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

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Mrb1p said:
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...
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Really difficult to project. Personally, I don't think he'll be able to protect the puck or hang out on the perimeter as easily or productively in the NHL. Very difficult to teach him how to grow or shoot the puck - his issues aren't easily coachable, they're largely based in his physical stature and physical limitations.

Dobson on the other hand.... Lots of room to grow and plays a style more suited to the NHL. You can't teach how Hughes plays though, he's absolutely talented.
 
Mrb1p said:
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.
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It really doesn't. Mete and Beaulieus shot sucks. I also don't know how you can already predict that when he hasn't even had the opportunity to practice and put on some more muscle in order to improve.
 
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Can't compare as I haven't watched Boqvist and Hughes and only Merkley a few times, but Merkley has a nice shot. His offensive ability is off the charts. Boqvist and Hughes might be ahead defensively, but Merkley has got to be right there with them offensively.

I think he would be a solid pick up if he falls to our 1st 2nd, or that pick + another to move into the late 1st to get him, especially if we take a forward with the 3rd overall.
 
Merkley is a f***ing idiot. That kid has issues and my God he is going to get KILLED in the NHL with that shitty attitude and abysmal defensive play. His defensive play is so bad it would make Beaulieus look average.

I also don't think he has either of them beat offensively.
 
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The Great Schlemko said:
Merkley is a ****ing idiot. That kid has issues and my God he is going to get KILLED in the NHL with that ****ty attitude and abysmal defensive play. His defensive play is so bad it would make Beaulieus look average.
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i would pick him and play him at wing instead of at defense
 
I don't have one issue with Hughes play style, I think his play style is a positive not a negative. He's really not bad defensively, he just happens to be an electric offensive player. The issues are his size and mediocre shot- neither are huge issues on their own, but combined they do give one pause. Still, I think he's going to be an absolute monster.
 
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DramaticGloveSave said:
I don't have one issue with Hughes play style, I think his play style is a positive not a negative. He's really not bad defensively, he just happens to be an electric offensive player. The issues are his size and mediocre shot- neither are huge issues on their own, but combined they do give one pause. Still, I think he's going to be an absolute monster.
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Hes not a bad positional defender at all, but he's often all over the place with his D and his O, something coaches hate.
 
DramaticGloveSave said:
It's not like he makes a ton of mistakes out there though, and he certainly has the speed to recover if he does.
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He does make mistakes, and he does tend to choose to make them at awful times. He has gotten better at that, but he made critical turnovers as the last man back trying to dangle the one for checker instead of just passing the puck.
 
Literally out of context, but I was reading the Joseph Veleno thread, then it lead me to think about how the Islanders love their Q players like anthony Beauvillier. Then made me think of Mathew Barzal. And then made me go and check of all my 2015 mock drafts on my blog, where was Barzal ranked:

August 2014: 4th overall

Florida Panthers - C Mathew Barzal Seattle Thunderbirds(WHL)
Skinny: Barzal's skillset makes him a dangerous threat on the ice with or without the puck. His hockey IQ is amongst the top of his draft class and plays the game at a high pace. His best ability is knowing when to drive for the net or to feed his teammates. A true playmaker that elevates everyone around him on another level.
Player Comparable: Matt Duchene

May 2014: 6th overall

New Jersey Devils – C Mathew Barzal, Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL)
Since the departure of Zach Parise, New Jersey had lots of trouble finding the back of the net. Barzal showed during the last U18 tournament why he was touted as one of the best talents of his draft class before injuries have delayed his progression. However, he still managed to be a PPG player in the Dub and finished 2nd in scoring for the Thunderbirds with 1 point behind team leading scorer Ryan Gropp despite having played 23 games less.
Comparable: Matt Duchene

All of this to say, one I'm really happy I got this guy right. What he has accomplised in his first season is amazing. Second, number 1 centers are really found through drafts and we need to make it happen. If not this year, next year is our year.
 
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End of the day, you can coach Hughes’ defence and get him to work within the team structure. Nothing I have heard about him tells me he is uncoachable (looking at you Merkley). Even if his shot is mediocre, he’s only 18 and has a few years to fill out and get stronger.

Those things are easy.

What isn’t easy to coach is talent; elite skating at 18 years old, great vision and high hockey IQ.

Anyhow, I’d be happy if we drafted him, but we’re not.
 
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The Great Schlemko said:
It really doesn't. Mete and Beaulieus shot sucks. I also don't know how you can already predict that when he hasn't even had the opportunity to practice and put on some more muscle in order to improve.
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That's going to help but it's not necessarily a sine qua non. Won't all other players within the same talent tier all benefit from this?
 
Runner77 said:
It's still relative, which creates uncertainty.
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A guy like Bouchard should be training to work on his skating a lot more than a guy like Hughes. Conversely, a guy like Hughes should be working on his shot a lot more than a guy like Bouchard.
 
sandviper said:
End of the day, you can coach Hughes’ defence and get him to work within the team structure. Nothing I have heard about him tells me he is uncoachable (looking at you Merkley). Even if his shot is mediocre, he’s only 18 and has a few years to fill out and get stronger.

Those things are easy.

What isn’t easy to coach is talent; elite skating at 18 years old, great vision and high hockey IQ.

Anyhow, I’d be happy if we drafted him, but we’re not.
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Hughes is actually better defensively than most people give him credit for. If he is in position, he is pretty solid. Problem is that he isn't in position enough.
 
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Mrb1p said:
Since when is goal production and shooting ability a direct correlation ? You can have a great shot and not score many goals, because youre a playmaker. You can't however score many goals without a great shot.
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What does this have to do with Hanifin? Not like he was known for having an absolute laser beam of a shot. His shot was actually questionable IIRC.
 
The Great Schlemko said:
A guy like Bouchard should be training to work on his skating a lot more than a guy like Hughes. Conversely, a guy like Hughes should be working on his shot a lot more than a guy like Bouchard.
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I can see that. But we don't know if they will, which puts us in the hope category -- that takes away from predictability and projection, which is what we're after for the purposes of the draft.
 
This talk about the weakness of Hughes' shot is somewhat nonsensical. That's what god created Shea Weber and his $100 million dollar contract for. What Montreal desperately needs is an elite puck transporter who can consistently gain the offensive zone and allow the power play to be set up. Who does the team have now? Petry? Drouin? That's what Hughes would gives us immediately: a dynamic skater who will open up the ice for everyone. A player who will generally be the fastest player on the ice. A game changer, a player who can make a difference. That's what this team needs to win. That's what you try to acquire with the third overall draft choice. Does Hughes come with risks? of course. He's small and one of the oldest players in the draft. However all players have warts. But Hughes ' upside is immense and after almost thirty years of mediocrity, it's time for the team to swing for the fences. Because what they have been doing lately, is clearly not working.
 
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