Also, time for Jack, Luke and Simon to start bulking up and adding some man strength...
Esp for Luke and Simon.... if they want a long defensive career, they gotta start playing like physical defensemen.... not asking for barbarian level but confident guys who don't know what hurt is.
I don't think there is a "normal" player who doesn't know what "hurt is". Simon is 191 lbs at 6'1 and just turned 20 yrs-old (FEB. 15). A little upper body strength, not bulk, would be his best acquisition this off season. His skating, edges, agility, puck skills, and hockey IQ are his top attributes. He is learning how to play against the heavier forecheckers. He will soon handle it with skill. Turning him into a muscular #6 type D-man will ruin him. He is a member of the new age D-men. Decent size, great skating, high level skills, and a very high IQ. They play more with their feet, hands, and brains than the D-men of even 10 years ago.
Luke is also a member of that new age D group. He is 6'/2" and nowhere near the 183 lbs he started out with. He needs more weight and it should be balanced between muscle weight and just plain distributed body weight. He too is only 20 years old (Sept. 9) but 5+ months older than Simon who just turned 20 in February and has played most of this season as a 19-yr-old. These 2 guys are kids and still growing. Give them time to naturally fill out while working on building strength, not bulk.
Jack is the guy who needs to start bulking up just a bit, but he too needs muscle strength. He is listed at 5'11"/176 lbs. I wouldn't bet on that weight now either. He is a toothpick that is easily manhandled when he gets set up for the kill. No matter how he works it, there are always times when he is in a position to take a hit. It doesn't have to be a hard hit for him to get hurt. We have seen that over and over. Right now we are seeing him give up the puck in order to avoid a hit. Because he IS hurt? Probably, but when not hurt he is just a hit away from the next one. Surgery will likely fix him up, but in the same body weight and lack of muscular development, he is just another event away from being injured again. People have figured out the way to deal with Jack Hughes and his ability to beat them is to hit and hurt him.
His joking last season saying he doesn't like to work out in the summer. He likes the beach and relaxing. That's an immature kid talking. Management has to take charge of growing this kid up physically and emotionally. An off season training schedule is the 1st step and Brother Luke can join him. They are always on the ice together so they can work out off the ice together. A mature Jack and Luke Hughes will be unstoppable.
It has taken ample time for Quinn to become what he was projected to be. He had to grow, mature, learn, and make adjustments in his game and he has become Norris Trophy material every season of late. Some are actually talking about him as League MVP this season, though that may actually be a stretch.
When Jack was drafted, he and Quinn told the media that the best Hughes hadn't arrived yet. There is a lot more coming from both Jack and Luke, but I don't think the hockey world has seen more than a glimpse of Luke Hughes. He and Simon are going to form the core of one of the most dynamic D-corps this league has ever seen. Imagine if when Quinn's contract runs out and he simply says, "Thank you, Vancouver. I love you all, but I want to finish my career with my brothers???????????" Then he signs with NJ the max contract they can offer. How many million$$$
does one need?
That's pure dreamworld stuff, but Hey? Who knows?
