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LD Luke Hughes (2021, 4th, NJD)

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Ed Ned and Leddy said:
He's having a ludicrously impressive D+1 season, I don't know how it's not generating more discussion.
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That Michigan team seems to have the puck 90% of the game. Their 1st through 4th lines are filthy with guys that could be NHLers. Dylan f***ing Duke is on the 4th line. I would expect at least 8 players to be a PPG by the end of the year on that team.
 
I wasn't sure what to expect from Luke since I've only seen highlights on YT, but in full game viewing his skating and overall skill is much better than i was expecting. Leaving his zone, he takes two strides and is flying at full speed. His edges are deceptive like his brothers, except he's 6'2".
 
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goavsblue8 said:
Hughes would be the top pick if you did a 21 redraft today, still makes errors but potential is through the roof
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Pretty sure if you asked Wings fans he would be miles behind Edvinsson. Thing is , Luke is almost a year younger than Edvinsson and you could make a solid argument that Luke is already the better prospect.
 
Luke's skills and skating were always evident and easy to see. I've been preaching this since the beginning. He's not as flashy as Quinn because he plays a much more composed and mature game at the same age.
 
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From what I'm reading in here Luke has the skating ability of his brothers just in a bigger body with a little less flash to his game. From some of the highlights I've seen his ability to walk to blue line and drive the net with the puck from the blue line down was down right amazing. I'm happy with the pick as a Devils fan. I really wanted Clarke or Hughes as long as we winded up with the better of the 2. Right now both of those players are playing really well so far this year so I think LA got an awesome player who on some boards fell a few spots.
 
Forge said:
I'm like 98% certain he spends 2 years in school. Let him be the top dog at Michigan next and see how it goes. He's young as it is
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I have a different feeling. The temptation is very strong.

There is room to find a place in New Jersey. Subban will release one more. I only see 4 defenders established for the following season.

If he works very hard in the U20 tournament it will speed things up. He may play his first games at the end of this season.
 
Dirtyf1ghter said:
I have a different feeling. The temptation is very strong.

There is room to find a place in New Jersey. Subban will release one more. I only see 4 defenders established for the following season.

If he works very hard in the U20 tournament it will speed things up. He may play his first games at the end of this season.
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There’s clearly 5 guys for next year and the opening will be on the right side. I’m assuming you’re saying 4 because you don’t think he is established. He is and he’s really good. They’re not going to thrust Luke into the league on the right side. You can move Ty to the right but even that’s a bad idea with how bad he is defensively and the fact that is opens up the 2LD so either you’re thrusting Luke into a top 4 spot right off the bat as a 19 year old or you’re moving up Siegs which means a Hughes-Smith 3rd pair which isn’t happening. Luke is going back to Michigan next year to be the 1D and he’ll step in when the season ends
 
Hisch13r said:
There’s clearly 5 guys for next year and the opening will be on the right side. I’m assuming you’re saying 4 because you don’t think he is established. He is and he’s really good. They’re not going to thrust Luke into the league on the right side. You can move Ty to the right but even that’s a bad idea with how bad he is defensively and the fact that is opens up the 2LD so either you’re thrusting Luke into a top 4 spot right off the bat as a 19 year old or you’re moving up Siegs which means a Hughes-Smith 3rd pair which isn’t happening. Luke is going back to Michigan next year to be the 1D and he’ll step in when the season ends
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As an established player, I consider Smith, Hamilton, Severson and Graves. Two left-handed, two right-handed.

I have a poor opinion of Siegenthaler. I think he's a player destined to be kicked out when younger and more talented players appear. At best it will be a 7th defender.

I know there is also Mukhamadullin, Okhotyuk. Siegenthaler will not hold out for long.

A 3rd right-handed defender can be recruited from the free agent market to replace Subban.

I understand your reasoning and it makes a lot of sense but I have a hunch that Hughes will be playing in NHL sooner than expected.
 
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Dirtyf1ghter said:
As an established player, I consider Smith, Hamilton, Severson and Graves. Two left-handed, two right-handed.

I have a poor opinion of Siegenthaler. I think he's a player destined to be kicked out when younger and more talented players appear. At best it will be a 7th defender.

I know there is also Mukhamadullin, Okhotyuk. Siegenthaler will not hold out for long.

A 3rd right-handed defender can be recruited from the free agent market to replace Subban.

I understand your reasoning and it makes a lot of sense but I have a hunch that Hughes will be playing in NHL sooner than expected.
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It may come down to how NJ does in the playoff hunt. If they keep Subban all year and maybe even add a depth veteran should they hang around the playoff race there likely won't be any room for him. If they fade and Subban is traded then maybe. I can't them signing him to play in the AHL. I do think they will want him to fill out his frame a bit and also a year at Michigan when some of the other hot shots have moved on and he can hone his game as the go to guy will help his development. NJ wants highly competitive guys and it's been easy so far for Hughes. A lesser team next year with more responsibility might help him with what he will face in the NHL. Either way he's a great prospect and should become a very good NHL player eventually.
 
Siegenthaler is basically a penalty kill specialist at this point. If anything, he's keeping a specific spot warm for Okhotiuk or Bahl in the near future.

2022-23:
LD: Graves (contract year)-Smith-Siegenthaler-Bahl-Okhotiuk
RD: Hamilton-Severson (contract year)-tbd

If it were me, I'd be looking for a stay at home RD for that 3rd pair role. Severson might get priced out and Hughes could possibly take that spot the following season.
 
Brodeur said:
Siegenthaler is basically a penalty kill specialist at this point. If anything, he's keeping a specific spot warm for Okhotiuk or Bahl in the near future.

2022-23:
LD: Graves (contract year)-Smith-Siegenthaler-Bahl-Okhotiuk
RD: Hamilton-Severson (contract year)-tbd

If it were me, I'd be looking for a stay at home RD for that 3rd pair role. Severson might get priced out and Hughes could possibly take that spot the following season.
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I think Siegenthaler has looked much better than last season. He's a decent bottom pairing option if he continues to round out his game. He's also buddies with Nico apparently. I think that is valuable to the team if they cannot work out long term contracts with Zacha and/or Bratt after this season. I don't think the Siegenthalers of the world are relevant to Hughes though. You can put a Siegenthaler in the press box as the team improves and keep him as your depth veteran. I think the real issue for Hughes is whether they play him on the right or left and if on the left what do they do with Smith who is Jack's buddy but occupies a similar place to Hughes. NJ likes to play their defenders on hand.
 
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Siegenthaler is leading the league in expected defensive GAR. To say he's a decent bottom pair guy or a PK specialist is not fair at all. He's been great. His numbers in Washington were great. He should be a lock and Luke should go back to Michigan for another year. I expect Ty to pick it up at some point but he's still so awful defensively. If he can't pick it up then moving him to the #5 and Siegs up to play with Severson next year would be the way to go.

 
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it;s one of my favorite videos, and one of my favorite players - but if you search "scott niedermeyer biggest hits"...all of the top results are either of him getting laid out by domi >;( , his highlights....or scott stevens hits... so I don't really think you can call him a mean player in the context of the 94 - 04 devils :dunno:
 
Pizzanpucks said:
From what I'm reading in here Luke has the skating ability of his brothers just in a bigger body with a little less flash to his game. From some of the highlights I've seen his ability to walk to blue line and drive the net with the puck from the blue line down was down right amazing. I'm happy with the pick as a Devils fan. I really wanted Clarke or Hughes as long as we winded up with the better of the 2. Right now both of those players are playing really well so far this year so I think LA got an awesome player who on some boards fell a few spots.
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He’s not as skilled as his brothers, but very few are. He’s still good enough to eventually score 40-50 points in the NHL. He’s bigger and better defensively for his position than Quinn and Jack, although his style of play is currently more rover than anything else. He should eventually though be a two-way defensemen due to his sense, size, and skating. The comparable is a Thomas Chabot.
 
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