LD Luke Hughes (2021, 4th, NJD)

[Zaddy]

Their ranking isn't necessarily a mock draft. EP's Rachel Doerrie mentioned that they had heard some character concerns so that may have been a contributing factor is where they have Hughes ranked. Context of the conversation was the Canucks options if they are picking #9 and she didn't think Hughes would be available.

She's with EP? I have no idea who she is but based off that soundbite she sounds like a moron and a very unprofessional one at that. What the hell is going on with EP, why are they hiring these people?

Who is in charge of EP Rinkside even? Peter Sibner? I thought he was a competent guy but I guess I might've been wrong. It's either that or they're deliberately trying to be polemic to stir controversy, but it seems more likely to be incompetence.

 

[Michael Brand Eggs]

If we're being honest with ourselves, the Hughes kids have not exactly been known for their humble, down to Earth attitudes. They've always been cocky jock types. Sounds like Luke takes after his brothers. Not a shocker. He'll grow up with time.

It would have to be something especially bad for this to be remarkable. I feel like it goes unsaid, but a lot of these kids are not the most pleasant to start with. They're immature, cocky, and think they're surefire millionaires in the making. They get better with time and adversity. Luke probably will too.

 

[My3Sons]

This is literally the first time I have ever heard anyone bring up character concerns for Luke Hughes, and that is saying something for a prospect who has had a big spotlight for a while considering who his brothers are.

Wait, aren't you the one who broke the story about the Waterloo penalty box official being the source of the rumors? (Insert silly smiley face emoji)

 

[BondraTime]

She's with EP? I have no idea who she is but based off that soundbite she sounds like a moron and a very unprofessional one at that. What the hell is going on with EP, why are they hiring these people?

Who is in charge of EP Rinkside even? Peter Sibner? I thought he was a competent guy but I guess I might've been wrong. It's either that or they're deliberately trying to be polemic to stir controversy, but it seems more likely to be incompetence.

Worked for the Devils as an Analyst 2 years ago

 

[Zaddy]

Worked for the Devils as an Analyst 2 years ago

Looked her up, she seems to have good credentials, which makes it all the more baffling why she is talking like that. If you're going to express character concerns about a 17 year old kid you can have a little more tact. She sounds like tabloid reporter who is really giddy about spilling the beans.

 

[Nocashstyle]

If we're being honest with ourselves, the Hughes kids have not exactly been known for their humble, down to Earth attitudes. They've always been cocky jock types. Sounds like Luke takes after his brothers. Not a shocker. He'll grow up with time.

It would have to be something especially bad for this to be remarkable. I feel like it goes unsaid, but a lot of these kids are not the most pleasant to start with. They're immature, cocky, and think they're surefire millionaires in the making. They get better with time and adversity. Luke probably will too.

As a Devils fan, Jack is certainly pretty cocky, but not to the point of arrogance - at least from what we see as fans. He seems to be very well liked by his teammates of past and present too based on the number of different teammates you can find him in Instagram pictures with - so if he’s not a hot headed teammate in the lockerroom, being a primadonna or ignoring coaches, I don’t see a major concern being a little cocky. If Luke is similar I really wouldn’t consider for a second that it’s an “attitude” or character problem.

 

[HBK27]

Worked for the Devils as an Analyst 2 years ago

Supposedly got canned rather quickly too though.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I have no idea about the character concerns. Seems like one person whose not a huge insider. I wouldn’t put too much stock into it.

He absolutely is top ten though if you only consider his ability and potential. I think it could be classified as a pretty bad take to say otherwise.

 

[BondraTime]

Looked her up, she seems to have good credentials, which makes it all the more baffling why she is talking like that. If you're going to express character concerns about a 17 year old kid you can have a little more tact. She sounds like tabloid reporter who is really giddy about spilling the beans.

She’s vocal on Twitter, a lot of the stuff I remember was deleted, especially regarding Hynes in 2019 the year she was let go by the Devils.

 

[William H Bonney]

I have never heard of any character concerns with Luke; quite the opposite in fact. His entire immediate family is well-known in hockey circles and the media has had direct access to Luke for many years, so if there's smoke here, I'd certainly expect there to be a hell of a lot more talk about it in reputable hockey circles than some low-level person floating it on an obscure podcast. If the Hughes kids being 'cocky' or confident in their abilities means they have character concerns, nearly every good NHL prospect has character concerns as well.

I'd certainly want something substantiated from more reputable sources before I aligned myself to this person acting like Luke is Merkley or DeAngelo without one shred of evidence for it.

 

[KovalSNIPE]

Worked for the Devils as an Analyst 2 years ago

Well more scouting than analyst. She would do a lot of research and film on prospects and provide them to the scouting department.

 

[BondraTime]

Well more scouting than analyst. She would do a lot of research and film on prospects and provide them to the scouting department.

For sure, New Jersey fans would know more than me without a doubt, I was only going by her given title.

 

[Kevin Musto]

As others have said, if he was Merkley kind of bad (or something extreme like Mitchell Miller) you would think it would be public knowledge. It's not easy to keep that contained.

Have to imagine it's dumb teenage shenanigans like his brother Jack "show me your tits" Hughes. Which is inexcusable behavior, but something that can be outgrown pretty easily.

 

[Nabrules]

That doesn't change the fact that it is a terrible take having him raked outside the top 10.

its really not. You may like one prospect more than another but prospects 1-13 in this draft are a lot closer than people think.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

I don't think he makes it to the Wings, but he is my favorite player in this draft. He reminds me a ton of Miro Heiskanen. I have never heard character concerns about him, almost hard to believe with how much the Hughes boys have been interviewed and already tracked. Luke Hughes has been doing NHL TV stuff in the states since Quinn was a prospect for what seems like years at this point.

 

[Edmonton East]

Well more scouting than analyst. She would do a lot of research and film on prospects and provide them to the scouting department.

She was clueless then. I suspect she remains clueless now.

I swear it feels like the college boom has resulted in an exponential increase in garbage journalists/analysts across all sports (and other industries too).

She is a hack.

 

[Eggtimer]

I don't think he makes it to the Wings, but he is my favorite player in this draft. He reminds me a ton of Miro Heiskanen. I have never heard character concerns about him, almost hard to believe with how much the Hughes boys have been interviewed and already tracked. Luke Hughes has been doing NHL TV stuff in the states since Quinn was a prospect for what seems like years at this point.

The wings are taking Beniers and they will like it god dammit !
Lol I’m kidding. I just want my Devils to take him.
I think too four (in no particular order ) will be Power Beniers Clarke Hughes

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

The wings are taking Beniers and they will like it god dammit !
Lol I’m kidding. I just want my Devils to take him.
I think too four (in no particular order ) will be Power Beniers Clarke Hughes

I said I don't think he makes it to us. If the Wings want him they would need to win the lottery and I am not sure Yzerman wouldn't go Power, Beniers and Guenther in front of him. I don't see him getting by the Devils.

 

[docbenton]

One thing I did notice about Luke Hughes is he definitely seems younger in his interviews compared to Quinn and Jack (at the same age). Quinn is probably the most mature, Jack can be cocky but still very well-spoken, Luke on the other hand doesn't quite seem to have the verbal IQ/confidence his brothers do. I could see how that can affect communication with coaches or the perception of whether he really "gets it" or not.

However he definitely doesn't play like a dumb or immature player on the ice, and atm I have him rated very highly.

 

[The Zetterberg Era]

One thing I did notice about Luke Hughes is he definitely seems younger in his interviews compared to Quinn and Jack (at the same age). Quinn is probably the most mature, Jack can be cocky but still very well-spoken, Luke on the other hand doesn't quite seem to have the verbal IQ/confidence his brothers do. I could see how that can affect communication with coaches or the perception of whether he really "gets it" or not.

However he definitely doesn't play like a dumb or immature player on the ice, and atm I have him rated very highly.

With his September birthday he is about a full year younger than Quinn in terms of draft year. I bet he sounds a little different after a year of U of M. Keep in mind the folks at U of M think he is mature enough and ready enough to join perhaps the most talented team in the country next year and it sounds like they think he will be an immediate contributor.

I think he sounds a lot different than the 14 year old version of him that was getting interviewed when Quinn was getting drafted. I mean you would expect that, but this is a strange narrative. I mean as a Wings fan I have all the time in the world, I hope he falls in our laps, but I just find this a really bizarre turn in the discussion. He hurts his foot and now we are making up character concerns and perhaps maturity issues. I guess, I would have thought one of the takeaways of the U18 tournament is just how important Luke Hughes would have been to that team. For them to lose their best player and not medal for the first time in 17 years, I would have thought might give him even more value. Curious to see where this goes, I am pretty committed to him as #1 on my board. I think his ceiling is insane.

 

[Goomba]

Devils stay at the fourth pick after the lottery.

Think that about seals Luke's fate as to where in the draft he goes; it wont be past the top-4

Always possible though. Whats his injury looking like, will he be ready for the college season?

 

[KovalSNIPE]

Yeah at this point I assume we take either him or Clarke at 4.

 

[bsu]

I want him at #3.

 

[bsu]

He is just six days shy of being eligible for 2022.

 

[405Entrance]

Yeah either the ducks or devils take him