Luke Hughes Back at Devils Practice as Family Celebrates Olympic Gold and Jack Hughes Delivers OT Winner
Luke Hughes was back at practice today as the Devils returned from their extended Olympic break, a notable step after he was placed on long-term injured reserve with a shoulder injury in January 2026. The timing matters: while Luke watched his brothers win gold from New Jersey, the club is now regrouping with coach Sheldon Keefe offering an update on Luke and outlining the plan as the team prepares to resume its NHL schedule.
Luke Hughes Returns to Practice
Luke Hughes, who had been on long-term injured reserve with a shoulder injury, skated with the team on the first day back following the Olympic pause. Keefe discussed the return from the Olympic break and provided an update on Luke Hughes while mapping out the team's plan as play resumes. Luke also spoke about his family's accomplishments at the 2026 Olympics and shared his thoughts on Jack's game-winning overtime goal that secured the gold.
Jack Hughes's Olympic OT Goal and the Milan Sweep
Jack Hughes finished the Olympic tournament with a dramatic moment, putting the puck past Jordan Binnington in overtime on Sunday night to score the golden goal. That finish capped a remarkable run for the Hughes family in Milan: their mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, helped coach the U. S. women's team to a 2-1 gold medal victory over Canada on Thursday, a game watched from the stands by sons Jack and Quinn. Teammates and coaches — including head coach Sheldon Keefe and defenseman Brett Pesce — shared their reactions to Jack scoring the game-winning goal for the Americans.
The sequence was striking: the family had already celebrated Olympic gold on the women's side, and three days after that victory the brothers found themselves swapping roles and celebrated again on the men's side, a kind of professional hockey musical chairs.
Who the Hughes Family Is and How They Got Here
The Hughes family history is threaded through college hockey, coaching and development. Jim Hughes played hockey in college before transitioning into coaching, later serving five years as director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs and then moving into talent representation as director of player development for CAA Hockey. Ellen Weinberg-Hughes was a three-sport athlete at the University of New Hampshire — competing in soccer, lacrosse and hockey — and won a silver medal at the 1992 IIHF Women's World Championships. Women's hockey did not debut at the Olympics until 1998, just after Ellen's playing days ended. She later worked as a broadcaster and stepped away from television in 2009 when Jim's career required the family's full attention.
Quinn and Jack were both born in Orlando, Florida, while Jim was an assistant coach for the Solar Bears. Luke was born in 2003. The family eventually settled in Mississauga, Ontario, where the boys grew up on Canadian ice before ultimately moving to Michigan when the oldest brothers were in high school. They are the only American family to have three brothers selected in the first round of the NHL draft: Quinn went seventh overall to the Vancouver Canucks in 2018; Jack went first overall to the New Jersey Devils in 2019; and Luke went fourth overall to the Devils in 2021, joining Jack in New Jersey.
Quinn is now with the Minnesota Wild after a December trade, and he won the Norris Trophy as the NHL's best defenseman in 2024; he was also voted Best Defender of this Olympic tournament by the IIHF. Jack is the Devils' franchise center, having set a team record with 99 points in 2022-23, and is now widely recognized in the United States after his overtime winner, toothless as he may now be. Luke, a defenseman like Quinn, made the all-rookie team in 2023-24 and trains alongside his brothers every summer in intense sessions.
Devils Practice Notes and Locker-Room Voices
The first practice back was full of activity and family moments. Jesper Bratt returned to practice after his time in Milan at the Olympics. Former Devils captain Andy Greene hit the ice with his former team to help out at practice, a nostalgic sight for the club. Dillon shared his thoughts on seeing Simon Nemec excel at the Olympics. Cody Glass spoke about the upcoming return to play after the Olympic break. Jake Allen offered his perspective on the upcoming final stretch of the season, while Connor Brown described what it feels like to be back after the extended Olympic pause.
Off-ice events were in the mix as well: the team's annual Sweep the Deck gala included visible festivities, with Arseny Gritsyuk touring the event for the first time alongside Amanda Stein. Meanwhile, Brodeur discussed Canada's goalies and Elias recounted a lighthearted "small pants" Olympic injury story.
What Comes Next
As the Devils resume their NHL schedule, Keefe's emphasis is on a measured plan for the return to play and on integrating players coming back from international duty and injury. Luke Hughes's presence at practice is a concrete sign of progress after his placement on long-term injured reserve in January 2026, but the club will continue to manage the roster and readiness as the season's final stretch approaches.
