VANCOUVER B次元官网网址� Quinn Hughes wasnB次元官网网址檛 about to give his younger brother much advice heading into the NHL draft.

Sure, Hughes had been there before, having been taken seventh overall by the Vancouver Canucks last year. But he knew his brotherB次元官网网址檚 experience was going to be markedly different.

Speculation had been rife for months that Jack Hughes would be this yearB次元官网网址檚 No. 1 pick.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 not a big difference but it is a big difference, the hype and everything like that,B次元官网网址� Quinn said last week before the big event. B次元官网网址滲ut I donB次元官网网址檛 think heB次元官网网址檚 needed much help or anything like that.B次元官网网址�

He didnB次元官网网址檛.

Jack Hughes was first off the board on Friday night, selected by the New Jersey Devils. The brothers had, however, talked about the possibility of ending up on the same NHL team.

Quinn Hughes skated at the Top Prospects Clinic today with brother Jack and spoke about the experience.

B次元官网网址� New Jersey Devils (@NJDevils)

B次元官网网址淢aybe down the road,B次元官网网址� Jack said. B次元官网网址淩ight now weB次元官网网址檙e going to be looking forward to beating each other next year.B次元官网网址�

Canucks general manager Jim Benning said Quinn Hughes did lobby to have Vancouver switch picks and make a run at his brother.

B次元官网网址淵eah, I had conversations, but they didnB次元官网网址檛 last long,B次元官网网址� Benning said.

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Jack Hughes has drawn awe for his speed and style, but Quinn thinks thereB次元官网网址檚 something else that sets him apart.

B次元官网网址淥bviously heB次元官网网址檚 very skilled on the skating, hockey sense, hands, everything like that. But how competitive he is, IB次元官网网址檝e always thought thatB次元官网网址檚 the big difference in him. He doesnB次元官网网址檛 care who heB次元官网网址檚 playing, heB次元官网网址檚 going to go at you,B次元官网网址� Quinn said.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 so dialled in. I donB次元官网网址檛 know what normal teenagers do, but heB次元官网网址檚 dialled in, heB次元官网网址檚 working out in the morning, getting the right sleep and rest and food and everything like that.B次元官网网址�

Jack said that drive and work ethic comes from his dad, Jim Hughes, whoB次元官网网址檚 long worked in coaching and player development, including for the Boston Bruins and Toronto Maple Leafs.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檝e got to give things, sacrifice things to be the best. ThatB次元官网网址檚 what weB次元官网网址檝e always done and will continue to do,B次元官网网址� Jack said.

The Hughes brothers honed their work ethic in the U.S. National Team Development Program, where Jack tallied 34 goals and 78 assists last season. He was one of eight players from the program taken in the first round of this yearB次元官网网址檚 draft.

The program provides an intensive environment for players who truly want to excel, Quinn said.

But itB次元官网网址檚 nothing like the life of a normal teen.

B次元官网网址淲hen I was there at 15, we were getting up at 7, getting ready for school, going to the rink at 12, having study hall for an hour, working out, skating, then we had this military guy that would put us through some push ups. We wouldnB次元官网网址檛 be home until like 7:30 (p.m.),B次元官网网址� he said.

B次元官网网址淵ouB次元官网网址檙e like 15 years old and no one else is doing that. And you do that for two years and all of the sudden your game takes off.B次元官网网址�

The youngest Hughes brother, Luke, is set to join the development program this year. His brothers have no doubt that heB次元官网网址檒l soon be following in their footsteps at the NHL draft.

B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 going to be a hell of a player. HeB次元官网网址檚 big, can skate, can think,B次元官网网址� Jack said. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檚 pretty much a clone of Quinn, two or three inches bigger. ItB次元官网网址檚 pretty exciting.B次元官网网址�

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For now, though, there are two Hughes brothers linked to NHL franchises.

Quinn Hughes played five games with the Canucks last season after finishing an impressive collegiate career at the University of Michigan.

Jack Hughes is expected to join the Devils this fall.

Already, the brothers are thinking about playing each other next season.

B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 going to be higher stakes. ItB次元官网网址檚 going to be really special,B次元官网网址� Jack said. B次元官网网址滿y mom is going to be really nervous. But all my family will watch. My friends will watch. It will be a really special game. It will be something to look back on.B次元官网网址�

Though Jack Hughes was only drafted on Friday, talk has already swirled about the pair competing for next yearB次元官网网址檚 Calder Trophy, awarded annually to the NHLB次元官网网址檚 top rookie.

ThereB次元官网网址檚 one person, however, who isnB次元官网网址檛 ready to entertain such thoughts.

B次元官网网址淢an, weB次元官网网址檙e a long way from that,B次元官网网址� Jack said. B次元官网网址滻 havenB次元官网网址檛 played a game in the national league. IB次元官网网址檓 not too worked up about that.B次元官网网址�

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press

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