A record eight players from the NTDP were selected in the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft. Hughes, Minnesota wild forward Matt Boldy, Caufield and Philadelphia Flyers forward Trevor Zegras rank among the top five in points in the NHL from that draft class.
Hughes tops the list in assists (254) and points (419) and Caufield ranks first in goals (167), two ahead of his former linemate.
Hughes said he remembers how determined Caufield was at perfecting his shot.
“Growing up, he always had a knack for scoring,” Hughes said. “I feel like there’s guys that just know how to score and he’s a guy that could always score five-hole. I remember at the program, he never did it as work. He loved hockey and still loves hockey so much, but he was always working on the shot, always shooting.”
Hughes skated alongside Caufield and Boldy over the first half of his NTDP Under-17 season, before Zegras replaced Boldy in his U-18 season.
“I remember the big thing back then was Auston Matthews coming from the program and doing the pull-and-drag shot,” Hughes said. “Everyone would stay on the ice after practice and work on the Matthews toe-drag release. I’m not surprised by his scoring because he hides it well. It comes off his stick so nice, and it looks so good.”
Caufield holds the NTDP record for goals in a season, with 72 in 2018-19, and at the time set the record for career goals (126) in 123 games over two seasons. He tied Alex Ovechkin (2002) for most goals (14) at the IIHF 2019 Under-18 World Championship to help the United States win a bronze medal while playing right wing on a line with Hughes.
Cole Eiserman, chosen No. 20 by the New York Islanders in the 2024 NHL Draft, passed Caufield in career goals at the NTDP, scoring 127 in 119 games from 2022-24.
Hughes is hopeful one day he and Caufield will again join forces on an international level or the World Cup of Hockey. Hughes became a national sports hero when he scored at 1:41 of overtime to give Team USA a 2-1 win against Team Canada in the gold medal game of the men’s hockey tournament at the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics on Feb. 22. A whirlwind media tour followed.
The 24-year-old has 68 points (24 goals, 44 assists) in 54 games with the Devils this season, including 32 points (12 goals, 20 assists) in 18 games since returning from Milan.
“Cole is one of the premier USA Hockey players around,” Hughes said. “Obviously, we won gold, so we had the perfect lineup. But Cole’s had such a tremendous year. If there’s more spots, he deserves to be on that team, like Jason Robertson. It just so happens there’s only so many guys you can take, but Cole’s a guy who, down the line, will be on plenty of U.S. National teams.”
