Despite how incredibly skilled and talented they are , Should there be concerns about The Hughes brother's durability?

[UrbanImpact]

All world skating and skill no doubt. However the 3 brothers have now faced multiple injuries that have derailed their season.

Should there be concerns moving forward whether all 3 can sustain the 2 month grind of the Stanley Cup playoffs where the physical play gets ramped up even more than the regular season?

If youve ever stood beside Quinn or Jack you know there these guys are nowhere near 5'11- 180lbs. They are small in stature. Its hard to catch them and hit them but when it happens, I always almost cringe to see if theyve survived the hit.

For Jack, its 2 straight years of shoulder surgery.3rd time in 4 years his season has been cut short.

NJ GM today came out and admitted that Jack needs to find a way to bulk up but thats easier said than done with Jack's body frame.
Jack has never played a full 82 game season.

"Id Like to think Jack's shoulder injuries are behind him....but you never know" - Tom Fitzgerlad


Luke Hughes, despite being the biggest of all 3 brothers , being at 6'2 - 200lbs. Luke has endured the same injury problems. He just had shoulder surgery this week which will have a 3-4 month recovery period. Luke has tried to gut it out with his shoulder, he previously opted not to get surgery but had no choice this time after getting hit by Kotkaniemi in game 1 vs Carolina.

As for Quinn,

His body has taken a beating in recent years. This year he missed multiple games due to an oblique injury. He also played with a mangled hand.
Last year he grinded through the injuries but looked nowhere near himself in late part of the season and in the playoffs.


Best ability is availability, when would you raise durability concerns about these brothers? especially Jack?

 

[HockeyVirus]

I don't subscribe to injury prone stuff in small sample sizes, especially as young players establishing themselves. Many have overcome the label of being injury prone as they age and get strong..

Hughes knows he needs to build his his shoulders for example. They have sport science people who can help them overcome weak spots in their bodies.

 

[thebeernerd]

Unfortunately, with shoulders, there isn't a hell of a lot you can do. Dalvin Cook in the NFL had the same shoulder injury 6 times. When you combine Jack's small frame, his skating style that's prone to the occasional fall, and his hyper-competitive style, there's always going to be a risk.

Luke's shoulder injury was confirmed as not being as serious as Jack's, and was more comparable to the one that Bratt has been playing with for some time that he just decided to get surgery on.

Quinn, I have no idea about because he's the one who isn't on my team (yet).

 

[UrbanImpact]

I don't subscribe to injury prone stuff in small sample sizes, especially as young players establishing themselves. Many have overcome the label of being injury prone as they age and get strong..

Hughes knows he needs to build his his shoulders for example. They have sport science people who can help them overcome weak spots in their bodies.

Small sample sizes?

3 out 4 years cut short for Jack. 2 major shoulder injuries? how is this a small sample size.

 

[UrbanImpact]

Unfortunately, with shoulders, there isn't a hell of a lot you can do. Dalvin Cook in the NFL had the same shoulder injury 6 times. When you combine Jack's small frame, his skating style that's prone to the occasional fall, and his hyper-competitive style, there's always going to be a risk.

Luke's shoulder injury was confirmed as not being as serious as Jack's, and was more comparable to the one that Bratt has been playing with for some time that he just decided to get surgery on.

Quinn, I have no idea about because he's the one who isn't on my team (yet).

Quinn's injuries were really bad this year. Obviously enough to make him miss the 4 nations tournament.

Torn oblique and torn ligaments in his hands were the report. No surgery known yet.

Last year it was his shoulder I believe, in the 2nd half of the season and playoffs. He can barely shoot by the end of the year.

 

[StreetHawk]

Small sample sizes?

3 out 4 years cut short for Jack. 2 major shoulder injuries? how is this a small sample size.

I would agree, but have to consider his age as well. He's 24 in 2025. Getting to the point where he should be filled out to the weight/build that he will be for the remainder of his 20's.

Quinn is the shortest of the trio. Overall, hasn't missed multiple stretches of games, but he gets targeted. Either the system needs to be changed to give him quicker outs to get rid of the puck so that he can avoid or protect himself better or figure out how to run some interference to allow him to skate the puck.

Luke, tallest of the trio. But, still just 22 in Sept.

All need to figure out how they should workout to stay strong and remain in the lineup.

 

[HugeInTheShire]

I'm not concerned about Luke at all yet, he's only had the one hockey related injury and that was the same shoulder he hurt in training. Jack is obviously more of a concern, he plays pretty recklessly and a super high speed. This is why he's had basically the exact same scenario causing an injury twice, flying into the end boards after making contact with an opposing player.

I won't speak to Quinn as I don't really know what has happened to him and if it was avoidable.

 

[ItWasJustified]

Should there be concerns moving forward whether all 3 can sustain the 2 month grind of the Stanley Cup playoffs where the physical play gets ramped up even more than the regular season?

It should definitely be concerns.

Best ability is availability

Yeah...Nothing against you OP, but I rather have Jack Hughes for 60 games in my NHL lineup than you or myself for 82.

 

[Golden_Jet]

Jack would be the only concern atm I’d say.

 

[Mrb1p]

Yes, especially Jack.

 

[viceroy]

Nothing against you OP, but I rather have Jack Hughes for 60 games in my NHL lineup than you or myself for 82.

Than you or anyone on HFBoards... Of course I can barely skate. But at a cap hit of 8 million per you'd be hoping for more games. NJD needs a healthy Jack to make any sort of noise.

 

[Fatass]

I don't subscribe to injury prone stuff in small sample sizes, especially as young players establishing themselves. Many have overcome the label of being injury prone as they age and get strong..

Hughes knows he needs to build his his shoulders for example. They have sport science people who can help them overcome weak spots in their bodies.

Jack has been in the nhl for six seasons and missed 85 games. He’s missed a full season because of injuries. He’s had two surgeries on his shoulder. He’s a very slightly build guy. He plays in the hard areas. Like is taller, but still slim. And he’s missing games due to injuries. Quinn is small, especially for a D. All three brothers are hyper competitive and play the right way. They will continue to have injuries.

 

[PB37]

Unfortunately, yes. But I don't know how much of it is size related. Big players can be injury prone too.

 

[spintheblackcircle]

Shoulders and groins in hockey are the ACL of the NFL.

*generalization over*

 

[Fatass]

Than you or anyone on HFBoards... Of course I can barely skate. But at a cap hit of 8 million per you'd be hoping for more games. NJD needs a healthy Jack to make any sort of noise.

And that’s the rub of having the three brothers on one club. They will eat (and deservedly so) a large % of the cap. If they aren’t playing the team is toast. No club can survive for very long without their 1C and 1 and 2 D. Especially when the club allocates so much cap to them.