2018 NHL Entry Draft Thread (Less then 24 Hours Edition)

[Saxon]

Boqvist plays a lot more like Markov, tbh.

I didn't mean to insinuate that Hughes plays like Markov. I meant I think they'd be similar if Markov had elite skating. Markov with elite skating wouldn't play like the Markov we all know and love. But Boqvist is another great option at third. Him and Hughes are pretty much even for me.

 

[DramaticGloveSave]

The thing that has Hughes so intriguing to me is that we could slot him on the top pair next to Weber, and Weber can basically be the perfect complement to him and help him reach his full potential...

 

[Runner77]

Yeah Hughes is essentially a 4th forward out there. I think that's where the debate is for me, I don't have much doubt about his offensive potential but can he be that big minutes all-situations guy? And if he were to adapt his style, would that affect his effectiveness?

From what all of you have been writing, the main issue that I see with Hughes besides perhaps his size, is the lack of a shot.

Do we have a comparable profile of someone who is an elite D at the NHL level who is undersized, doesn't have a great shot but otherwise has all of the other desirable attributes?

 

[Jabba11]

I would personally take Boqvist before Hughes. I think by the end of the day, he might fall because of lack of size and shot. If he doesn't fall, then it's probably gonna be Detroit who picks him.

I don't agree with the Markov's comparison. Markov is much bigger and nowhere near Hughes skating ability. Markov is not that fluid. He's a perfect 2-way dmen. Hughes is a PMD and PP QB. Not fully 2-way. If you want a better comparison, even if it's not accurate, but Dobson is way more similar to Markov than Hughes is.

 

[Tyson]

Watching the Memorial Cup last night I saw Dobson for the first time and came away very impressed. He has to be a top 5 pick at this point.
Zadina with all of his goal scoring prowess still has skating that is a concern. Thachuk I am not a fan of and I have never seen Hughes or Boqvist play.

 

[NotProkofievian]

Watching the Memorial Cup last night I saw Dobson for the first time and came away very impressed. He has to be a top 5 pick at this point.
Zadina with all of his goal scoring prowess still has skating that is a concern. Thachuk I am not a fan of and I have never seen Hughes or Boqvist play.

All of his WC games are online.

edit:

and here's some Boqvist shift-by-shift footage

 

[Saxon]

I would personally take Boqvist before Hughes. I think by the end of the day, he might fall because of lack of size and shot. If he doesn't fall, then it's probably gonna be Detroit who picks him.

I don't agree with the Markov's comparison. Markov is much bigger and nowhere near Hughes skating ability. Markov is not that fluid. He's a perfect 2-way dmen. Hughes is a PMD and PP QB. Not fully 2-way. If you want a better comparison, even if it's not accurate, but Dobson is way more similar to Markov than Hughes is.

That's why I used the"with elite skating" qualifier. What about Hughes game makes you think he can't be a two way defender. He had one of the best plus minuses on his NCAA team as a rookie, he looked good against NHLers in the world championships. I think he can do everything Markov can but with elite skating. That's my point.

 

[Kudo Shinichi]

I think it will go like this:

Buffalo: Dahlin
Carolina: Svechnikov
MTL: Zadina
Ottawa: Tkachuk
Arizona: Hughes
Detroit: Dobson
Vancouver: Boqvist
Hawks: Wahlstrom
Rangers: Kotkaniemi
Edmonton: Bouchard

 

[sandviper]

From what all of you have been writing, the main issue that I see with Hughes besides perhaps his size, is the lack of a shot.

Do we have a comparable profile of someone who is an elite D at the NHL level who is undersized, doesn't have a great shot but otherwise has all of the other desirable attributes?

I think Legit was the only one to say Hughes doesn’t have a good shot. I disagree strongly about this. Sure, he doesn’t fire bombs like Weber let alone having a shot like fellow prospect Boqvist.

However, Hughes has a very good shot and an excellent release. I get it, he’s more of a playmaking defenceman and probably won’t score 20+ goals a year but he doesn’t have to be the one scoring to create offense.

Thus, I think those saying Hughes has a weak shot probably saw a couple clips and looking at his shooting percentage. Just like saying he and Mete aren’t too different... the gap between those two in all facets of the game aren’t even close.

Anyhow, back to his shot, don’t just take my word for it. Plenty of scouting reports reinforce my claim that Hughes has a good shot.

 

[Runner77]

I think Legit was the only one to say Hughes doesn’t have a good shot. I disagree strongly about this. Sure, he doesn’t fire bombs like Weber let alone having a shot like fellow prospect Boqvist.

However, Hughes has a very good shot and an excellent release. I get it, he’s more of a playmaking defenceman and probably won’t score 20+ goals a year but he doesn’t have to be the one scoring to create offense.

Thus, I think those saying Hughes has a weak shot probably saw a couple clips and looking at his shooting percentage. Just like saying he and Mete aren’t too different... the gap between those two in all facets of the game aren’t even close.

Anyhow, back to his shot, don’t just take my word for it. Plenty of scouting reports reinforce my claim that Hughes has a good shot.

Thanks for adding further perspective.

I've read more than one poster on this forum, putting into question Hughes's shot esp. when comparing to Boqvist. If it's overblown, then it's good news.

 

[The Great Weal]

Hughes is probably comparable to mine.

What the f***

 

[The Great Weal]

Since Hughes doesn't have an absolute cannon of a shot, it means it sucks.

 

[sandviper]

Thanks for adding further perspective.

I've read more than one poster on this forum, putting into question Hughes's shot esp. when comparing to Boqvist. If it's overblown, then it's good news.

Well, Boqvist does have a better shot than Hughes, I won’t deny that. However, I just dont see this making Hughes’ shot weak. It’s not a cannon, but it’s not a muffin either.

Anyhow, Hughes’ real strength lies in his ability to transition from defending to attacking and creating offense in general. The discussions about Hughes’ shot reminds me of the PK and Weber discussions where Weber scores more but PK may be more dynamic.

I’ve said it many times though that Boqvist can do all this but he also has a better shot, which is why I like him more than Hughes (though I am concerned about the concussions). Granted, amateur scouts won’t care what I say of course, but I would be surprised if Hughes’ shot is even a discussion point.

 

[The Great Weal]

Well, Boqvist does have a better shot than Hughes, I won’t deny that. However, I just dont see this making Hughes’ shot weak. It’s not a cannon, but it’s not a muffin either.

Anyhow, Hughes’ real strength lies in his ability to transition from defending to attacking and creating offense in general. The discussions about Hughes’ shot reminds me of the PK and Weber discussions where Weber scores more but PK may be more dynamic.

I’ve said it many times though that Boqvist can do all this but he also has a better shot, which is why I like him more than Hughes (though I am concerned about the concussions). Granted, amateur scouts won’t care what I say of course, but I would be surprised if Hughes’ shot is even a discussion point.

I'm far more concerned with his positioning and if he will be able to make that transition. His shot is good, I have seen it more than enough and I have read in many places. It's definitely not the best out of the dmen right projected to go top 10, but it is still good. Once he adds on muscle and practices more, his shot will only get much better.

 

[Draft]

Watching the Memorial Cup last night I saw Dobson for the first time and came away very impressed. He has to be a top 5 pick at this point.
Zadina with all of his goal scoring prowess still has skating that is a concern. Thachuk I am not a fan of and I have never seen Hughes or Boqvist play.

Zadina's skating ability is not a concern. Well above average skater. Great balance and agility, good edge work. His skating isn't dominant where top end speed is concerned, but it's nothing to sniff at either. Not going to be an issue in the NHL just as it isn't an issue for the other 95% of NHL players that aren't like McDavid or Paul Byron.

 

[Tyson]

Zadina's skating ability is not a concern. Well above average skater. Great balance and agility, good edge work. His skating isn't dominant where top end speed is concerned, but it's nothing to sniff at either. Not going to be an issue in the NHL just as it isn't an issue for the other 95% of NHL players that aren't like McDavid or Paul Byron.

Totally believe you but it seems like the one topic that everyone mentions when discussing Zadina. I thought he looked great at the WJC.

 

[Mrb1p]

What the ****

My shot is that bad, yeah.

 

[Mrb1p]

Since Hughes doesn't have an absolute cannon of a shot, it means it sucks.

Cmon, his shot sucks. He's not gonna get the puck in the net with consistency at the next level. Nmae me ONE top two Dman with a weak clapper and a meh wrister.

 

[Draft]

Totally believe you but it seems like the one topic that everyone mentions when discussing Zadina. I thought he looked great at the WJC.

Did he ever look good! I think it's that Svechnikov is such a dynamic skater and it's one of the reasons Zadina's so firmly rated at #3. More of a fault as measured against his primary competition rather than against the draft class or other top picks. Will be a better and more dynamic skater than Galchenyuk IMO.

 

[Draft]

Cmon, his shot sucks. He's not gonna get the puck in the net with consistency at the next level. Nmae me ONE top two Dman with a weak clapper and a meh wrister.

I'd have to agree with this. I don't see him being any kind of threat from the blue line at the NHL level. He's got lots of other things going for him though - it may not mean he can't still be successful.

 

[Mrb1p]

I'd have to agree with this. I don't see him being any kind of threat from the blue line at the NHL level. He's got lots of other things going for him though - it may not mean he can't still be successful.

The three biggest drabacks though are:
1- Shot
2- Size
3- Play style

Theyre all pretty big red flags...

But then you look at his strengths...:
1- Skating
2- Production
3- Playmaking

He's tough...

 

[ProspectsSTC]

Cmon, his shot sucks. He's not gonna get the puck in the net with consistency at the next level. Nmae me ONE top two Dman with a weak clapper and a meh wrister.

Ryan Suter, but I agree that his shot really isn't very good and I'm not sure he can be a top 2 dman at the next level

 

[HuGort]

I think it will go like this:

Buffalo: Dahlin
Carolina: Svechnikov
MTL: Zadina
Ottawa: Tkachuk
Arizona: Hughes
Detroit: Dobson
Vancouver: Boqvist
Hawks: Wahlstrom
Rangers: Kotkaniemi
Edmonton: Bouchard

You think Rangers will take another center at 9? They have 2 good ones in system and traded for Howden. Need help everywhere else except center

 

[Jabba11]

Ryan Ellis was small. But damn he had a shot from the point. His skating is nowhere close to Hughes. Production, he had it.

Yet, it was still hard for Ellis to transition to the NHL. Hughes is closer to Samuel Girard than to Ellis. But Girard was not a top 10 pick. So, the question is Quinn special enough to be taken 3rd overall. There's just so many things going against him. I prefer an all around defenseman like Dobson to build around than hope for Hughes to reach his potential. I honestly think Bergevin will go with a forward though. He said he wanted a player that can quickly contribute. Boqvist needs more time in the SHL. Dobson needs to beef up. Quinn needs to beef up too. Yes, he played at the WHC, but it's a tourney. Sam Reinhart played there too and got sent down.

 

[Saxon]

Cmon, his shot sucks. He's not gonna get the puck in the net with consistency at the next level. Nmae me ONE top two Dman with a weak clapper and a meh wrister.

Andrei Markov.....