"Catching up with family business": NHL fans read into Luke Hughes’ social media move after following Tate McRae & Wild

A small social media update from Luke Hughes has sent NHL fans into speculation mode, amid the growing online chatter surrounding pop star Tate McRae and the Hughes family.

According to the NHL Follow Tracker, the New Jersey Devils defenseman recently adjusted his Instagram following list adding Tate McRae, the Minnesota Wild and Tyler Shea, while unfollowing the Vancouver Canucks.

The timing stood out particularly given that his brother Quinn Hughes was recently traded from Vancouver to Minnesota prompting fans to link Luke’s unfollow of the Canucks with his brother’s move to the Wild.

Luke’s follow of McRae also caught notice amid ongoing rumors connecting the singer to Jack Hughes after she was seen attending a Devils game and spending time with him in New York.

Following are some fan reactions from X:

“Bro is catching up with family business” “This is so funny, especially as Quinn doesn’t follow the first 2. I bet the family group chat is booming,” commented another user.

Fan reactions were largely lighthearted with some joking that Luke was simply catching up with family business.

“The whole squad tho??? Chill guys 😂😂,” quipped one user. “That’s hockey baby,” joked another fan.

Neither McRae nor Jack Hughes has confirmed a relationship yet.

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JT Brown’s wife commends Tate McRae's outfit choices for alleged date with Jack Hughes

Speculation surrounding pop star Tate McRae and New Jersey Devils center Jack Hughes picked up traction late last month after a fan-circulated photo of the pair surfaced online.

Former NHL forward JT Brown’s wife Lexi LaFleur Brown added a lighthearted comment to the conversation on X when she retweeted an image shared by B/R Open Ice.

The post referenced McRae and Hughes being spotted together in New York with the original tip credited to celebrity gossip account Deuxmoi. In her caption, Lexi jokingly hinted that McRae’s outfit choice as a subtle nod to Jack Huighes’ team Devils’ colors.

“Showed up to the date wearing his team’s colors. I know an experienced respected vet when I see one 🙂‍↕️.”

B/R Open Ice noted that Hughes, who was sidelined while recovering from shoulder surgery, had been seen out in Manhattan grabbing dinner with McRae.

Tate McRae is a Calgary-born singer, songwriter and dancer who rose to prominence after finishing as a finalist on So You Think You Can Dance before signing with RCA Records. She achieved global success with her 2020 breakout hit “You Broke Me First”, followed by her debut album I Used to Think I Could Fly in 2022 and her 2025 release So Close to What.

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Edited by Anjum Rajonno