Why isn't Jack Hughes at the NHL All-Star Game?
NEW Jersey Devils center and alternate captain Jack Hughes proved that family matters most after suffering multiple injuries over the last few months.
Jack Hughes has only been in the NHL for a few years, but he's proved himself to be a bonafide ice hockey star – and a standout brother too.
Why isn't Jack Hughes at the NHL All-Star Game?
The 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend features current and former hockey legends all in one place.
Hosted by the Toronto Maple Leafs, the 2024 NHL All-Star Weekend includes three days of hockey fun and competition, including the NHL All-Star Game and NHL All-Star Skills Competition.
Jack Hughes was chosen to compete at both events, but due to unfortunate circumstances, he won't be hitting the ice this year.
He will, however, be there to support his brother, Quinn Hughes, and help Quinn serve as the NHL All-Star Game's red team co-captain.
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The red team's celebrity captain, singer-songwriter Michael Bublé, will also join in on the fun.
“I don’t know when I’ll get the chance to do this again with Quinn, so it definitely was important to both of us for me to come and show up,” Hughes said, as reported by Fox 16 News.
While the NHL hoped Hughes would recover from his injuries in time to take the ice, Hughes was ruled out of participating in the All-Star Skills Competition and 3-on-3 tournament just one week before the event.
“Obviously [it's] a bummer but [it's] no one’s fault, just tough timing and just the way she went,” Hughes said.
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Hughes revealed that it still means a lot for him to be at some of the events and support his brother from the sidelines.
“Still fortunate to be here with Quinn and stuff," he added.
What happened to Jack Hughes?
On Friday, February 2, 2024, Jack Hughes flew back to New Jersey to start preparing for the second half of the NHL season.
Hughes is still recovering from several injuries that occurred earlier this season.
On November 3, 2023, during a game against the St. Louis Blues, Hughes fell into the boards at a high speed, leaving the game with a shoulder injury.
Weeks later, he was back on the ice, and even scored a goal and an assist in the team's November 18 match-up against the New York Rangers.
However, just a few weeks later, Hughes succumbed to his injuries again when he fell during a game against the Chicago Blackhawks on January 5, 2024.
Hughes sustained an upper-body injury, causing him to sit out of the NHL All-Star Weekend's events.
His teammate, Jesper Bratt, was chosen to replace him in the All-Star Game, while New York Islanders forward Mathew Barzal replaced him in the Skills competition.
Despite being sidelined for nearly a month, Hughes remains optimistic about his impending return.
“Hopefully I come out of the break here and feel good and can finish the year off really strong,” Hughes said.
The New Jersey Devils also confirmed that Hughes is "really close" to returning to play.
Who is Quinn Hughes?
Jack Hughes isn't the only hockey player in the family.
In fact, hockey is a family affair for the Hughes brothers, and their parents, too.
Jack has an older brother, Quintin "Quinn" Hughes, and a younger brother, Luke Hughes.
Jack, Quinn, and Luke's mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, also played for the US women's national ice hockey team.
The Hughes brothers' father was the director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Quinn Hughes was born on October 14, 1999, in Orlando, Florida.
After finding success with the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, Quinn joined the University of Michigan for the 2017-18 season.
He was named to the All-Big Ten Freshman and Second Teams, and set a new record for most assists by a freshman defenseman during his time with the Wolverines.
In the 2018 NHL Entry Draft, Quinn was drafted by the Vancouver Canucks in the first round, as the seventh overall pick.
However, he decided to return to Michigan for his sophomore year, and eventually became the 95th All-American in Michigan's history.
On March 10, 2019, Quinn signed a three year entry-level contract with the Canucks.
He made his NHL debut on March 28, 2019, against the Los Angeles Kings.
Quinn has remained with the Canucks ever since, and even made history ahead of the 2023-24 season, when he was named the youngest active captain in the NHL.
Quinn is the 15th captain in Canucks history, and he's also the first American-born player to lead the team.
In 2020, 2021, 2022, and 2023, Quinn received the Babe Pratt Trophy, an annual award presented to the best defenseman on the Vancouver Canucks.
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Internationally, Quinn represents the United States, and even led the US to win a bronze medal during the 2018 World Championships.
Along with his brother, Jack, Quinn was also selected as a co-captain of Team Hughes in the 2024 NHL All-Star Game.
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