The Hughes Bowl is the matchup where the star Hughes brothers Quinn (Minnesota Wild). Jack and Luke (New Jersey Devils) battle on ice, turning a regular NHL season game into a fun and competitive family rivalry.
This coming January 12, 2025, the highly anticipated "Hughes Bowl" will make its first appearance in the State of Hockey, after former captain of the Canucks, Quinn Hughes, was traded to the Minnesota Wild.
Circumstances have prevented the Hughes brothers from playing together in recent months, ultimately delaying the return of the siblings' reunion on ice.
Jack Hughes underwent a shoulder injury in 2025 that prematurely ended his 2024–25 season. More recently, the long-anticipated rivalry was stalled by Quinn Hughes' trade to the Minnesota Wild. He was traded before the next opportunity for the brothers to face off could arrive.
The decision reportedly came from Quinn Hughes himself, with him not wanting to sign a contract extension with the Vancouver Canucks this summer. Canucks' 2024-25 season had sharply declined, and the organization needed to make changes. By trading Hughes, they received a massive package of prospects and a high draft pick (forwards Marco Rossi and Liam Öhgren, defenseman Zeev Buium, and a 2026 first-round pick).
Canucks management stated the trade allowed them to acquire "really good young players" and continue their process of a "rebuild" with a focus on a "new wave" of talent, rather than trying to make a push with their current core.
Combining his stats from his time in the Vancouver Canucks and the Minnesota Wild, Quinn Hughes holds 35 points with 3 goals and 32 assists in 38 games, ranking him 7th in points among defensemen and 3rd in assists.
As of January 7, the Vancouver Canucks sit near the bottom of the league with a record of16-21-5 for 37 points. Meanwhile, the Minnesota Wild stands at 25-11-8 for 58 points, which ties them with the Dallas Stars for the third-highest point total in the league.
Jack Hughes's injury happened after the season began. He suffered a non-hockey related injury (finger) that required surgery, resulting in him missing a total of 18 games. He returned to the lineup on December 21st, five weeks after surgery, a quicker recovery than anticipated.
He wasted no time in proving that he belongs on the ice, immediately finding the back of the net against the Sabres 8 minutes into the first period to show his return. He currently holds 24 points with 11 goals and 13 assists in 25 games.
But recently, the youngest, Luke Hughes found himself under fire after the Hurricanes game last January 4, facing intense booing from his own fans following a play that resulted in two accidental own-goals.
However, the play was clearly a tough, unavoidable mistake, and the criticism aimed at the young defenseman is unwarranted. Luke Hughes expressed his own frustration and admits his mistake and aims to "know better."
Following the incident, the Devils supported Luke Hughes, and Head Coach Sheldon Keefe expressed his disappointment, stating it was disheartening to hear that reaction from the home crowd directed at the youngest player on the ice.
Devils Captain Nico Hischier also addressed the events, explaining that he strongly disagreed with the crowd's reaction, saying "booing doesn't help."
Fans anticipated frustration from goaltender Jake Allen regarding the accidental goal, but Allen quickly rallied to the young defenseman's side.
"I've had fans boo me. I've had this and that, which, listen, I don't think he deserves. He's a kid that made two mistakes in a hockey game. Whoever doesn't make mistakes, I'd love to meet you, you know? But, it's a tough situation for him. In a game like that, probably something he' never felt before."Jake Allen, New Jersey Devils Goaltender
The criticism was intensified by the fact that Luke had recently been signed to a 7-year, $63 millon contract with the Devils, leading fans to express their disappointment and harshly scrutinize him for a single, accidental error.
Despite that, Luke Hughes carries 21 points with 4 goals and 17 assists in 43 games, placing him at 35th for defensemen in the league, standing above K'Andre Miller of the Hurricanes and Roman Josi of the Predators.
The Wild stand at 3rd with 25-11-8 for 58 points, which ties them with the Dallas Stars for the third-highest point total in the league. New Jersey Devils sit at 19th with 22-19-2 for 46 points, tying with the Boston Bruins and New York Rangers.
The highly anticipated Hughes Bowl will finally come back, reuniting the brothers on ice and making its first-ever appearance in the State of Hockey. This Monday night, it's more than a game: it's one family, two teams, and three brothers battling for the win.