PWiz30
I love to hockey!
- Jan 3, 2013
- 2,504
- 2,553
Is this better dman for that situation in the room with us now?
Luke Hughes has taken a massive step forward
- Thread starter WhiskeyYerTheDevils
- Start date
*21 year old defenseman in their 2nd season averaging 19 minutes a night and most 5v5 minutes on one of the top teams in the league*
Random HFboards “expert”: he can’t be any good!!! He doesn’t play PP1 over a guy whose last full season finished with 74 points and 6th in Norris voting!!!”
Random HFboards “expert”: he can’t be any good!!! He doesn’t play PP1 over a guy whose last full season finished with 74 points and 6th in Norris voting!!!”
The odd thing is the original conceit of this thread wasn’t that Luke should be in the Norris race, on Team USA or even comparison to his brother or Makar. It was that he was quietly playing a strong defensive 5v5 game.
Bear of Bad News
"The Worst Guy on the Site" - user feedback
- Sep 27, 2005
- 14,454
- 29,857
Those of you who've heard from the staff a few times today should probably figure it out.
He's also brought quite a bit to PP2 (as did casey when he was up).
3 goals in 22 minutes with him on the PP is something you 100% take from your PP2.
I think we have 6 PP2 goals this year already (treating this as goals without dougie on).
I think we had something like 2 all year after dougie got hurt last year
Also, shoutout to dougie on the PP.
15 goals/60 for NJD on the PP this year and last with dougie on the ice. Weapon
Last edited:
I just love watching Luke play. I was nervous about him early on, but the dude is it.
Luke in the 9 games before Florida
Luke in the 16 games starting in Florida
- Down 1-5 in goals at 5v5
- Only 1 pt and it was a PP secondary assist
- 48.18% xG
- 1.97 xGF/60
Luke in the 16 games starting in Florida
- Up 13-5 in goals at 5v5
- 10 pts since. Only 2 are secondary assists and 8 of those pts are at 5v5
- 66.05% xG. That's 9th in the league overall and 1st among D
- 3.58 xGF/60. That's 6th in the league overall and 1st among D
Last edited:
He's been the team's best defenseman in that span, and it hasn't been particularly close.
What a steal at 4th overall.
- Jan 17, 2018
- 3,911
- 8,705
Haven't seen much of the Devils, but looking at the data sites (Hockeyviz, MoneyPuck) shows Hughes playing mostly with Pesce.
While Pesce doesn't put up numbers, he makes his partners better, significantly better, and has for quite a few years. It is not surprising that Hughes is playing his best hockey.
While Pesce doesn't put up numbers, he makes his partners better, significantly better, and has for quite a few years. It is not surprising that Hughes is playing his best hockey.
Pesce has been great with Hughes, but we have see more often Luke bail him out than the opposite.
361 minutes together with a 59% xG. Pesce in 74 minutes without Luke craters down to a 41%. Luke in 68 minutes without Pesce jumps up to a 68%.
They flashed this graphic on the broadcast a few weeks ago as well. Luke’s having this success mainly because of Luke.
Zajacs Bowl Cut
Lets Go Baby
I just never thought he'd get to THIS level defensively, let alone get there a few months after turning 21. What a player. Lock him down longterm ASAP.
What a family. Build the Ellen Hughes statue!
What a family. Build the Ellen Hughes statue!
- Jan 17, 2018
- 3,911
- 8,705
Pesce doesn't get a lot of "eye-test" love, so that is not surprising. But I remember quite a few posters saying Skjei was carrying Pesce the past two seasons. While the Preds are an unmitigated disaster, going from a consistent double-digit goal scorer to a 5-goal pace makes me think Skjei wasn't the one doing the heavy lifting.
Edit: I think Hughes is a future Norris winner, so in no way am I minimizing his growth. Just pointing out that Pesce's partners consistently improve paired with him. He may be the most under-appreciated player in the league.
Last edited:
Luigi Lemieux
Registered User
- Sep 26, 2003
- 22,457
- 11,436
NJ's defense is sick, championship caliber. They should trade Nemec while he still has high value for a young forward.
HugeInTheShire
You may not like me but, I'm Huge in the Shire
People talk a lot about Jack and his mental connection with Bratt but they're starting to notice Luke and Pesce seem to have a lot of the same chemistry. Obviously it's more about defending than points for them but they've really gelled as a unit. This isn't Pesce improving Luke's defensive game, it's them being connected and playing as a duo.
I truly believe that them being injured at the same time was an amazing benefit for them, they rehabbed together and got to know each others tendencies. It certainly shows up when you watch them play.
What's really surprised me is how often you see Luke being the one covering up for when Pesce decides to jump up, rather than the other way around
They played very passive their first games back but are both jumping into the rush more and more now. Someone must have reminded luke he's faster than all the other players
This has been true for Pesce for much of his career, but he's noticeably lost a step in the last 1-2 years, and has been pretty mediocre defensively in the last 5-10 games. Luke has been carrying him pretty hard during that stretch.
He's still really solid, and a huge upgrade from his partners of last year (especially Brendan Smith). But he's not longer a top pairing D IMO.
HugeInTheShire
You may not like me but, I'm Huge in the Shire
When they're out there together it's been tough for opponents to overcome the fact that Luke seems to have figured out how to use his speed and reach without taking penalties, and Pesce is a puck magnet.
He never really took penalties last year either tho tbf.
But yeah he's been much more effective with his defense, rather than simply disciplined last year.
HugeInTheShire
You may not like me but, I'm Huge in the Shire
Wasn't trying to imply he did, but a lot of times when players start using their stick more the penalties follow. Hasn't been the case with Luke.
