LD Luke Hughes (2021, 4th, NJD)

[Sens of Anarchy]

 

[Jason MacIsaac]

Without knowing the injury, has he done enough to lock himself in the top 3 if his season is done?

 

[Dominance]

Without knowing the injury, has he done enough to lock himself in the top 3 if his season is done?

Has he flashed enough for a team picking top-3 to like his upside to take him there? Yes. Locked in? Not remotely, even before the injury.

If he’s week-to-week that would mean it’s not anything too serious, right?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

If he’s week-to-week that would mean it’s not anything too serious, right?

I don't think we know the answer.

Pronman might've heard of the exact same injury that the previous guy did, but he's either being more conservative in calling it a week to week injury as opposed to out for the season or the person who told him about the might be more conservative in the timeline he gives for it than the person who told the first guy who had a report.

Or that first guy might've gotten bad info. The fact that Pronman sent out a tweet though the day after someone else had an exclusive report when Hughes has been out for weeks does suggest though that he might be trying to call that other guy's report fake without saying it in a rude way.

 

[gstommylee]

Week to week doesn't sounds like its an extremely ligament tear that requires surgery to fix and that kind of recovery + rehabbing would put him out for quite a long while. 3-6 months then the rehabbing.

 

[Hisch13r]

Without knowing the injury, has he done enough to lock himself in the top 3 if his season is done?

I don't think anyone in this class is a lock to go top 3

 

[lawrence]

Without knowing the injury, has he done enough to lock himself in the top 3 if his season is done?

I believe he’s played enough games for scouts to get a read on. He would have played more then chl players.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don't think anyone in this class is a lock to go top 3

I think Power is.

 

[StreetHawk]

I believe he’s played enough games for scouts to get a read on. He would have played more then chl players.

It might be that others like Clarke rise once the OHL gets back playing. WHL already started but Lambos is undergoing a procedure, so who knows how long he will be out.

 

[Sens of Anarchy]

well now we know

 

[Dominance]

well now we know

If both Hughes and Lambos fall due to the combination of their injuries and limited seasons, two teams on the playoff bubble might be picking up potential 1Ds this year.

 

[bossram]

If both Hughes and Lambos fall due to the combination of their injuries and limited seasons, two teams on the playoff bubble might be picking up potential 1Ds this year.

Neither project as 1Ds. But their injury statuses to inject even more uncertainty into an already-uncertain draft.

 

[Raistlin]

They are both first pairing guys. Neither has elite offensive ceilings.

 

[Dominance]

Neither project as 1Ds. But their injury statuses to inject even more uncertainty into an already-uncertain draft.

They are both first pairing guys. Neither has elite offensive ceilings.

That is not a prerequisite to become a 1D, at least in my opinion.

 

[bossram]

That is not a prerequisite to become a 1D, at least in my opinion.

I agree. Point production is waaaaay overrated for defenders.

That said, I don't think either has the processing/hockey IQ to be a 1D. Luke Hughes is not his brother, though he is still a good prospect.

 

[Raistlin]

That is not a prerequisite to become a 1D, at least in my opinion.

no, but is Slavin a 1D? is Pelech? I would be more comfortable calling them first pairing defenders. let others fight over whether they are #1 or #2.

 

[Raistlin]

these first pairing defenders are immensely important. You cant play Q.Hughes 30 minutes unless you have a rock for his partner, but you will have a dominant pairing for half a game if you can find their complimentary piece. Ideally they are not a black hole on offense. Parayko, Slavin, Seabrook/Edler in their prime would be great, I think Lambos and L.Hughes can be such a piece. I imagine Makar/Byram pairing has potential to be that in a couple years.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I agree. Point production is waaaaay overrated for defenders.

That said, I don't think either has the processing/hockey IQ to be a 1D. Luke Hughes is not his brother, though he is still a good prospect.

Different style of player. He doesn’t need the puck skills of Quinn.

 

[bossram]

Different style of player. He doesn’t need the puck skills of Quinn.

Not that different of a style. He relies heavily on his skating, like Quinn. But I don't think the outlet passing/vision is on the same level.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Not that different of a style. He relies heavily on his skating, like Quinn. But I don't think the outlet passing/vision is on the same level.

Quinn is a offensive defenseman. He's a rover. He's never going to be a defensive player. His game will be all about putting up points, transition offense, and creating possession.

Luke for now in junior hockey tries to play a very frantic up and down style, but he's also 6'2, and he has a much better initial understanding of the defensive game. Luke projects as at least an average defensive player. He's bigger, and once he adds muscle, he should become more physical. Luke's up and down skating style should eventually be as a two-way player who is aggressive offensively because he has the skating to get back. Quinn's aggressive offensively because thats what generates almost all of his value. Luke has a good hockey sense. He's going to learn how to pick his spots, and not to play in the NHL like he does in junior. I don't believe you'll see him attempt to play like Quinn at higher levels.

 

[57special]

Nothing wrong with a big, great skating, defense first Dman. I would argue that they are a rarity, and highly in demand, in a league that is faster than ever, and limits obstruction more than any time in the past.

 

[Eggtimer]

If Clarke is gone before the Devils pick , Hughes is who I’d want instead. If he is still there

 

[Raistlin]

Devils is one team which may pick Hughes over Clarke.... for obvious reasons.
Reason for picking Clarke over Hughes on the canucks will be because the system has no projectable RHD other than Woo.

 

[lawrence]

Wait.. are the devils just picking him because he’s jacks brother ?

 

[robert ethan]

Nothing wrong with a big, great skating, defense first Dman. I would argue that they are a rarity, and highly in demand, in a league that is faster than ever, and limits obstruction more than any time in the past.

Kaiden Guhle.