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LD Luke Hughes (2021, 4th, NJD)

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Hopefully Luke goes back for a 2nd year. I watched a ton of Michigan games live in Quinn’s time at U of M and he was a completely different defenseman from freshman to sophomore year. He made huge strides in his game, cut down on turnovers, picked his pinches better, handled the forecheck better, just totally filled out his game. Became pro ready. Luke should stay. If he gets even half the benefit Quinn did, it’ll be worth it.
 
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WhiskeyYerTheDevils said:
Is it?

Power only played 29 games with much worse counting stats.

Hughes 37gp 17 goals 36 points +25
Power 29gp 3 goals 27 points +21

Power is pretty clearly the better player but I can understand why he lost out to Hughes.
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I’m not so sure about the “clearly” part. Id say they are pretty damn close with and cases could be made for each player. Is it fair to say Luke’s ceiling is higher ?
 
Luke Hughes is a dynamic offensive dman and a bit of a train wreck in his own zone. I see him as a bigger version of his brother Quinn. He will be a lot of fun to watch with his brother Jack in Jersey.

One thing to consider about him turning pro is coach Mel Pearson and Michigan are under investigation for numerous things and no one knows how that will turnout but it may impact the program next year.
 
There have been 420 finalists for the Hobey Baker Award. More than half have been Seniors and more than two-thirds have been Forwards.


[TABLE=collapse]
[TR]
[TD][/TD]

[TD]Forward[/TD]
[TD]Defense[/TD]
[TD]Goalie[/TD]
[TD]TOTAL[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Freshman[/TD]

[TD]
4​
[/TD]

[TD]
2​
[/TD]

[TD]
1​
[/TD]

[TD]
7​
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Sophomore[/TD]

[TD]
49​
[/TD]

[TD]
7​
[/TD]

[TD]
16​
[/TD]

[TD]
72​
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Junior[/TD]

[TD]
88​
[/TD]

[TD]
20​
[/TD]

[TD]
22​
[/TD]

[TD]
130​
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]Senior[/TD]

[TD]
143​
[/TD]

[TD]
37​
[/TD]

[TD]
31​
[/TD]

[TD]
211​
[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD]TOTAL[/TD]

[TD]
284​
[/TD]

[TD]
66​
[/TD]

[TD]
70​
[/TD]

[TD]
420​
[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Only two Freshman Defensemen have been finalists: Brian Leetch (1987) and Luke Hughes (2022). Leetch was six months older at the time.

Freshman Hobey Baker finalists (age as of March 27th that year)

1987 Brian Leetch, D (19 years, 24 days)
1993 Paul Kariya, F (18 years, 163 days)
2003 Zach Parise, F (18 years, 242 days)
2015 Jack Eichel, F(18 years, 151 days)
2016 Kyle Connor, F (19 years, 109 days)
2018 Matthew Galajda, G (20 years, 172 days)
2022 Luke Hughes, D (18 years, 199 days)

Amazing what Luke has accomplished.
 
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Reddwit said:
Hopefully Luke goes back for a 2nd year. I watched a ton of Michigan games live in Quinn’s time at U of M and he was a completely different defenseman from freshman to sophomore year. He made huge strides in his game, cut down on turnovers, picked his pinches better, handled the forecheck better, just totally filled out his game. Became pro ready. Luke should stay. If he gets even half the benefit Quinn did, it’ll be worth it.
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Not saying he should stay or go, but perhaps sticking around for a Owen Power-less season at UM might help him develop faster than in the NHL?

In reality, it’s just the next assignment.
 
Reddwit said:
Hopefully Luke goes back for a 2nd year. I watched a ton of Michigan games live in Quinn’s time at U of M and he was a completely different defenseman from freshman to sophomore year. He made huge strides in his game, cut down on turnovers, picked his pinches better, handled the forecheck better, just totally filled out his game. Became pro ready. Luke should stay. If he gets even half the benefit Quinn did, it’ll be worth it.
Click to expand...

Yup. 100% certain that Quinn would not be the same player he is today had he left after his freshman year. He still would be very good, but Quinn made huge strides in his sophomore year and carried it right into the NHL and was a star.

I think Luke could have a Makar type of season next year, where he dominates the NCAA and immediately jumps into the Devils lineup as an impact type player.
 
Herby said:
Yup. 100% certain that Quinn would not be the same player he is today had he left after his freshman year. He still would be very good, but Quinn made huge strides in his sophomore year and carried it right into the NHL and was a star.

I think Luke could have a Makar type of season next year, where he dominates the NCAA and immediately jumps into the Devils lineup as an impact type player.
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Gotta think that decision will also depend a bit on what happens with the investigation into the Michigan hockey program. If they face some sort of penalties or are barred from tournaments that will weigh heavily into where he decides to play next season. That could affect a lot of those players decisions on their next steps.
 


"Luke is a great offensive player. But he's become more responsible with making better decisions, because when he gets the puck, he's so confident he thinks he can go end-to-end, seeing some of the things he can do on the offensive blue line and offensive zone," Michigan coach Mel Pearson said. "And he's had to learn at times, manage the game. What's the situation? What's the score? Where are we at? Do we need offense? Can I just lay the puck in and live to see another day? And I think that's been one of the areas he's really grown is just his management of the game.

"A lot of people didn't think he could defend, his defense wasn't this or that. But he's become much, much better in his defending, become much more physical. He's the third youngest player in college hockey this year. And as he grows and gets matured he's going to even get better."
 
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Just saw he lost his coverage on the season ending OT goal, definitely should stick around another year in the NCAA. He needs a lot of work in his own zone.
 
Going back would be big for him. He will get leaned on a lot more with Power gone. And he’s a bit of an adventure in his own end
 
William H Bonney said:
He was always going to come back for his sophomore year. He was a really young freshman this year. Another year will do wonders for him like it did for Makar and his brother.

Also, it was Van Whye who lost coverage in OT, not Luke.
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What proof is there that going back 'did wonders' for their games?

Both examples you made produced less in seasons 2 than 1
 
AfroThunder396 said:
Are you suggesting that experience as the #1 all-situations defenseman is not helpful for a young players development?
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Im suggesting a player who skates at an NHL level will learn nothing from tougher defensive minutes vs 21-24yo NCAA players

Its nothing to do with further development and more to do with he probably couldnt hang at the NHL level
 
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