C Jack Hughes - USNTDP (2019 Draft)

[Whalers Fan]

didnt ndtp win 5-1 ?
17 yr olds vs NCAA 22/23 yr olds

Yes, the score was 5-1, but it was 4-0 at the end of the 2nd period and the team just coasted in the 3rd period, returning to their poor defensive fundamentals. Ferris State just wasn't good enough to take advantage of the situation. In my original post, I meant I wasn't impressed with Ferris State, in case that wasn't clear.

 

[TheProspectNetwork]

Seems to me the way Hughes has played this year that he is almost in the same tier as McDavid. His U-17 USDP stats(48 points in 24 GP) are absurd, especially when compared to the U-17 guys from last year where Farabee led the way with 31 in 42. Are the stats unreliable or is the guy a McDavid caliber player?

 

[Juxtaposer]

Seems to me the way Hughes has played this year that he is almost in the same tier as McDavid. His U-17 USDP stats(48 points in 24 GP) are absurd, especially when compared to the U-17 guys from last year where Farabee led the way with 31 in 42. Are the stats unreliable or is the guy a McDavid caliber player?

Pump the brakes. The stats aren’t unreliable but you can’t compare the NTDP to the OHL and last year’s U17 Team was hot garbage compared to this year’s.

 

[Frannel]

Yes, the score was 5-1, but it was 4-0 at the end of the 2nd period and the team just coasted in the 3rd period, returning to their poor defensive fundamentals. Ferris State just wasn't good enough to take advantage of the situation.

How did Hughes play in P3? "Coasting" as well?
And was the team better last season? Because it doesn't sound much like it with Juxtaposer calling them hot garbage...

 

[Whalers Fan]

How did Hughes play in P3? "Coasting" as well?
And was the team better last season? Because it doesn't sound much like it with Juxtaposer calling them hot garbage...

I thought Hughes was still putting forth effort in the 3rd period. The defense returned to its usual hot mess in that period, though.

I thought this team showed some promise last year as the U17 group. You could see that most of their talent was along the blue line, but they were definitely better than the previous year's U17 squad, which was the least talented group we've seen since the program relocated to Plymouth. At the very least, though, last year's U17 group did not exhibit the very poor fundamentals that we are seeing this season under the new coach. Hopefully there is a change in coaching for next season and Appert will not be turned loose on a new batch of U17's. BTW, this year's U17 group looks very sound fundamentally under HC John Wroblewski, as has every other squad we've seen in Plymouth except this year's U18 edition.

 

[Frannel]

I thought this team showed some promise last year as the U17 group. You could see that most of their talent was along the blue line, but they were definitely better than the previous year's U17 squad, which was the least talented group we've seen since the program relocated to Plymouth.

When you speak of the previous year's U17 - that would be the bunch with Quinn Hughes, Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris asf. ? Or am I just confused and you mean they were definitely better in this game than last year as U17s?

 

[Whalers Fan]

When you speak of the previous year's U17 - that would be the bunch with Quinn Hughes, Brady Tkachuk, Josh Norris asf. ? Or am I just confused and you mean they were definitely better in this game than last year as U17s?

I am referring to last year's U18 team -- the '99 birth year players with Tkachuk, Norris and Hughes. They had a few interesting players, but overall I thought it was the weakest squad we've seen in Plymouth. This year's U18 team (2000 birth year) showed more promise during their U17 season than the '99 birth years did, IMO.

This season's U17 squad (2001 birth year) is the best looking U17 bunch I've seen so far -- we only saw the '98 birth years with Keller, Bellows, etc in their U18 season here in Plymouth. Even without Jack Hughes, they played an excellent game last Saturday night in beating first place Youngstown 4-1, who only scored a late, meaningless goal.

 

[93LEAFS]

I am referring to last year's U18 team -- the '99 birth year players with Tkachuk, Norris and Hughes. They had a few interesting players, but overall I thought it was the weakest squad we've seen in Plymouth. This year's U18 team (2000 birth year) showed more promise during their U17 season than the '99 birth years did, IMO.

This season's U17 squad (2001 birth year) is the best looking U17 bunch I've seen so far -- we only saw the '98 birth years with Keller, Bellows, etc in their U18 season here in Plymouth. Even without Jack Hughes, they played an excellent game last Saturday night in beating first place Youngstown 4-1, who only scored a late, meaningless goal.

The 2001's might be able to challenge the 97's as the best USNTDP class. Although that will be a very big challenge. The 97 already has 5 players making a big impact in the NHL (Matthews, Werenski, Hanifin, Tkachuk, and McAvoy). Plus a bunch of guys who have potential to do so (Colin White, Kunin, Tage Thompson, Fischer, Roslovic, Bracco, Jordan Greenway, and Caleb Jones).

 

[bigdog16]

Another assist for Hughes in a 5-4 loss to Utica College D3. Don't understand how the 18s rip apart Ferris St and then lose to a D3 team. I was always under the impression the gap between D1 and D3 was pretty big but maybe I was mistaken

 

[Whalers Fan]

Another assist for Hughes in a 5-4 loss to Utica College D3. Don't understand how the 18s rip apart Ferris St and then lose to a D3 team. I was always under the impression the gap between D1 and D3 was pretty big but maybe I was mistaken

The simple answer to that question is this U18 team plays horrible defense. After dominating the first two periods, they blew a 4-1 third period lead yesterday when the defense stopped putting in any effort, and this time goalie Drew DeRidder didn't bail them out like he did against Ferris State.

This has been the most disappointing NTDP team since the program moved to Plymouth. Lousy defense and lousy efforts, resulting from lousy coaching.

 

[Mickey the mouse]

The last thing a NCAA D-1 team wants to do is play against a bunch of High school kids.
It's really hard to get excited for the college guys where it's the exact opposite for the 18's.
I know a lot of kids on both side of fence and get the same answers every time including and especially the ex-ntdp guys playing against them.

 

[Frannel]

The last thing a NCAA D-1 team wants to do is play against a bunch of High school kids.
It's really hard to get excited for the college guys where it's the exact opposite for the 18's.
I know a lot of kids on both side of fence and get the same answers every time including and especially the ex-ntdp guys playing against them.

which are exactly?

 

[Mickey the mouse]

NCAA = "hard to get excited to play against High school kids, I would rather have weekend off".... especially 20+ yr olds
NTDP = "Super pumped to play at N Dakota in front of 10,000 plus fans and 10 NHL drafted players"
2 examples but all similar to those

 

[Thebesthockey]

Another assist for Hughes in a 5-4 loss to Utica College D3. Don't understand how the 18s rip apart Ferris St and then lose to a D3 team. I was always under the impression the gap between D1 and D3 was pretty big but maybe I was mistaken

top 1/3 of D3 will beat bottom 1/3 of D1

many D3 players are capable of playing D1: most did not want to further delay their graduating yr by having to play an extra year or two of junior ; D3 guys usually jump straight from high school hockey

 

[bigdog16]

Thats interesting. I was always under the impression there was a pretty big gap between D1 and D3. I also noticed Adrian D3 was on the u18 schedule as well and played them 4-2 and 2-1. Looks like the D3 guys are there for life after hockey (which is probably a safer bet), compared to the D1 guys chasing the dream, especially if they are playing the u18s closer than some D1 teams.

 

[Jaykay]

Thats interesting. I was always under the impression there was a pretty big gap between D1 and D3. I also noticed Adrian D3 was on the u18 schedule as well and played them 4-2 and 2-1. Looks like the D3 guys are there for life after hockey (which is probably a safer bet), compared to the D1 guys chasing the dream, especially if they are playing the u18s closer than some D1 teams.

D3 hockey is surprisingly good, a lot of guys who transferred out of D1 programs because they weren't getting enough playing time.

 

[Frannel]

NCAA = "hard to get excited to play against High school kids, I would rather have weekend off".... especially 20+ yr olds
NTDP = "Super pumped to play at N Dakota in front of 10,000 plus fans and 10 NHL drafted players"
2 examples but all similar to those

Okay, so that's the players' perspective, but what is the coaches's? I know why the NTDP choaches want those games, but why do the college coaches have their teams play against the NTDP teams?

 

[AmericanDream]

Okay, so that's the players' perspective, but what is the coaches's? I know why the NTDP choaches want those games, but why do the college coaches have their teams play against the NTDP teams?

it is still very good exposure for their players. The USNDP always has a throng of scouts following them since they usually have 8-10 players per year ranked in the draft. So playing against them isn't the most gratifying for other teams, but they definitely get to play in front of a scouting community that can be greater than what they see on a nightly basis in the NCAA alone.

 

[wisssh]

Recruiting tool for colleges to get NTDP kids to come to their school... most NTDP kids are commited early... but a trip to ND or Notre Dame could change a kids mind..Exhibition games so chance for college coaches to play around with line ups or give back up goalie so time in net.

 

[Laineux]

It's interesting how d-2 Matthews is way better, but by birth year, Hughes seems to be way better.

I guess the truth lies between those two.

 

[FerklundCGY]

For fun, let's see how 2019 first overall pick Jack Hughes compares to some of the best USNTDP U17 players. pic.twitter.com/L5ET7SHCra
— Tom Hunter (@PuckDontLie) January 13, 2018​

He good

 

[William H Bonney]

5 assists today in USHL action. He now has 10 points in 6 games with the U18s.

 

[JiggsNY]

So that brings him to 58 points in 36 games across games with the U17 team U18 team and the U17 challenge.

 

[Beukeboom]

Is there anywhere I can see highlights? Or is it the occasional youtube upload that has to do?

And I don't fully get the system "over there". Why is he all of a sudden playing USHL hockey? Is he competing for two different teams? Or is it one team in two leagues?

 

[JiggsNY]

Is there anywhere I can see highlights? Or is it the occasional youtube upload that has to do?

And I don't fully get the system "over there". Why is he all of a sudden playing USHL hockey? Is he competing for two different teams? Or is it one team in two leagues?

The National Development Program has two teams the U17s and U18s. Together they are considered 1 team in the USHL as team USA, so they split the schedule in half. Each team then plays other leagues/ teams to fill out their schedules. The U17s play some NAHL and other lower leagues in addition to the USHL games. The U18s round out their schedule playing D1 NCAA schools.