There may be no such thing as an ideal age to play in the NHL. If not, just look at Brad Marchand and Jack Hughes. While the former continues to prove his talent on the Florida Panthers at 37, the latter carries the New Jersey Devils‘ hopes at 24.
However, older players tend to have an advantage when it comes to experience. Marchand knows things Hughes may still be learning in the NHL, and he’s not hesitating to teach the kid a few lessons.
Recently, the Devils center went viral when talking about his rookie year in the league, with comments that gave plenty to talk about on social media. In fact, Marchand was among those who reacted to Hughes’ words.
Marchand jokes about Hughes’ comments on rookie year
“I hated it. I was in high school, driving a car my parents paid for. Then the following year, you’re making a million bucks. And then it’s like, oh okay — you’ve got McDavid one night, then you got Marchand the next night, then Crosby the next night,” Hughes told ESPN about his rookie season in the NHL.
It didn’t take long for this quote to go viral, with Hockey Forever posting it on Instagram. Curiously, the post caught Marchand’s attention, with the Panthers star dropping a sarcastic message on the comments section.
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“Tough making 1m at 18 , I can see why ya hated it,” Marchand joked. Even though Hughes’ complaint was broader, emphasizing on the challenges of making the leap to the NHL, Marchand didn’t miss the opportunity to poke fun at his colleague.
Comparing Marchand and Hughes’ contracts in the NHL
While Marchand may understand the change Hughes may have felt when entering the NHL, there’s quite a gap between their first contracts. Not only did these players get drafted in different rounds, but also in different years.
A third-round pick in 2006, Marchand’s three-year rookie deal with the Boston Bruins was worth $2,550,000 according to Spotrac. Hughes, on the other hand, got a three-year, $11.325 million deal after being selected first overall by the Devils in 2019.
Eventually, both got bigger paychecks. Marchand, in fact, recently signed a six-year, $31.5 million extension with the Panthers that sees him under contract through age 43. Hughes, on the other hand, is under contract through the 2029-30 NHL season, with a deal worth $8m in average annual value.
