Three brothers, three different NHL stories, but only one dream that could change everything. Quinn Hughes has made it clear he wants to play alongside his brothers Jack and Luke in New Jersey, but that reunion might come with an unexpected cost. What happens when family loyalty meets professional reality on the ice?
How Would Quinn Hughes’ Arrival Impact Luke’s Role in New Jersey?
The Hughes brothers have taken the NHL world by storm, and the numbers back it up. Jack Hughes ranked 11th on the NHL’s Top 20 centers, while Quinn Hughes landed second only to Cale Makar in the league’s list of Top 20 defensemen. Jack and Luke anchor the New Jersey Devils, but Quinn remains the face of the Vancouver Canucks.
That could change soon. Quinn has made his intentions clear about wanting to play in New Jersey with his brothers. His contract with the Canucks runs until 2027, but as he suggested in a Sportsnet interview with Luke Fox, whether he continues his run with Vancouver depends on the team’s performance in the 2025-26 season. The Vancouver outfit had a particularly disappointing 2024-25 campaign, leaving Hughes frustrated.
Despite Quinn’s massive presence on the blueline, Vancouver drastically deteriorated in 2024-25. The team dealt with multiple issues, including injuries to key players like Brock Boeser, Elias Pettersson, Thatcher Demko, and Hughes himself. The locker room feud between Pettersson and J.T. Miller made things worse, destroying team chemistry and creating disastrous consequences.
While the Canucks will focus on retaining their standout defenseman next year, Quinn sounds ready to explore other destinations. Combined with his desire to play alongside Jack and Luke, the Devils appear to be the perfect fit for the 25-year-old defenseman.
However, there’s a catch that could affect Luke’s development.
Why Luke Hughes Might Struggle With Quinn on the Team?
In a recent episode of the “32 Thoughts” podcast, Elliotte Friedman shared concerns that Luke could face challenges if his brother joins the Devils. Quinn might become the more valuable blueliner for the team, potentially hurting Luke’s role.
“You know, but the interesting thing that someone said to me was, it was kind of funny in the sense that he said, I don’t know if it would be the best thing for Luke Hughes right now, if Quinn was on the Devils, because number one, power play Quinn, not Luke. Quinn,” Friedman explained, drawing on concerns raised by another individual.
🏒 | Elliotte Friedman on if Quinn Hughes were to join Jack and Luke on the Devils right now via the 32 Thoughts podcast
“I dont think it would be the best thing for Luke Hughes right now if Quinn was on the Devils because #1 (on the) powerplay, Quinn not Luke” pic.twitter.com/QA4jTE6h45
— Hughes Updates (@hughesupdates_) September 11, 2025
Friedman’s concerns about Quinn establishing himself as the more reliable blueliner aren’t unfounded. “Obviously he’s a hugely important player to the future of the Devils, but you know, they’re both lefty shots and, you know, he was saying, of course, if they’re all brothers and they wanted to make it work, they would all find a way to make it work. But he did say from a purely, who’s the alpha of the blue line question on the left side, you know, that might not be the best thing for Luke if Quinn was there right now.”
The reality is simple: both brothers play the same position and shoot left-handed. Quinn’s proven track record and elite skills would likely make him the top choice for premium ice time and power play opportunities.
Fans will have to wait to see whether the Hughes brothers actually end up on the same team. As Quinn suggested through his comments, his decision depends heavily on Vancouver’s performance in 2025-26. The Canucks’ management will go the extra mile to retain a player of Hughes’ caliber, making this family reunion far from guaranteed.
