Jack Hughes skated with the New Jersey Devils Tuesday morning ET after a whirlwind media tour following his U. S. Olympic golden goal, and luke hughes, his younger brother and Devils teammate, said the extra attention has not changed him. The media stops included Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon; now Jack’s focus is the stretch run with the Devils. The team immediately faces a test against the Florida Panthers and Olympic teammate Matthew Tkachuk as the roster refocuses.
Back to work: Jack Hughes and the Devils
Jack Hughes, the U. S. men’s golden goal-scorer from Milan, completed a brief national media tour and then resumed team activity when he skated Tuesday morning ET. He described the last weeks as “the best couple weeks of my life” and said, “Now, after all this, it’s in the rearview mirror for a little bit. We’ll pull it out back in the summer. But yeah, it’s back to Devils and locking back in here and trying to win some games. ”
The immediate storyline is how the spotlight will coexist with the Devils’ playoff push. Florida coach Paul Maurice noted the prominence of the moment and compared the potential arc to past champions, saying that if Jack becomes part of Stanley Cup champions it will add to the narrative for the game. Matthew Tkachuk spoke to the depth of bond created by the Olympic run, saying the players who reached gold are “linked together forever. ”
Luke Hughes on the whirlwind
Luke Hughes has been visible in the locker-room reaction. He called the travel and appearances “really fun” and said of his brother, “I don’t think one goal changes you…. I think he was just really happy to be a part of it. ” That calm take from luke hughes underscored a team view that the Olympic triumph and subsequent media attention are celebrations to be enjoyed, then set aside for the club schedule.
Teammates who returned from the Milano Cortina Games have already had an immediate impact on the Devils’ results, and Jack’s return to regular season ice came amid that group’s reintegration. The contrast between national celebrity moments and daily professional demands remains a central thread for the locker room.
What’s next
The Devils are turning toward the stretch run and a homestand that will test how quickly the Olympic returnees can sustain club form; the team is preparing for a seven-game homestand starting Tuesday ET. Expect coaching staff and players to emphasize practice time and game-focus minutes as Jack and his teammates move from media appearances back into competitive routine. The spotlight will follow, but luke hughes said the message in the room is clear: celebrate, then lock in—and the Devils aim to win some games.
