Prospect Info: Luke Hughes - part III

[Jersey Fan 12]

You really think Hughes is going to spend one minute in the ahl? Or even on the bench? Considering he has a better prospect profile and production rate than Quinn who was immediately slotted into the lineup

Was saying just the opposite.

If he comes up it's going to be in a role like Quinn or Adam Fox or possibly even Makar. They aren't going to put him on the third pair. When he comes up it's to replace someone like Graves, Severson, or Marino.

What's disconcerting is that his skill set mirrors that of Dougie Hamilton.

Giving the Devils two primarily offensive defensemen playing pretty much the same role.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

You know the answer to that question

Because once you get to Darwin and the study of finches it’s time to go?

 

[Blackjack]

what?

I love it here. It’s like Twitter. On Twitter today someone said NYC is 30% barber shops.

 

[Guttersniped]

No because he only played when he was 17 predraft. Luke is captain at 19 2 years post draft. Not exactly much of a brag. Jack would’ve probably been their best player and possibly captain for two years if he wasn’t in the NHL at 18 and 19

Jack might not have been Captain, the best players are often not the U20 teams:
In 2021 Cam York was the Captain and Turcotte and Caufield got “A”s. Zegras was their best player and didn’t get a letter, neither did Boldy.

In 2022 Brock Faber was Captain and Mattias Samuelsson was in 2020.

2019 and 2018 had a set of brothers who were made Captain in back to back years.

In 2019, Mikey Anderson was Captain while Quinn Hughes got the “A” (his only letter at 19 as a returnee) and Josh Norris got the other A. Anderson was a 4th Rd pick. Other, bigger names were on the team too.

In 2018, our own 2016 3rd Rd pick, Joey Anderson, was Captain while Ryan Lindgren, Adam Fox and Kieffer Bellows got “A”s. The highest scorer, Casey Mittelstadt didn’t get a letter.

I don’t know if I would brag about it but the C isn’t automatically gifted to the top star returnee.

 

[devilsblood]

Was saying just the opposite.

If he comes up it's going to be in a role like Quinn or Adam Fox or possibly even Makar. They aren't going to put him on the third pair. When he comes up it's to replace someone like Graves, Severson, or Marino.

What's disconcerting is that his skill set mirrors that of Dougie Hamilton.

Giving the Devils two primarily offensive defensemen playing pretty much the same role.

Both are offensive minded but in terms of skill set, Hughes is a dynamic skater, and from what I've seen an open ice player, while Hamilton's skating is pretty average at this point and is at his best set up in the zones.

Top 4 projects to be

Sieg's Hamilton
Luke Marino.

Where a D oriented player is paired with a more offensive oriented one.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Jack might not have been Captain, the best players are often not the U20 teams:
In 2021 Cam York was the Captain and Turcotte and Caufield got “A”s. Zegras was their best player and didn’t get a letter, neither did Boldy.

In 2022 Brock Faber was Captain and Mattias Samuelsson was in 2020.

2019 and 2018 had a set of brothers who were made Captain in back to back years.

In 2019, Mikey Anderson was Captain while Quinn Hughes got the “A” (his only letter at 19 as a returnee) and Josh Norris got the other A. Anderson was a 4th Rd pick. Other, bigger names were on the team too.

In 2018, our own 2016 3rd Rd pick, Joey Anderson, was Captain while Ryan Lindgren, Adam Fox and Kieffer Bellows got “A”s. The highest scorer, Casey Mittelstadt didn’t get a letter.

I don’t know if I would brag about it but the C isn’t automatically gifted to the top star returnee.

Jack would definitely have gotten the C as a 3rd year player. None of the players you mentioned as being the best players are on Jack’s level or would have been going into their third year. You’re right that the top star returnee isn’t always gifted the C but if an incredibly talented #1 pick was coming back for his 3rd (or likely even 2nd) WJC he almost certainly would’ve gotten it.

 

[My3Sons]

Jack might not have been Captain, the best players are often not the U20 teams:
In 2021 Cam York was the Captain and Turcotte and Caufield got “A”s. Zegras was their best player and didn’t get a letter, neither did Boldy.

In 2022 Brock Faber was Captain and Mattias Samuelsson was in 2020.

2019 and 2018 had a set of brothers who were made Captain in back to back years.

In 2019, Mikey Anderson was Captain while Quinn Hughes got the “A” (his only letter at 19 as a returnee) and Josh Norris got the other A. Anderson was a 4th Rd pick. Other, bigger names were on the team too.

In 2018, our own 2016 3rd Rd pick, Joey Anderson, was Captain while Ryan Lindgren, Adam Fox and Kieffer Bellows got “A”s. The highest scorer, Casey Mittelstadt didn’t get a letter.

I don’t know if I would brag about it but the C isn’t automatically gifted to the top star returnee.

I'm sorry, the card says Moops.

 

[OmNomNom]

jack doesn't scream captain material -- maybe i'm wrong and he's more vocal in the locker room, but i think a brainier seeming guy (i.e. nico) makes more sense anyway. jack never seems very eloquent w his words (in his interviews at least)

can you imagine after a bad period?

"guys, uh, i don't know, we just gotta play harder on the puck, get that yellow gato in you, ja feel?"

 

[Ripshot 43]

jack doesn't scream captain material -- maybe i'm wrong and he's more vocal in the locker room, but i think a brainier seeming guy (i.e. nico) makes more sense anyway. jack never seems very eloquent w his words (in his interviews at least)

can you imagine after a bad period?

"guys, uh, i don't know, we just gotta play harder on the puck, get that yellow gato in you, ja feel?"

Between periods I picture Nico firing up the troops by gasping for his breath and also making the constipated face.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Both are offensive minded but in terms of skill set, Hughes is a dynamic skater, and from what I've seen an open ice player, while Hamilton's skating is pretty average at this point and is at his best set up in the zones.

Top 4 projects to be

Sieg's Hamilton
Luke Marino.

Where a D oriented player is paired with a more offensive oriented one.

With Nemec (hopefully) taking over Hamilton's spot in the future. Our D is set for very many years if they pan out.

 

[My3Sons]

Between periods I picture Nico firing up the troops by gasping for his breath and also making the constipated face.

I picture him yelling platitudes in various European languages until whoever he is looking at brightens up when he says something they can understand.

 

[Zubrus Coffee Maker]

As much as I’d like Luke to be ready to hop right into the NHL, it may be better for him to continue to work on his defensive side at the AHL level next year.

His offensive skill set is already NHL ready IMO, but we have (for once) the defensive depth to not be forced to rush the kid.

He could easily spend half of the year in the AHL while we see what Okhotyuk has to offer, as he’s waiver eligible. Luke would be an easy call up if Dougie ever got hurt.

That said though, if Luke is at camp and he clearly belongs in the NHL, give him #43 and let him loose

 

[Zajacs Bowl Cut]

As much as I’d like Luke to be ready to hop right into the NHL, it may be better for him to continue to work on his defensive side at the AHL level next year.

His offensive skill set is already NHL ready IMO, but we have (for once) the defensive depth to not be forced to rush the kid.

He could easily spend half of the year in the AHL while we see what Okhotyuk has to offer, as he’s waiver eligible. Luke would be an easy call up if Dougie ever got hurt.

That said though, if Luke is at camp and he clearly belongs in the NHL, give him #43 and let him loose

Its just not a realistic plan of action. I highly doubt he ever plays in Utica.

 

[Poppy Whoa Sonnet]

I only see Hughes in Utica if he's a complete disaster next year. Even if he has a terrible camp they will let him make the team and see how it goes. Also no one will be signed to be in his way so Hughes in Utica would be quite a terrible outcome. He's going to play in the playoffs this year, or at the very least travel with the team so we'll have some insights there.

 

[devilsblood]

Its just not a realistic plan of action. I highly doubt he ever plays in Utica.

Assuming everyone is healthy, and maybe Bahl establishes himself I could see Luke not playing in NJ this year.

Would they send him to Utica? I don’t know but if he is not playing in the NHL to start next year Id be very surprised.

I only see Hughes in Utica if he's a complete disaster next year. Even if he has a terrible camp they will let him make the team and see how it goes. Also no one will be signed to be in his way so Hughes in Utica would be quite a terrible outcome. He's going to play in the playoffs this year, or at the very least travel with the team so we'll have some insights there.

I was going to write something like this, but that would be such a bad scenario I didn’t want to jinx it.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

I only see Hughes in Utica if he's a complete disaster next year. Even if he has a terrible camp they will let him make the team and see how it goes. Also no one will be signed to be in his way so Hughes in Utica would be quite a terrible outcome. He's going to play in the playoffs this year, or at the very least travel with the team so we'll have some insights there.

I'm not so sure about that. The d roster doesn't really have a spot for him, unless they plan to go back to Graves-Severson as a pair (gross). That would be worse than having Luke in the lineup.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

I'm not so sure about that. The d roster doesn't really have a spot for him, unless they plan to go back to Graves-Severson as a pair (gross). That would be worse than having Luke in the lineup.

Huh the Severson Graves pairing is more than fine.

 

[Blackjack]

Huh the Severson Graves pairing is more than fine.

Also Severson Hughes could be an amazing 3rd pair.

 

[Unknown Caller]

Also Severson Hughes could be an amazing 3rd pair.

Way too soft for the playoffs.

 

[Captain3rdLine]

Way too soft for the playoffs.

Really wouldn’t classify Severson as soft whatsoever. Doesn’t mind getting into it and perfectly capable of throwing some big hits when he wants to. Saw some of that last game.

 

[Zippy316]

It’s just not a realistic plan of action. I highly doubt he ever plays in Utica.

He’s almost certainly going to get NHL games when his college season ends this year.

But I do wonder if the Devils would send him down to Utica to get AHL playoff reps rather than ride the bench in the NHL playoffs. There’s certainly value in both, but it would be an interesting decision.

I doubt he’s enough of a difference maker this spring to play over our current defenders, if they’re healthy. Everyone is going to say Smith, but Smith will be in the lineup for the dynamic he adds. Bahl and Okhotiuk may get reps in over Hughes anyways and I also anticipate the Devils adding one more defender between now and TDL.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

Huh the Severson Graves pairing is more than fine.

seriosuly? it was abysmal.

Also Severson Hughes could be an amazing 3rd pair.

ew no. Severson couldn't defend peewees and you wanna pair luke with him?

 

[Blackjack]

Do people think every pairing is like Lidstrom Chelios or something?

 

[Xirik]

Do people think every pairing is like Lidstrom Chelios or something?

Meaning? some of us (me) aren't very well versed on Detroit pairing from yesteryear.

 

[Forge]

seriosuly? it was abysmal.



ew no. Severson couldn't defend peewees and you wanna pair luke with him?

Trade Severson as a rental at the deadline, let Smith play his off and Hughes on the third pair with him? Running out of options here lol