Prospect Info: 2022 HFDevils Prospect Rankings #1 - Yep, it's back

[Nubmer6]

Pfft, We all know that SteveToddIves and Gaudana rig the vote. This poll is just an illusion!

Psh... you don't even realize StevenToddIves and Gaudana are the same person, just alter-egos.

 

[Devs3cups]

Fair enough but I personally don’t think his potential is higher.

I also wouldn’t call Hughes’s skating ridiculous. There is better skating prospects around (at least 1) and he’s not on the level of the best skating D-men in the league. He’s a very good skater. Very fast and powerful with good edges and mobility. Not a perfect skater at all though.

I’m starting to think/realize he’s become far too overrated by fans here.

No way he should be wiping the floor with a prospect of Nemec’s caliber as an option.

I don't see him as overrated, sure you see a few Makar comparisons here and there but those are ridiculous lol. I believe most, and myself see him as a 50-60 point offensive D-man, I think given his potential and what he's shown that's not an outlandish prediction nor an overrating, but I have no problem with you having Nemec as #1, I absolutely love Nemec.

You peaked my curiosity though, which D prospects are better skaters than Luke in your opinion? Maybe J. Sanderson? Luke's pretty top-tier in that regard. Also, he's 18, I don't expect him to be on the level of the best skating D-men in the league, nor do I expect him to be a perfect skater at that age, he'll most likeely keep on improving. I fully expect him to be one of the best skating D-men in his career and in his peak years though, I've watched him play a lot and I have little doubt he can attain that level.

 

[Devs3cups]

@Captain3rdLine I'd also like to add that I 100% agree that the gap between Hughes and Nemec as prospects is probably waaaayyyyyy smaller than people believe in here. Totally agree with you there.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I don't see him as overrated, sure you see a few Makar comparisons here and there but those are ridiculous lol. I believe most, and myself see him as a 50-60 point offensive D-man, I think given his potential and what he's shown that's not an outlandish prediction nor an overrating, but I have no problem with you having Nemec as #1, I absolutely love Nemec.

You peaked my curiosity though, which D prospects are better skaters than Luke in your opinion? Maybe J. Sanderson? Luke's pretty top-tier in that regard. Also, he's 18, I don't expect him to be on the level of the best skating D-men in the league, nor do I expect him to be a perfect skater at that age, he'll most likeely keep on improving. I fully expect him to be one of the best skating D-men in his career and in his peak years though, I've watched him play a lot and I have little doubt he can attain that level.

I think Sanderson is definitely a better skater.

And while he can certainly improve he will never have agility and footwork on the level at all of players like Makar and his brother Quinn. His backwards skating isn’t that good either and he hasn’t really shown much of an ability to walk the line laterally. He pretty much only every skates forwards unless he’s backing up defensively. Even then he tends to skate forward far more often than most which isn’t really a big problem.

But if you watch the best offensive and best skating defensmen when they walk the line they do it so easily, are so deceptive, open their hips and can pretty much go any direction at any time. It’s all footwork and agility.

Luke Hughes is a fast and powerful skater who can turn well but doesn’t have that tight and quick footwork that the best skating defensmen have.

Also don’t think he quite has the poise and control most of the best out there have.
And then there’s obviously some defensive work needed but that’s not worth worrying about too much right now.

 

[Ripshot 43]

If I told you all how high my expectations are for Luke’s career, you would starting thinking I’m crazy…

 

[Captain3rdLine]

@Captain3rdLine I'd also like to add that I 100% agree that the gap between Hughes and Nemec as prospects is probably waaaayyyyyy smaller than people believe in here. Totally agree with you there.

Yeah that’s all I’m really saying. I’d go with Nemec but I understand and can see people choosing Luke. Just don’t think there’s a big gap between them and Luke shouldn’t be blowing Nemec away in a poll like this.

And based on that and listening to some people talk about Luke I think he’s become a bit overrated.

 

[My3Sons]

There's NO way he's already 26, and I haven't seen him in a single game.

You just started this poll to avoid having us do the hfboards Devils awards because I haven’t been able to think of a category you might win

If I told you all how high my expectations are for Luke’s career, you would starting thinking I’m crazy…

Starting to think? And it has nothing to do with Luke’s career.

 

[Forge]

Luke, add Casey.

 

[Mgd31]

Who the hell voted for Thompson

Himself

 

[njdevils1982]

Ladies and gentlemen... boys and girls... Devils fans of all ages...

Once again, it's time for the age old tradition of the HFDevils annual Prospect Rankings.


Eligibility: Prospects are eligible for the rankings if they are eligible for rookie status. What are the qualifications you ask? Well...


I'm sure we could have used some other criteria, but we're not. Deal with it.

Notable graduates this year:
Dawson Mercer (82 NHL games last season), Kevin Bahl (7 and 17 NHL games previous 2 seasons).

Additions:
Artem Barabosha, Tyler Brennan, Seamus Casey, Josh Filmon, Petr Hauser, Charlie Leddy, Simon Nemec, Daniil Orlov,

As for who to pick, there's no criteria. It's just... if someone came up to you and asked "Who's the Devils' best prospect", what you would answer. Perhaps the best way to think of it is who you would think is worth the most in a trade.


Eligible Players:

Artem Barabosha Zakhar Bardakov Cole Brady Tyler Brennan Seamus Casey Graeme Clarke Nico Daws Jack Dugan Ethan Edwards Josh Filmon Nolan Foote Arseni Gritsyuk Jeremy Groleau Brian Halonen

Peter Hauser Alexander Holtz Luke Hughes Viktor Hurtig Charlie Leddy Jakub Malek Case McCarthy Daniil Misyul Patrick Moynihan Shakir Mukhamadullin Simon Nemec Daniil Orlov Nikita Othotiuk Nikola Pasic

Nikita Popugayev Jaromir Pytlik Samu Salminen Akira Schmid Artem Shlaine Chase Stillman Aarne Talvitie Tyce Thompson Topias Vilen Reilly Walsh Colton White Michael Vukojevic Yegor Zaitsev Fabian Zetterlund

I'm going to be setting each poll to close after 3 days, but I reserve the right to end them early and move on if it looks like it's going to be a landslide.

As usual, after selecting a player, request a player to be added to the next poll.

if so the time comes that you will be closing a poll early due to a landslide i would like to get my vote for stevie nicks in first

thank you

 

[Devs3cups]

I think Sanderson is definitely a better skater.

And while he can certainly improve he will never have agility and footwork on the level at all of players like Makar and his brother Quinn. His backwards skating isn’t that good either and he hasn’t really shown much of an ability to walk the line laterally. He pretty much only every skates forwards unless he’s backing up defensively. Even then he tends to skate forward far more often than most which isn’t really a big problem.

But if you watch the best offensive and best skating defensmen when they walk the line they do it so easily, are so deceptive, open their hips and can pretty much go any direction at any time. It’s all footwork and agility.

Luke Hughes is a fast and powerful skater who can turn well but doesn’t have that tight and quick footwork that the best skating defensmen have.

Also don’t think he quite has the poise and control most of the best out there have.
And then there’s obviously some defensive work needed but that’s not worth worrying about too much right now.

We could go back and forth on technicalities and I'm not trying to do that as I really respect your opinion on the matter, but I actually like Luke's work along the line, I find he's shifty and can deke out guys, go around them and keep control of the puck pretty well. He scored a few like that this year. Anyways, we all analyze and scout prospects differently haha!

I think when it's all said and done, we should be thrilled to have 2 of the best D prospects in the league in Hughes and Nemec! That's a great great pair, I hope we can at least agree on that!

 

[The Wumpus]

Add Big Seamus

 

[ChicksDigTheTrap]

I was in a small group that took Nemec in the "Who would the Devils take at 2OA Poll" so I am going to stay in the minority and go with Nemec again

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

I was originally thinking add seamus but adding nico daws might make more sense. Unusual year for him to put it mildly.

 

[Tretyak 20]

Very close, but I went Nemec over Hughes.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

We could go back and forth on technicalities and I'm not trying to do that as I really respect your opinion on the matter, but I actually like Luke's work along the line, I find he's shifty and can deke out guys, go around them and keep control of the puck pretty well. He scored a few like that this year. Anyways, we all analyze and scout prospects differently haha!

I think when it's all said and done, we should be thrilled to have 2 of the best D prospects in the league in Hughes and Nemec! That's a great great pair, I hope we can at least agree on that!

It’s not that I’m saying he isn’t good on the line because he is. It’s just his skating isn’t on the level of those guys and when he’s on the line he’s basically making a fake or move and then going one way or the other forwaed and trying to make a play or shoot. If he’s going the other way it’s a full on turn. Vs Makar who will walk laterally and/or backwards open his hips, throw a bunch of deceptive little fakes in and change directions at any moment all while looking for the perfect play. It’s just on another level. Quinn, Sanderson and other elite skaters are good at this too and it doesn’t just apply to walking the line. It’s in other situations such as transition too.

But yes we can agree on that.

 

[SJinNewJersey]

Hughes add Chase Stillman.

Who the hell voted for Thompson

I'll go with QuestForSeney.

 

[Nubmer6]

Luke Hughes is a fast and powerful skater who can turn well but doesn’t have that tight and quick footwork that the best skating defensmen have.

So... he makes wide turns too???

You just started this poll to avoid having us do the hfboards Devils awards because I haven’t been able to think of a category you might win

"Best typo while creating an HFBoards account" maybe?

 

[Captain3rdLine]

So... he makes wide turns too???


"Best typo while creating an HFBoards account" maybe?

Lol but no that’s not what I was saying.

 

[Eggtimer]

Luke , add Casey

 

[Tretyak 20]

Very close, but I went Nemec over Hughes.

 

[NjDevsRR]

( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)​

 

[Forge]

I was originally thinking add seamus but adding nico daws might make more sense. Unusual year for him to put it mildly.

Daws was actually going to be my initial add, but I would put casey higher if I were ranking the prospects, so I felt like I had to put him on first.

 

[severian]

Himself

There are 2 votes for him now. So it looks like his mom is a board regular too.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I was originally thinking add seamus but adding nico daws might make more sense. Unusual year for him to put it mildly.

Daws was actually going to be my initial add, but I would put casey higher if I were ranking the prospects, so I felt like I had to put him on first.

Daws is already in