Jersey Fan 12
Positive Vibes
- Nov 20, 2006
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LD Luke Hughes (2021, 4th, NJD)
- Thread starter Tryamkin
- Start date
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Love
Registered User
- Feb 29, 2012
- 15,192
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Makoshark
Registered User
How does Hughes compare talent wise to Quinn and Makar? If they were in the same draft how would they slot? How about compared to Drysdale and Sanderson?
DatDude44
Hmmmm?
- Feb 23, 2012
- 6,336
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Personally In limited viewings I’d put him below Sanderson, he’s more dynamic w/ the puck but his overall game, attention to detail and consistency isn’t even close yet imo
DJB
Registered User
- Jan 6, 2009
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I have Hughes ranked in my top 2 for this draft along with Berniers.
Kid is very good. Not nearly as dynamic as Quinn and definitely needs to improve in his own zone (but 98% of 18 year old dmen do so no concern).
But his size and his intelligence and skill make him extremely tantalizing.
Kid is very good. Not nearly as dynamic as Quinn and definitely needs to improve in his own zone (but 98% of 18 year old dmen do so no concern).
But his size and his intelligence and skill make him extremely tantalizing.
He has height at close to 6’2 unlike his older brother Quinn who is 5’10. I don’t think Luke is expected to fill out to be 200lbs when he’s 22/23. Think he’s around 174 lbs or something now. Maybe he does but it will take a few years to get to that playing weight. He’s not going to be a physical Dman though.
William H Bonney
Registered User
Yes, Slavin is a 1D. He's one of the best defenseman in the NHL, but he's criminally underrated by fans because he plays in Carolina and "but he's not a big points guy."
William H Bonney
Registered User
The obsession with comparing Luke to Quinn is expected, but it taints so much of the player evaluation because it's largely just comparing flash and points to determine value. Luke is not as dynamic, but people really don't understand why. He has dynamic ability, and he flashes it at times, but he plays a far more composed game than either of his brothers did at the same age. @Pavel Buchnevich does a good job in his post highlighting Luke's ability.
Raistlin
Registered User
- Aug 25, 2006
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I agree with you, but there will be people that disagree. I think Mikey Anderson is playing like a 1D, but many will disagree. So I call them all first pair, because I don't want to argue with everyone.
Llamamoto
Nice Bison. Kind Bison. Yep.
- Sep 5, 2018
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I wouldn't say he's criminally underrated, he's pretty widely considered a top-10 defenseman in the NHL.
William H Bonney
Registered User
lawrence
Registered User
- May 19, 2012
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most of us agree he’s top 10. Top 3 is debatable. But worthy conversation. He was pointless in 8 straight prior to his last game played.
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
He’d probably go first among those three, but Makar pre-draft wasn’t Makar of now.
I’d have Drysdale slightly ahead, but close. Sanderson a tier or two behind Luke.
lawrence
Registered User
- May 19, 2012
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Can you imagine Luke at 8 years old trying to get the puck off the two older brothers. It should come as no surprise that he’s projected to be better defensively than Quinn. He had to be. I’m surprised he didn’t become a goalie. I expect he possesses a better than average offensive skill just being around those two and trying their moves. I think the sky is the limit for this kid and plan to enjoy watching him along with his brothers for many years. Especially if Luke lines up with Moritz
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
Now I’m being criticized for defending a Hughes. Sanderson has a lot less of an offensive game, and there’s no noticeable future defensive value in his game. People will act in outrage and claim Sanderson is the second coming of prime-Vlasic, but he’s not. Hughes projects to have similar eventual defensive value. I don’t even think it’s a real debate which of the two is better. Hughes has a lot more ability.
Love
Registered User
- Feb 29, 2012
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Somehow Hughes is getting underrated. Didn’t expect this considering his family.
He should be chosen 1st overall imo. I don’t think he’s a strong 1st overall, but in this draft I think he’s the best prospect available. The other players just don’t have his ceiling.
He should be chosen 1st overall imo. I don’t think he’s a strong 1st overall, but in this draft I think he’s the best prospect available. The other players just don’t have his ceiling.
Ed Ned and Leddy
Brokering the Bally Sports + Corncob TV Merger
To me, he plays closest to Drysdale. Both two-way defensemen whose 4-way skating sets them apart. I'd say Drysdale was more polished defensively than Luke is in his draft year, but Luke also has a size advantage. I'd probably give Luke a slight edge in offensive upside, but I think it's pretty close.
Hughes is top 3 for me this year, likely #1. I think it's tough to go wrong betting on a defenseman who skates as well as he does in all four directions. On top of that, he's got solid size and height, good offensive tools, solid defensive instincts. I've seen him mocked outside of the top 10, and I kinda struggle to see why honestly.
His game is sort of raw, but he's literally a high school student. I don't like to put too much stock into draft-eligibles age differences, but he's about as close in age to Owen Power as he is to Wright and Lambert. Give him two years at Michigan and I think you'll see a much more polished player.
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All 3 of the Hughes bros should have been centres. Plain and simple
Curious where you have Sanderson in relation to Power. Sanderson has had a statistically similar 2020/2021 NCAA season to Power while only being 4 months older. Sanderson also 0.7 p/gp as a "true freshman" if I'm not wrong, that seems like an indication that the offense is coming.
For Hughes, at a glance, it looks like he's had comparable USDP seasons to Sanderson and Behrens but not quite on York's level. To me, it sounds like a lot of Hughes' value is coming from his offensive skills, which most seem to be in agreement are not quite at Quinn's level. That raises the question of if a team would take a slightly less offensive, still non-physical but much taller Quinn Hughes first overall. I don't see the justification for that over some of the other potential available this year.
Am I off base in saying Behrens is being underrated too?
Pavel Buchnevich
"Pavel Buchnevich The Fake"
I think relative age matters, but only as a tiebreaker sort of deal. It shouldn’t be any main reason for or against a player.
I think you often see a lot of late birthdays struggle in NCAA playing their pre-draft season as a freshman. Holloway struggled last year, and this year has been great. I’m not holding Power’s lack of domination against him, nor do I see a need to compare him to Sanderson. They are competing against different players for draft slots.
Hughes stats are better than Sanderson’s, and his play is much better. Hughes dominates some games in all zones. Sanderson didn’t dominate games in the way Hughes can. Behrens has similar stats to Hughes, but he’s undersized and not very fast. It’s hard to be much higher than late first at his size, but I think he’s underrated. York played on the highest scoring of these teams, so his numbers are higher. He’s a good player, but Hughes is better. I don’t think it’s that close.
Wasn't insinuating age as a knock against either of them, my point was they are the same age, at the same point in their careers performing similarly in the same league. As far as the need to compare them, they are all NHL prospects who will be ranked amongst each other one day as players, assuming they get there, so who they are competing with for draft slots is irrelevant to the comparison I was after.
I appreciate the insight into Behrens/York in relationship to Hughes. Is this one where it's okay to consider age as fairly significant since Luke is young for his draft year? His season next year would be Power's season this year based on total experience if I'm not wrong.
LastWordArmy
Registered User
After older brothers Jack Hughes (1st), and Quinn Hughes (7th), were top 10 picks in the NHL Draft; younger brother Luke Hughes is looking to extend the family dynasty in 2021. The 17-year-old spent the season with the US National Team Development Program, putting up six goals and 28 assists for 34 points in 38 games. He was headed to the Under-18 World Championships, but a late season injury will keep him out of the tourney. Last season, Hughes put up seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points in 41 games with the Under-17s. He also added a goal and three assists in six games at the Under-17 World Hockey Challenge.
Like his brother Quinn, Luke Hughes is committed to playing for the Michigan Wolverines next season. Should he change his mind and opt to go the CHL route, his rights are owned by the Saginaw Spirit. They took a flyer on him with a 14th round pick, 281st overall in the 2019 OHL Priority Draft. Hughes is one of the younger players in this draft, as if he were born just six days later, he would be eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft.
2021 NHL Draft #5: Luke Hughes Scouting Report - LWOS
Like his brother Quinn, Luke Hughes is committed to playing for the Michigan Wolverines next season. Should he change his mind and opt to go the CHL route, his rights are owned by the Saginaw Spirit. They took a flyer on him with a 14th round pick, 281st overall in the 2019 OHL Priority Draft. Hughes is one of the younger players in this draft, as if he were born just six days later, he would be eligible for the 2022 NHL Draft.
2021 NHL Draft #5: Luke Hughes Scouting Report - LWOS
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Castle8130
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- May 9, 2017
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Agree to disagree. Sanderson has shown he can play in all areas of the game effectively in the NCAA. I see him as someone that has sky high defensive potential with great offensive transition potential. His offense has also been picking up in college. I'd say he's on the same level of prospect as Luke, but call it how you see it.
