C Jack Hughes - USNTDP (2019, 1st, NJD) Part 6

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

It’s a tough league, he’s showing enough to give me hope he will figure it out by the midway point. Not ready to throw in the towel on his rookie year.

Devils as a whole also look like a work in progress. More talent than last year by a mile, just need to make it work effectively.

 

[CharlestownChiefsESC]

Physically, mentally, time and space, not ready. Its obvious he has skating speed and skill, but that's not a enough if you wan't to succeed in the NHL, i don't think he should be playing in the NHL right now.

Heres 1 thing ill never get with him. He had all the hype but he dominated a us junior league when he could have been playing in the OHL. I never got why he didn't go to Missisagua, he draws comparisions to Kane and Matthews but both went to the OHL, and the NLA before the NHL. Can he be sent to the OHL? Or is that impossible now.

 

[Whalers Fan]

Heres 1 thing ill never get with him. He had all the hype but he dominated a us junior league when he could have been playing in the OHL. I never got why he didn't go to Missisagua, he draws comparisions to Kane and Matthews but both went to the OHL, and the NLA before the NHL. Can he be sent to the OHL? Or is that impossible now.

Kane and Matthews were late birthdays, so they were not eligible for the NHL Draft after completing their two year stints with the US NTDP. Hughes was draft eligible upon graduating from the NTDP.

Apples vs. oranges.

 

[CharlestownChiefsESC]

Kane and Matthews were late birthdays, so they were not eligible for the NHL Draft after completing their two year stints with the US NTDP. Hughes was draft eligible upon graduating from the NTDP.

Apples vs. oranges.

Point being they got some better experience

 

[goonybird]

he was flying last night

 

[AlwaysSunnyInTampa]

It’s a tough league, he’s showing enough to give me hope he will figure it out by the midway point. Not ready to throw in the towel on his rookie year.

Devils as a whole also look like a work in progress. More talent than last year by a mile, just need to make it work effectively.

This is about the long and short of the truth here.


Jack is fine. He's made some fantastic plays that just didn't hit the scoreboard yet. And for a guy his size, there's probably gonna be more adjustment than prior #1 picks. He can and will figure it out, it's got nothing to do with his skill or his ability. I'm optimistic Jack is gonna figure it out FAR before the halfway point of the season. As he adds size he'll add points and pan out into a Brayden Point type down the road. And plus it doesn't help that the Devils are a mess right now and have little to no structure or game plan anymore. Things will get better once Hynes is let go of.

 

[tealhockey]

Heres 1 thing ill never get with him. He had all the hype but he dominated a us junior league when he could have been playing in the OHL. I never got why he didn't go to Missisagua, he draws comparisions to Kane and Matthews but both went to the OHL, and the NLA before the NHL. Can he be sent to the OHL? Or is that impossible now.

He also played college teams while admittedly dominating the USHL, and he did pretty well against the NCAA, so the OHL wouldn't be the move for him at that point. He didn't have the frame for pro (or college) last year realistically, so he chose to have fun at the NTDP that year. He could have played in Europe or college this year if anything, most players need a year

 

[Offseason Champs]

Hughes is looking better game by game, it's an adjustment process and he already looks ahead of the curve I think most would have expected. Some of the moves he was making last night are full of a different sort of confidence. It's all about learning what he can and can't get away with at the next level. I'm actually pretty impressed by his progress over just four games.

 

[AD1066]

I haven't watched every game and can't really comment on his overall play, but I have seen him robbed of two assists by some great goaltending. Both were nice setups to teammates for one-timers. So it seems points are on the way.

 

[Whalers Fan]

Point being they got some better experience

Point being that had Matthews been born two days earlier, he probably would not have played in Europe for a season. Neither Kane nor Matthews had the option of playing in the NHL or AHL after graduating from the NTDP -- their choices were CHL, NCAA or Europe.

 

[Passchendaele]

Reminder that Stamkos had four goals 40 games into his rookie season.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Reminder that Stamkos had four goals 40 games into his rookie season.

Hynes = Bald Melrose confirmed

 

[lawrence]

Reminder that Stamkos had four goals 40 games into his rookie season.

Thornton and lecavelier had horrible starts to their careers too.

 

[93LEAFS]

Point being that had Matthews been born two days earlier, he probably would not have played in Europe for a season. Neither Kane nor Matthews had the option of playing in the NHL or AHL after graduating from the NTDP -- their choices were CHL, NCAA or Europe.

USA had a long run of their absolute best young players being born between September 16th and December 31st. Add Seth Jones and Eichel to the list. All those guys would have made the immediate jump if they were eligible.

 

[Thebesthockey]

This is about the long and short of the truth here.


Jack is fine. He's made some fantastic plays that just didn't hit the scoreboard yet. And for a guy his size, there's probably gonna be more adjustment than prior #1 picks. He can and will figure it out, it's got nothing to do with his skill or his ability. I'm optimistic Jack is gonna figure it out FAR before the halfway point of the season. As he adds size he'll add points and pan out into a Brayden Point type down the road. And plus it doesn't help that the Devils are a mess right now and have little to no structure or game plan anymore. Things will get better once Hynes is let go of.

Brayden Point was a third round pick

that being said jack will be just fine

 

[rangersfansince08]

The points will come for him soon. He's too skilled him to not get pts.

 

[AmericanDream]

from what I have seen so far this year, I would be more concerned with Taylor Hall than Jack Hughes...Hall just isn't himself yet and Hughes has gotten better every game I have watched..

 

[Oneiro]

Hall always starts slowly. And he's hit quite a few posts already.

Hughes is improving. I think putting him with Simmonds and/or Zacha has been a good move. It's absurd that this coaching staff needs to trial and error its way to what should be obvious (pairing an undersized rookie with size and/or defensive acumen).

 

[Auto Pilot]

People here sure have strange way to read hockey, i guess not everyone understands hockey like most fans do. (understandable)
- avg hockey fans really should stop ooglng those advanced stats and what not, they paint a pretty picture sure, but gives you false hope

4 games in the NHL thus far, not in a single one has Jack shown that he is NHL ready and belongs with the big boys.
- last night he got pick pocketed and physically out played by Markus Granlund for crying out loud!

You decided to come back after someone outed you as having some
Of the most ignorant hot takes around? Like your take on Matthews?

 

[Auto Pilot]

Yeah your out to lunch. He played good last night. He looks way better than Hischier right now. Nobody on the Devils has really shown anything to get excited about

We should screen shot that take of his lol. Hughes is NHL ready. Was fine the past two games and got robbed of getting on the board a few times the past two games. Even in the Jets game in OT.

 

[TrufleShufle]

People here sure have strange way to read hockey, i guess not everyone understands hockey like most fans do. (understandable)
- avg hockey fans really should stop ooglng those advanced stats and what not, they paint a pretty picture sure, but gives you false hope

4 games in the NHL thus far, not in a single one has Jack shown that he is NHL ready and belongs with the big boys.
- last night he got pick pocketed and physically out played by Markus Granlund for crying out loud!

Do you ever look back at your posts and think "oof, I actually said that?!" and cringe a bit. Or do you just stand behind what you say and the way you say them, even years later.

But yea, if you ignore advanced stats and any game footage from the last 2 games, I agree with you, he isn't NHL ready. But if you are forced to take into consideration the last 2 games, I'm sure you would come to the same conclusion as most people who actually watched them and see he was one of the best players out there both nights.

You'd be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn't think he would struggle for the first bit while adjusting, but I don't blame you for not seeing what he will become sooner rather than later, "I guess not everyone understands hockey like most fans do. (understandable)"

 

[AfroThunder396]

He was playing on the perimeter the first two games, but since then he's been really engaging. Attacking the middle of the ice, circling around the zone and drawing defenders out of position, dekeing out D. He had some beauty assists robbed by lack of finishing ability/excellent D.

I'm not worried about him. I'm worried about special teams and defense.

 

[AmericanDream]

Do you ever look back at your posts and think "oof, I actually said that?!" and cringe a bit. Or do you just stand behind what you say and the way you say them, even years later.

But yea, if you ignore advanced stats and any game footage from the last 2 games, I agree with you, he isn't NHL ready. But if you are forced to take into consideration the last 2 games, I'm sure you would come to the same conclusion as most people who actually watched them and see he was one of the best players out there both nights.

You'd be hard pressed to find anyone who wouldn't think he would struggle for the first bit while adjusting, but I don't blame you for not seeing what he will become sooner rather than later, "I guess not everyone understands hockey like most fans do. (understandable)"

his takes on the Hawks board are just as cringe worthy...

 

[Rebels57]

He'll be fine. Probably going to score 50+ points this season.

 

[Albatros]

Hall always starts slowly.

Both of his last seasons he had 13 points in his first ten games of the season.