LD Luke Hughes (2021, 4th, NJD)

[Fatass]

This thread is so strange, very little talk about Luke as a player.

I really like him. Terrific skater, very high hockey IQ, anticipates the play well. Great hands, puck skills and passing ability.

I don't really understand the comments about his defensive game. He's never going to be a physical, crease-clearing defender, but he doesn't need to be because he is such a good skater and plays a proactive style of hockey, always being in the right place at the right time.

He's a top3 pick for me.

And we should consider he’s an early September birthday who is one week away from being in next year’s draft"

 

[vildurson]

Is there any recent games / compilations from Hughes you could watch? I still have bit of a hard time projecting him(due to his injury & no good tape of where he is right now). Right now I see him and compare him to Drysdale. Major difference being that Drysdale is better at defending his zone(which probably contributed a lot to his early entry to Ducks roster this season). They have similar strengths. Elite skating. Great first pass. Great playmaker from blueline

My current estimate is that he is about 2 years from getting first good looks at NHL.

 

[The Blunder Years]

I am interested to see how he stacks up in the future with the other big O dmen Power and Clarke given his birth month. I would have him or Clarke over Power.

 

[604]

If the Devils pass on Luke at 4 I think I'd be shocked.

Isn't this exactly what was being said about Quinn Hughes?

 

[Forge]

Isn't this exactly what was being said about Quinn Hughes?

The dynamic isn't exactly the same in the two situations

 

[Osprey]

FYI, Hoven is a credible LA insider. It's quite possible that LA asked Hughes that question in their interview and someone shared it with him. Never mind. It was a media call.

 

[RememberTheName]

FYI, Hoven is a credible LA insider. It's quite possible that LA asked Hughes that question in their interview and someone who was in the room shared it with him.

It’s legit

 

[RememberTheName]

Also, this comment.

 

[KovalSNIPE]

Having two family members on the same team can be awkward if a GM decides to trade one, as it can offend the other.

No it doesn't. They're adults and they understand the business.

 

[Brodeur]

FYI, Hoven is a credible LA insider. It's quite possible that LA asked Hughes that question in their interview and someone who was in the room shared it with him.

Looks like it was just a public media call that the NHL arranged with a handful of prospects.

 

[bsu]

He's gonna be a Devil.

 

[Hisch13r]

He's gonna be a Devil.

The only realistic way I think he isn't is if Anaheim takes him at 3. Buffalo's not and I doubt Seattle does but Anaheim could end up doing it even though that seems pretty unlikely to me as well

 

[MichaelFarrell]

I think Luke’s floor is high. I don’t think he’ll win a Norris, but I think he’s definitely an NHL player. Because of that projection I just can’t see him getting past 3.

 

[bsu]

He could become a Fowler like defensemen... who knows he's so young.

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

He could become a Fowler like defensemen... who knows he's so young.

Or a Cam Barker type defenseman.

 

[goonybird]

Or a Cam Barker type defenseman.

that'd be brutal. pretty sure Edvinsson ends up Gudbranson 2.0 while we're at it.

 

[StreetHawk]

Looks like it was just a public media call that the NHL arranged with a handful of prospects.

Smart decision by Evindsson. He's not ready for the NHL game. His overall play needs work and good coaching.

 

[Fatass]

Or a Cam Barker type defenseman.

Might be more fair to evaluate and compare Luke Hughes to his draft peers in a year, when he catches up to many of them in age? If he’s born a week later, he’s in the 2022 draft. He still looks like a skinny boy, who has a lot of physical maturing left to do.

 

[JiggsNY]

Smart decision by Evindsson. He's not ready for the NHL game. His overall play needs work and good coaching.

When was the last time there was a draft with nobody on an opening night roster? Beniers and power and eklund all leaning to wait a year.

 

[Dack]

When was the last time there was a draft with nobody on an opening night roster? Beniers and power and eklund all leaning to wait a year.

Those are really the only 3 guys (Power and Eklund in particular) I think you can argue are NHL ready too and none of them are clearly too good for their respective level currently. Excluding 2004 on the technicality that there was no season for them to play in. Every 1st overall since Erik Johnson has played their d+1 season in the NHL and having gone back to 2000 at least a few of the top picks played their d+1 season in the NHL. If I'm not mistaken it's 1996 where Chris Phillips was the 1st overall pick.

Edit: I'm not sure that's true. Looks like Ruslan Salei played 30 games in his D+1.

 

[Osakahaus]

Those are really the only 3 guys (Power and Eklund in particular) I think you can argue are NHL ready too and none of them are clearly too good for their respective level currently. Excluding 2004 on the technicality that there was no season for them to play in. Every 1st overall since Erik Johnson has played their d+1 season in the NHL and having gone back to 2000 at least a few of the top picks played their d+1 season in the NHL. If I'm not mistaken it's 1996 where Chris Phillips was the 1st overall pick.

Yes 1996 was chris phillips. god what a bad draft btw

 

[Osakahaus]

Looks like it was just a public media call that the NHL arranged with a handful of prospects.

I think its smart that a bunch of these kids aren't gonna come to the NHL next season. Let them develop overseas first

 

[bsu]

I think it's better in almost every situation for the player not to play in nhl first season.

 

[newfy]

When was the last time there was a draft with nobody on an opening night roster? Beniers and power and eklund all leaning to wait a year.

There hasnt ever really been a time where a lot prospects missed a ~year and a half of development time before the draft though either. Including not being allowed into gyms to train in the off seasons. So if this were to happen, now would be the time

 

[MMC]

Welcome to New Jersey