Brad Marchand takes a lighthearted jab at Jack Hughes over "making a million bucks" comment

Florida Panthers star Brad Marchand took a lighthearted dig at the New Jersey Devils' Jack Hughes after the latter's comments about the difficulties transitioning from high school to the NHL.

Hughes said he did not enjoy his rookie season as he was suddenly thrust into the spotlight.

"I hated it. I was in high school, driving a car my parents paid for. Then the next year, you're making a million bucks," Hughes said via Hockeyforever on IG.

Marchand responded to Hughes' quote, joking about how tough it must have been to make a million dollars at 18.

"Tough making $1 million at 18."

Jack Hughes was drafted No. 1 overall by the New Jersey Devils in 2019. He had a challenging rookie year, recording 21 points through seven goals and 14 assists in 61 games.

The Devils were a struggling team, finishing near the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The lack of team success likely compounded Hughes' challenges, as he didn't have a strong supporting cast to ease his transition from high school hockey to the NHL.

NHL analyst ranks Brad Marchand second to LeBron James as Toronto's biggest sports villain

During First Up’s Blind Rankings segment on Thursday morning, analysts Michael C. Augello and Dave Feschuk debated Toronto’s biggest sports villain. Feschuk quickly named LeBron James as the top villain.

Augello countered that Brad Marchand is equally villainous, noting his history as a persistent challenge for the Maple Leafs.

"Yeah, but Marchand, I mean, he's been a thorn in the side of the Leafs for years," Augello said (0:50 onwards). "He's got that reputation, you know, the dirty player, the agitator. And he's eliminated them from the playoffs multiple times."

Brad Marchand played a key role in assisting the Florida Panthers to back-to-back Stanley Cup titles. The 37-year-old veteran notched six crucial goals in as many games against the Oilers in the Final.