Evening Notes: Ovechkin, Harrington, Hughes
Alex Ovechkin will miss the Washington Capitals game this evening according to a team release. The Capitals star goal scorer is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury. The 37-year-old winger has scored 42 goals and 74 points in 72 games this season, leading the team in scoring once again and reaching the 40-goal plateau for the 13th time in his illustrious NHL career.
The Capitals have already been eliminated from playoff contention in a disappointing season for the veteran team. They sit 13th in the Eastern Conference with 77 points in 78 games, but Ovechkin continues to chase history. He has scored 822 goals in his career, which puts him 74 back of Wayne Gretzky for most goals in NHL history.
- Anaheim Ducks defenseman Scott Harrington will miss tonight’s game with an upper-body injury, per a team statement. The 30 year old has played 45 games this season with the Ducks, and has played over 20 minutes in each of the team’s past three games. The team did not give any further details other than to say Harrington would not play tonight.
- Luke Hughes, recently signed to an entry-level contract by the New Jersey Devils, will get some game action soon according to General Manager Tom Fitzgerald (twitter link). Hughes was drafted by the Devils fourth overall in the 2021 NHL Draft and just finished his second college season. The 19-year-old defenseman scored ten goals and 48 points in 39 games this season and will likely make his NHL debut in the coming days.
Luke Hughes Signs With New Jersey Devils
Saturday: As expected, the contract is now official with the Devils announcing that Hughes has signed his entry-level deal. The contract will begin this season. CapFriendly reports the deal will carry an AAV of $1.85MM with bonuses and breaks down as follows:
2022-23: $925K base salary (including signing bonus)
2023-24: $925K base salary (including signing bonus), $925K Class ‘A’ bonuses
2024-25: $925K base salary (including signing bonus), $1MM Class ‘A’ bonuses, $850K Class ‘B’ bonuses
PuckPedia clarifies that since Hughes didn’t sign until after the 2022 draft, he’s eligible for the elevated ‘A’ bonuses in the final year instead of being capped at $925K throughout.
Friday: New Jersey Devils fans have been eagerly waiting for top defense prospect Luke Hughes to make his NHL debut. According to Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman, the wait could soon be over, as the 19-year-old defenseman is set to join the team this weekend in Boston. While it’s unclear when exactly he’ll sign his entry-level contract and play for the team, Friedman notes he’ll be given time to acclimate to the NHL environment.
Hughes was the fourth overall pick in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft and is considered one of the top prospects in the league. He’s spent the last two seasons with the University of Michigan, where he’s broken college scoring records and demonstrated excellent skating ability and offensive IQ. With Michigan’s season coming to a close in the semifinals of the NCAA Men’s Hockey Tournament last night at the hands of the Quinnipiac Bobcats, though, Hughes will turn pro in the coming days. At 6-foot-2 and 183 pounds, Hughes has the size to compete at the NHL level, even before his 20th birthday.
The Devils have finally broken out this season, sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference and headed straight for a first-round matchup against the New York Rangers. Part of that, however, is due to an already solid group of defensemen, including Dougie Hamilton, Damon Severson, and Ryan Graves. While it doesn’t seem like there may be a massive opportunity for Hughes to step into the lineup right away, the team’s weak link may be on their third defense pairing, with either Brendan Smith or Kevin Bahl typically occupying a spot alongside Severson. When Hughes eventually makes his Devils debut, that’s likely where the left-shot defender will slot in.
It’s important to temper expectations, however. Hughes has yet to get a taste of professional hockey and will be thrown straight into the competitive environment of a top NHL team pushing to make a deep playoff run. The Devils won’t throw a potential franchise cornerstone into the fire before he’s ready. Still, even with limited minutes, this time could benefit Hughes’ development and improve his chances of playing a more impactful full-time role in 2023-24.
The Devils have a solid recent history of helping young talent hit their potential, with four main scoring threats (Jack Hughes, Nico Hischier, Jesper Bratt, and Dawson Mercer) being drafted and developed talents under the age of 25. If the same can be achieved with Hughes, who registered 10 goals and 48 points in 39 games during his sophomore campaign at Michigan, the team is bound to have one of the most well-constructed rosters in the league for years to come.