LD Luke Hughes (2021, 4th, NJD)

[newfy]

Interesting that there is so little talk about Dylan Guenther. About a month ago Craig Button was saying that the first overall would come down to him or Power.

What has changed?

Nothing really. People on HFboards just get boners for specific guys and dont want others.

"bookmark this when youre wrong" type posts have no actual clue what/who the team is going to draft

 

[Classic Devil]

At this point, I'm going to laugh so hard if Hughes is available and the Devils go with someone else. Their fans seem to think its a forgone conclusion that their scouting department has him in the top 5, when really, team's lists rarely look like the projected draft order.

They could very well view Clarke as the top talent in the draft, and would they really pass on that just to grab a brother they rank lower?

No, I don't think so. And if we get Clarke I think most Devils fans will be pretty happy. Ultimately, I expect we'll be drafting one of Power, Beniers, Hughes, or Clarke and no matter which of the four we get we're in really good shape.

 

[Goomba]

At this point, I'm going to laugh so hard if Hughes is available and the Devils go with someone else. Their fans seem to think its a forgone conclusion that their scouting department has him in the top 5, when really, team's lists rarely look like the projected draft order.

They could very well view Clarke as the top talent in the draft, and would they really pass on that just to grab a brother they rank lower?

Its not just being Jacks brother

Luke is the best skater in the draft and one of the best skating defenseman to come out of the draft in a long time, up there with (and ahead of IMO) Dahlin Makar and even as far back as Karlsson.

On top of that he is 6'2" with a large wingspan; so if his brothers are killing it and hes a better skater than Quinn was at the same age... thats a huge ceiling

NJ taking is is probably a foregone conclusion as you say; teams dont look past these things, no matter how many people want to believe management operates like robots

 

[Goomba]

Not saying the Devils won’t pick Hughes, but I find it amusing how on HF it’s apparently every team and player’s dream to play with their siblings.

Maybe later in their careers that’s the case. But I’m sure there are plenty of guys that want to become the face of their own franchise, rather than be in the shadow of their brother.

Jack has come out and said he wants NJ to draft Luke

also from all the footage of the Hughes family weve seen, they absolutely love playing together. Theyre a very tight-knit family, as theyve traveled a lot and the only constant has been each other

 

[ecemleafs]

Kind of amazing that he's so much bigger than his brothers lol.

 

[Auto Pilot]

Kind of amazing that he's so much bigger than his brothers lol.

Wild eh lol? It’s not even like an inch, but 3-4 inches bigger lol.

 

[405Entrance]

Kind of amazing that he's so much bigger than his brothers lol.

The youngest usually turn out the biggest. Just how it goes sometimes

 

[Number1RedWingsFan52]

His hometown is Orlando, Fl but grew up in Toronto.

Wrong Quinn and Jack are from Orlando, Florida. Luke was born in Canton, Michigan and grew up around there and other places.

 

[ecemleafs]

Wild eh lol? It’s not even like an inch, but 3-4 inches bigger lol.

yeah size was a knock on his two older brothers as prospects, but Luke was blessed with being significantly bigger than them. dont watch him play, but if hes anywhere as skilled and intelligent as them with the frame hes got, then he should be a really good nhler.

 

[Hisch13r]

Pronman said he doesn't believe there's any real issues with Luke's attitude. He said some teams don't like him but it's no different than the way that they didn't like how Quinn or Jack were and he said that other teams loved Luke just like they loved Quinn or Jack

 

[thethinglonger]

Do you know if Hughes has played since his foot injury? I can't find any info so I figure not.

Unfortunately he hasn't. His injury was March 7 and he had surgery on March 17. He reportedly just recently started skating again so he missed the rest of the USNTDP season as well as the U18 tournament.

 

[Beckett]

I strongly believe the Ducks are going with Hughes if he's there. The skating and size while also being so close to a 22' just makes him too enticing. Doesnt hurt the franchise will get tons of exposure being one of the Hughes bros.

 

[HockeyWooot]

I strongly believe the Ducks are going with Hughes if he's there. The skating and size while also being so close to a 22' just makes him too enticing. Doesnt hurt the franchise will get tons of exposure being one of the Hughes bros.

I think so. I think this kids potential is sky high and is top 3 material IMO, though I can see why he might not be considered to have the 3rd best season among draftees and recent injury concern.

He’s a really young player for this draft class one week off from being a 2022 draftee if I read correctly. I suspect at this time next year his stock will have shot up the most amongst this class.

He’d be a great part of the blueline of the future alongside Drysdale.

 

[Goomba]

I strongly believe the Ducks are going with Hughes if he's there. The skating and size while also being so close to a 22' just makes him too enticing. Doesnt hurt the franchise will get tons of exposure being one of the Hughes bros.

This is my biggest fear (as a Devils fan*)

however, I do think Fitzgerald would entertain buying Anaheim's pick, if they feel strongly about Hughes but also another player

 

[peconcan]

Devils will take him at 4 for sure

 

[WADEugottaBELAKthat]

The youngest usually turn out the biggest. Just how it goes sometimes

More room in the womb.

 

[Number1RedWingsFan52]

I strongly believe the Ducks are going with Hughes if he's there. The skating and size while also being so close to a 22' just makes him too enticing. Doesnt hurt the franchise will get tons of exposure being one of the Hughes bros.

This, I can definitely see Bob Murray going after Luke Hughes, Especially if there's a chance that Lindholm walks to free agency next summer.

 

[thethinglonger]

Here's some more footage. This time from a game in January:

 

[tomd]

This, I can definitely see Bob Murray going after Luke Hughes, Especially if there's a chance that Lindholm walks to free agency next summer.

This is a pretty key point IMO. If the Ducks do resign Lindholm then their left side would be pretty set for the next 5 years with Fowler, Lindholm, and (presumably a resigned) Fleury. And that doesn't count guys like LaCombe, Thrun, Mahura, Larsson, and Benoit. So where does Hughes fit in that scenario? I do believe if the Ducks draft Hughes they are signaling a trade of Lindholm at next year's TDL.

 

[Number1RedWingsFan52]

This is a pretty key point IMO. If the Ducks do resign Lindholm then their left side would be pretty set for the next 5 years with Fowler, Lindholm, and (presumably a resigned) Fleury. And that doesn't count guys like LaCombe, Thrun, Mahura, Larsson, and Benoit. So where does Hughes fit in that scenario? I do believe if the Ducks draft Hughes they are signaling a trade of Lindholm at next year's TDL.

Yeah that's what i meant, If Bob Murray does draft Luke Hughes then Hampus Lindholm is 100% gone Chicago would probably be a great destination for Lindholm shore up their LD.

 

[Gliff]

Why would the Ducks trade their #1 defensemen if they draft Hughes?

Hughes forsure isn’t going to be in the NHL next season and probably longer.

 

[William H Bonney]

Why would the Ducks trade their #1 defensemen if they draft Hughes?

Hughes forsure isn’t going to be in the NHL next season and probably longer.

I agree that drafting Hughes wouldn't or shouldn't factor much at all into any trade decisions, but trading Lindholm for assets should be under heavy consideration. Lindholm will be 28 next year, he'll be a UFA and due a raise, they could lose him for nothing, and right now the Ducks aren't close to competing.

Guys like Lindholm, Gibson, Rakell, etc. could fetch the Ducks some big hauls from contenders to drastically improve the depth of their prospect pool and/or young NHL players in a way the Ducks sorely need. As a Kings fan, I hope they don't do it , but unless the Ducks expect to be Cup competitors in the next 3-4 years, moving most of those guys makes a ton of sense.

 

[GeNeXt]

I strongly believe the Ducks are going with Hughes if he's there. The skating and size while also being so close to a 22' just makes him too enticing. Doesnt hurt the franchise will get tons of exposure being one of the Hughes bros.

The thought of Drysdale and Hughes on your backend is tantalizing. That skating ability...

I'm a Devils fan and I want(ed) both players. If the the Ducks wind up plucking both Drysdale and Hughes just a pick before us in consecutive years they will easily become my most hated Western Conference team.

 

[tomd]

Why would the Ducks trade their #1 defensemen if they draft Hughes?

Hughes forsure isn’t going to be in the NHL next season and probably longer.

I'm not against drafting Hughes but I fear that resigning Lindholm will create a real logjam at LHD. Having Lindholm and Fowler signed for the next 5 years creates a challenge to find ice time for Hughes. And that doesn't even factor in guys like Fleury, LaCombe, Thrun, and others who are on the depth chart. I'm sure Hughes could force his way into the top 4 within 3 years but then what do you do with Fowler and Lindholm?

 

[Auto Pilot]

I could also see the ducks going after Edvinsson.