Jack Hughes defended his performance at last year’s 4 Nations Face-Off, where he managed just one secondary assist while playing wing instead of his usual center position.
“I thought I played great at 4 Nations,” Hughes said this week. “I really did. I liked my game. Sometimes the puck doesn’t go in, and you guys just look at results-based things. That’s the way the world is, and that’s the way sports are. I liked my game there. That’s something I will stand to. I thought I played well.”
His brother Quinn Hughes wasn’t available for that NHL international tournament due to injury.
At the Milan Olympics, the smooth-skating defenseman has shown exactly what Team USA was missing. Both Hughes brothers have been the Americans’ best players at the Olympics. Quinn scored the overtime winner against Sweden that put the U.S. in the semifinals.
“One of our best players taking over there and winning that game for us,” Jack said of his eldest brother. “I’m just doing my thing. I’m trying to contribute when I can, and when they put me on the ice, I’m trying to bring it.”
Jack’s had a tough stretch with injuries. He missed the end of last season with the New Jersey Devils because of a shoulder injury.
Then he was sidelined for five weeks after surgery to repair a right thumb injury from an accident at a team dinner in November. He also missed time just before the Olympics.
You couldn’t tell by watching him play with “USA” on his jersey. Hughes has a goal and three assists while controlling play during his shifts.
“Mentally, you can tell his intentions are going out there and trying to dominate every shift — and he can do that at the highest level,” center Dylan Larkin said. “He’s not waiting around. He’s going and taking charge, grabbing the puck and doing his thing with it. You can see the mindset from Day One in practice, and he’s carried it throughout the tournament and that’s what star players do.”
Quinn Hughes fits the definition of a star player. The defenseman won the Norris Trophy as the NHL’s best at his position in 2023-24. He’s considered one of the top defensemen in the world alongside Canada’s Cale Makar.
Quinn was traded from Vancouver to Minnesota in December.
Coach Mike Sullivan used Hughes like a star player: 25 minutes of ice time in regulation plus another two in overtime against Sweden. Sullivan has no regrets because it’s single-elimination now.
“It’s Game 7, so there’s nothing to play for unless we win,” Sullivan said. “We were going to make decisions behind the bench based on that, just trying to put guys on the ice in certain situations that we think give our team the best chance to win. And he’s in a lot of those situations.”
Hughes made a spectacular individual play on his overtime goal that helped the U.S. escape after Sweden tied it with 91 seconds left in regulation.
He created space for himself, then fired a shot past Jacob Markstrom.
“It’s a 3 on 3, and you want to put the puck in his hands, so you’re getting it to him and then look at what he can create all for himself there with his ability, all of his skill,” defense partner Charlie McAvoy said. “With his skating, his stickhandling, he’s able to create something out of nothing there and win us that hockey game kind of all by himself.”
The first goal against Sweden featured Michigan natives. Quinn passed to Jack for the shot that Larkin deflected into the net.
“That is family business right there,” Jack said.
The U.S. faces Slovakia on Friday for a chance to play for gold. They’ve gotten contributions from goaltender Connor Hellebuyck to captain Auston Matthews. The top line features Jack Eichel between brothers Brady and Matthew Tkachuk.
But the Hughes roommates are driving the team forward. They’re not ready for this to end.
“Really enjoying wearing the crest and playing with the superstars that we have on our team,” Quinn said. “Getting to know these guys, the village, all of it. You just want to extend it as long as you can.”
AP Winter Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
