"For me, [camp] kind of another place where I can get more comfortable with New Jersey. I can find my way around the rink a little more and get more comfortable around here. I think it's a really good learning curve to be here."
Now as he walks through the Prudential Center, Hughes will be able to pass by the Team Store and see his name stitched to the backs of Devils jerseys. And when the season starts, fans will be wearing them in the stands.
"It's kind of crazy," he said. "Growing up, buying jerseys, looking into stores and looking at players' jerseys and now, for your jersey to be up on the sales rack, being sold, I think it's really cool and maybe it will be pretty funny to see a little kid wearing an 86-Hughes jersey."
And in just a couple of months, Hughes will more than likely be making his NHL debut. Taking part in these summer camps, getting acclimated to his new surroundings and signing his contract were all necessary steps toward that day.
"It's wild. You grew up dreaming of that and thinking about it," Hughes said. "You were looking outside the window at school, thinking about that moment. For it to possibly happen in a month or two, it's awesome and really exciting. It will be an amazing moment for me and my family and all the work I've done is leading up to that moment. It will be a dream come true and it's something I will look forward to for a lot of days to come until it happens."
