Hughes is expected to be available for the Americans in Milan after suffering a minor lower-body injury last month. Michael Reaves / Getty Images
Feb. 5, 2026Updated 9:34 am EST
MILAN — With most NHL Olympians set to head to Italy on Saturday, league sources say the United States’ Jack Hughes is expected to be available for the Americans in Milan.
The United States opens the tournament against Latvia on Feb. 12.
Hughes, 24, is expected to miss the New Jersey Devils’ final game before the Olympic break on Thursday night against the New York Islanders. It will be his third consecutive game out of New Jersey’s lineup since sustaining what is said to be a minor lower-body injury in the first period of a game against Nashville on Jan. 29.
“Jack is just not improved enough to the point that our medical team will let him out there,” Devils coach Sheldon Keefe told reporters Wednesday, according to Devils team reporter Amanda Stein. “He’s not going to be available (Thursday). They say he’s in the day-to-day category, and we don’t have a lot of days left here.”
However, with a week still before the United States’ first game, league sources say Hughes will travel to Milan and should be available at the start or near the beginning of the Olympics. The Americans have two sets of siblings in the Winter Games — Jack and older brother, Quinn Hughes, and Matthew and Brady Tkachuk.
Jack Hughes has scored 12 goals and 36 points in 36 games for the Devils.
Feb 5, 2026
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