | 0 | +2 | +0.30 |
| Apr 14 @ BOS · L 4-0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 21:07 | 1:49 | 0:00 | 0-13 | 83 | 4 | 0 | -2 | -0.64 |
| Apr 12 vs OTT · W 4-3 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 25:32 | 5:19 | 1:12 | 2-6 | 100 | 4 | 0 | 0 | +0.34 |
| Apr 11 @ DET · W 5-3 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 19:47 | 0:00 | 0:14 | 5-8 | 50 | 0 | 0 | +1 | +1.04 |
| Apr 9 vs PIT · L 5-2 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 20:49 | 1:02 | 0:48 | 2-9 | 100 | 3 | 0 | -1 | +0.45 |
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 · 992 min · percentile vs. NHL forwards
78th percentile
89th percentile
31st percentile
91st percentile
97th percentile
92nd percentile
42nd percentile
93rd percentile
80th percentile
92nd percentile
45th percentile
91st percentile
15th percentile
99th 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 offensive playmaker
Trait percentiles vs. NHL centers · 2025-26
Hughes is a generational scorer and passer who controls play at an elite level, generating chances at an exceptional rate. However, he struggles with puck security and has minimal physicality, making him vulnerable without the puck and in contested areas.
- Shooting volume
- 97
- Playmaking
- 97
- Zone entries(est.)
- 39
- Forechecking
- 7
- Physicality
- 1
- Defensive impact
- 25
- Puck management
- 0
- Speed
- 71
Where he shoots from
Slot 48% · Mid-range 43% · Perimeter 8%(310 unblocked shots)
Strengths
- Playmaking at 97th percentile makes him one of the league's premier pass-first threats
- Shooting volume at 97th percentile shows relentless offensive aggression and shot selection
- Expected goals share of 53.5% demonstrates he controls possession when on ice
Watch-outs
- Puck management at 0th percentile indicates significant ball-watching and turnover issues
- Forechecking at 7th percentile means minimal defensive pressure on opponents with the puck
- Physicality at 1st percentile leaves him unable to win battles or create space physically
Similar style: Macklin Celebrini (SJS), Leon Draisaitl (EDM)
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 · 61 GP · goals above average
Season total +11.2 goals, or +0.18 per game.
- Even strength offense
- +1.9
- Even strength defense
- -0.6
- Power play
- +1.1
- Penalty kill
- +0.3
- Finishing
- -0.8
- Playmaking
- +8.4
- Penalties
- +2.1
- Faceoffs
- -1.3
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 | NJD | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | +2 | 5 | 25:48 | — | +0.30 |
| 2025-26 | NJD | 61 | 27 | 50 | 77 | 0 | 228 | 21:19 | 34.8% | +0.18 |
| 2024-25 | NJD | 62 | 27 | 43 | 70 | +12 | 229 | 20:54 | 37.6% | +0.22 |
| 2023-24 | NJD | 62 | 27 | 47 | 74 | -12 | 274 | 20:58 | 37.2% | +0.20 |
| 2022-23 | NJD | 78 | 43 | 56 | 99 | +10 | 336 | 19:58 | 35.3% | +0.23 |
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
NHL forwards · production index
At 25, forwards typically produce 100% of their peak (age 24). His contract runs through age 28, when the typical level is 93%.
From 24 seasons of NHL results, adjusted for league scoring and save percentage in each era. Shaded bars are the seasons left on his contract.
Skating · NHL EDGE
2025-26, as of Oct 2
- Top speed
- 22.5 mph
- 63rd pct
- 20+ mph bursts
- 128
- Hardest shot
- 83.7 mph
- 42nd pct
- Distance
- 229.2 mi
- OZ time
- 45.1%
- 86th pct
- DZ time
- 36.3%