Luke Hughes has taken a massive step forward

[HugeInTheShire]

A lot of people here still think of him as a defensive liability who can't defend and that just isn't true. He's taken a noticeable step forward in his own end without sacrificing the points. It'll be fun to watch him running PP1 for the entire season if NJ can find a way to move on from Hamilton this offseason.

 

[Realgud]

I feel like he'll be the best dman in the league very soon, like next season or the one after. Dunno how realistic that is with Makar and Quinn still playing at a crazy high level but Luke has basically everything to be the best. Tools and toolbox at an absurd level.

 

[landy]

Luke > Quinn confirmed.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

Kind of absurd how much depth Team USA is going to have for the Olympics. Imagine potentially leaving a guy like Hughes off the roster because you already have Q. Hughes, Sanderson, Slavin on the left side. The right is a little bit weaker obviously but still. Pretty much a golden age for USA d-men.

Luke can play the right for what it's worth. I can see him making it over Hanifin next year if Luke keeps it up. McAvoy and Fox are the two locks on the right and then Faber. At the worst, Luke is a 7D/Black Ace type of player for Team USA next year.

 

[Xirik]

People just want to see points points points but Luke just isn't a defensive liability anymore He's good on both sides which is a big step up over last year.

 

[Sasha Orlov]

People just want to see points points points but Luke just isn't a defensive liability anymore He's good on both sides which is a big step up over last year.

Such a good player, the Hughes family genetics should be studied

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Luke can play the right for what it's worth. I can see him making it over Hanifin next year if Luke keeps it up. McAvoy and Fox are the two locks on the right and then Faber. At the worst, Luke is a 7D/Black Ace type of player for Team USA next year.

If the four nations is any indication, Fox may have lost his spot to Faber. Fox is elite, but the speed of a best on best might be too much for his brain to overcome.

Slavin - Faber
Q Hughes - L Hughes
Sanderson - McAvoy
Hanifin / Fox

Who wouldn't want to see a Hughes bros pairing??

 

[Sting]

If the four nations is any indication, Fox may have lost his spot to Faber. Fox is elite, but the speed of a best on best might be too much for his brain to overcome.

Slavin - Faber
Q Hughes - L Hughes
Sanderson - McAvoy
Hanifin / Fox

Who wouldn't want to see a Hughes bros pairing??

I honestly didn't think Faber play to the world-class caliber of the tournament and I watched almost every game. He made a lot of gaffes that I thought would have caught more flak than he got. Fox was downright invisible though.

 

[Nipsey]

I feel like he'll be the best dman in the league very soon, like next season or the one after. Dunno how realistic that is with Makar and Quinn still playing at a crazy high level but Luke has basically everything to be the best. Tools and toolbox at an absurd level.

He doesn’t have the hockey sense to be the best in the league. Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes are generational defencemen due to their ultra rare IQ that works faster than their elite skating ability.

Luke is more a Shea Theodore level which is still excellent and important with Nemec looking like a bust and Silayev looking meh.