Prospect Info: Devils picking 4th Overall.

[Billdo]

I personally think Clarke will be the better player, plus he's RHD which is helpful, but I think we'll take Hughes

This is where I'm at. The marketing alone with the "bros" is something the organization might value more than me and push them over the edge if they see the players are equal.

 

[Devils090]

Someone with knowledge of these guys, is there any discernible difference between Hughes and Clarke?

 

[Davegarri]

This is where I'm at. The marketing alone with the "bros" is something the organization might value more than me and push them over the edge if they see the players are equal.

Butttt both could be marketed as bros as we have Graeme Clarke too

 

[My3Sons]

If NJ has Smith and Hughes on the left side they can work on getting some defensive oriented righties which should be easier to find. If they get Clarke they already have some lefties that may pair well with him. Either way they likely get an excellent player.

 

[My3Sons]

Someone with knowledge of these guys, is there any discernible difference between Hughes and Clarke?

No, none whatsoever. In fact I’ve never seen them in a room together....

 

[Davegarri]

I'm not concerned about who we take at 4. We'll get a great player no matter what. Even if 1,2,3 goes all dmen we'll get a great forward in Beniers.

I'm more interested in who we get with the Isles pick. If we take Hughes I kinda want Pastujov.

 

[Forge]

No, none whatsoever. In fact I’ve never seen them in a room together....

Hmm... I've never seen you in the same room as either one of them either

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

slightly wonky year for the draft. But if Hughes is around at our pick - you have to take him right?

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I'm not concerned about who we take at 4. We'll get a great player no matter what. Even if 1,2,3 goes all dmen we'll get a great forward in Beniers.

I'm more interested in who we get with the Isles pick. If we take Hughes I kinda want Pastujov.

I want Ceulemans or Rosen if they get there. Boston has to win this series though for that to be possible.

 

[Forge]

I'm not concerned about who we take at 4. We'll get a great player no matter what. Even if 1,2,3 goes all dmen we'll get a great forward in Beniers.

I'm more interested in who we get with the Isles pick. If we take Hughes I kinda want Pastujov.

I was really hoping we would move up

 

[Goomba]

slightly wonky year for the draft. But if Hughes is around at our pick - you have to take him right?

The optics would be terribly bad for the team but if thats how they feel then so be it

Though the fans would get over it when they watch the highlights of the player we took

 

[My3Sons]

Hmm... I've never seen you in the same room as either one of them either

They don’t let me out of my assisted living facility.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Craig Button’s mock draft 1.0 has us selecting Clarke.

Michigan Mock: Button has Power to Sabres; Beniers to Seattle, Johnson a Canuck

Edvinsson #5, Hughes #8. Looks about right to me.

 

[Goomba]

Dan MacKinnon seemingly pointing out how Luke being related to Jack and Quinn shows a 'pedigree' that adds confidence to the pick

does he have much pull? I understand hes the AGM but sometimes these roles are just figure spots, like Brodeur having tons of pull

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Dan MacKinnon seemingly pointing out how Luke being related to Jack and Quinn shows a 'pedigree' that adds confidence to the pick

does he have much pull? I understand hes the AGM but sometimes these roles are just figure spots, like Brodeur having tons of pull

Where did you see this?

 

[Goomba]

Where did you see this?

Athletic, article from today

i can place the excerpt if youd like. Is that allowed? Just a paragraph

 

[DevilDog]

Really glad we didn’t move back again this year. Picked Clarke because he’s a RD which is easily our top positional need and he isn’t a reach at 4 at all.

 

[My3Sons]

Dan MacKinnon seemingly pointing out how Luke being related to Jack and Quinn shows a 'pedigree' that adds confidence to the pick

does he have much pull? I understand hes the AGM but sometimes these roles are just figure spots, like Brodeur having tons of pull

I think there is something to it. Teams are always looking for something that will suggest the player can or won’t make it. I think having two successful brothers quiets a lot of concerns about intangible things. I’m not saying it’s accurate but you know Luke has an idea of what he needs to do and a team can have some extra confidence that his skills can translate even if he might not be quite as skilled as the older brothers. To me it’s another tie breaker but for NJ ownership it may be more than that. We will have to see.

 

[Unknown Caller]

Craig Button’s mock draft 1.0 has us selecting Clarke.

Michigan Mock: Button has Power to Sabres; Beniers to Seattle, Johnson a Canuck

Edvinsson #5, Hughes #8. Looks about right to me.

It would take a massive set of balls to take Clarke over Hughes. Not only because it’s a coin flip who the better prospect is (with Luke the much better skater), but because you’re potentially creating hard feelings with the face of your franchise. I would be absolutely stunned, but I guess stranger things have happened.

Fwiw, Pronman has the Devils taking Hughes at 4 and Clarke going around 8 after the three other defensemen.

 

[RSeen]

It would take a massive set of balls to take Clarke over Hughes. Not only because it’s a coin flip who the better prospect is (with Luke the much better skater), but because you’re potentially creating hard feelings with the face of your franchise. I would be absolutely stunned, but I guess stranger things have happened.

Fwiw, Pronman has the Devils take Hughes at 4 and Clarke going around 8.

I mean just because fans think it is a coin flip does not mean it is.

There is a reason people get paid to scout...there is the potential one is better than the other for certain scouts.

If Clarke is better, take him.

 

[Goomba]

I think there is something to it. Teams are always looking for something that will suggest the player can or won’t make it. I think having two successful brothers quiets a lot of concerns about intangible things. I’m not saying it’s accurate but you know Jack has an idea of what he needs to do and a team can have some extra confidence that his skills can translate even if he might not be quite as skilled as the older brothers. To me it’s another tie breaker but for NJ ownership it may be mire than that. We will have to see.

'With the fourth overall pick, the New Jersey Devils select.. from the USHL.. Justin Hughes"

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Of the Mocks so far
Button has us taking Clarke with Hughes going 8
Pronman has us taking Hughes with Clarke going 7
Both have Edvinsson at 5

Some interesting reads in the Athletic Mock draft

 

[Unknown Caller]

I mean just because fans think it is a coin flip does not mean it is.

There is a reason people get paid to scout...there is the potential one is better than the other for certain scouts.

If Clarke is better, take him.

It is a coin flip amongst scouts. Also consider that by passing on Luke at 4, there’s a non-zero chance he winds up in Vancouver with Quinn. Jack has publicly stated he flat out wants the Devils to take Luke. This pick is not going to be made in a vacuum without feelings involved.

All of that aside, I think Luke is the superior prospect regardless.

 

[Mr Bojanglez]

It would take a massive set of balls to take Clarke over Hughes. Not only because it’s a coin flip who the better prospect is (with Luke the much better skater), but because you’re potentially creating hard feelings with the face of your franchise. I would be absolutely stunned, but I guess stranger things have happened.

Fwiw, Pronman has the Devils taking Hughes at 4 and Clarke going around 8 after the three other defensemen.

I sort of agree. There is much debate on who is better - weird year. I do not believe there would be hard feelings. For all we know he's an annoying little brother. I do agree if he's there you should take him

 

[Unknown Caller]

I sort of agree. There is much debate on who is better - weird year. I do not believe there would be hard feelings. For all we know he's an annoying little brother. I do agree if he's there you should take him

Jack stated in his exit interview he’s not afraid to say he wants the Devils to take Luke. It’s his family and they would make a proactive decision to pass on his brother. It’s not something that would go unnoticed.

All I’m saying is this isn’t a straight up decision. In the scenario you pass on Luke, there’s a real chance you’re dealing with a situation where you passed on Jack’s brother and he winds up in the same organization as Quinn. You better be damn sure Clarke is unquestionably better.