I’m easily taking Bratt over Meier for 3 on 3
Prospect Info: Luke Hughes - part III
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I’m easily taking Bratt over Meier for 3 on 3
Unless he’s just bad the default should be him as a regular. It’s not like it’d be hard to shelter him if needed when you have Dougie, Siegs, Marino, Graves, and Sevo
I don’t know. Every goal counts in the playoffs, it’s a lot to ask of him. I’d sooner just have him as an emergency backup, that’s a big step up from the Big 10 to playoff hockey.
The implosion here when he spins at the blue line and gives away a breakaway goal the other way would be wild lol.
I think the scheduling may allow a small window after the NCAA finals and the end of thr regular season for NJ? Maybe one or two regular season games? If Michigan doesn’t make it to the finals there should be a straightforward opportunity to have him play a regular season game or two and they can figure it out from there. I’m sure they would love it if he came in and contributed immediately but that is asking a lot.
Really? The guy has a blooper after a dominant performance at the WJC and this is how we’re envisioning him?
Graves, Severson, Bahl, even Siegenthaler have all recently had ugly turnovers that led to high danger chances for the other side.
Has anyone considered the possibility that Luke might actually improve the quality of play in our own end?
A big reason our games have looked so ugly recently is because our defense has not been able to win possession of the puck and transition to attack.
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
I think Ruff likes Smith too much as a vet to sit him for a rookie Luke. Especially in playoff games.
I'm sure at some point he will but I'm reluctant to not account for some sort of acclimation to the speed of the NHL. He just won't have time and space compared to anything he's seen before.
Okay? You somehow read that as me intimating Luke Hughes would be the only Devil capable of turning the puck over?
The fact remains, what makes Hughes great is his invention on the puck and the confidence to try high-risk plays at the blue line. It's one thing to do that away at Penn State, and entirely another in an NHL playoff game. I don't think it's fair to him to throw him into the deep end and expect him to immediately adjust to not just NHL hockey, but NHL playoff hockey. There will be growing pains with Luke, and I'd be much more open to having him in the press box (barring several injuries) for the playoffs and working him into the team through training camp next season.
And to be clear, he's skilled enough that I don't really think there's any doubt that with the puck on his stick he can make plays at this level. But you have to be willing to take the good with the bad, and I don't think the playoffs is that time.
I really hope you’re wrong, sitting Luke for Brendan f***ing Smith would be an absolute joke.
I don’t know, he’s the best prospect in hockey, and it’s been pointed out many times before that these early draft pick NCAA defensemen are almost always successful stepping in at the end of their d+2 season.
I mean, if he’s not ready, he’s not ready, and that will be apparent, and at that point he’ll be pulled from the lineup and Smith or whoever will go back in.
Emperoreddy
Show Me What You Got!
A handful of posters will take every Luke mistake as a cue to bash him and throw some I told you so out there.
That's 100% inevitable.
That's 100% inevitable.
That’s true for any high profile young player. Look at the hatred for Jack Hughes and then again when he signed his extension. People can’t just be happy unless others are miserable.
Zajacs Bowl Cut
Lets Go Baby
*Rachel Doerrie enters the chat*
What is the precedence for this? I mean, I concede that anything is possible. Maybe Luke gets out there and he sucks, who knows? But what early draft pick defenseman has been successful in the NCAA and then not been immediately successful when they came into the league?
Makar, Q. Hughes, Sanderson, Power. Four in a row since 2017.
No, my point is that the potential for a costly turnover is not a good reason to keep players out of the lineup.
I think it’s abundantly clear that Siegenthaler, Graves, Smith is not good enough on the left side. Our playoff prospects this year probably depend on Luke Hughes stepping right into the lineup and being an impact player.
Right, because right now we definitely don’t have any bad with Siegenthaler, Graves, or Smith.
Defensemen that are allowed to make mistakes:
Hamilton, Siegenthaler, Graves, Marino, Smith
Defensemen that must play perfectly:
Severson, Hughes
Yes, I would feel more comfortable with all of those players listed in a playoff game than Luke Hughes fresh off the bus on his way back from a game against Minnesota-Duluth. Luke will be a great player - I don't think there's any reason to put him in a position to fail in a high-intensity playoff game where every puck decision and defensive play can be the difference between winning and getting bounced, bar extenuating circumstances.
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Luke will no doubt get his chance. I don't think there is any way they don't immediately play him once he signs. My guess is that he agrees to sign just to get him in a game and burn that ELC year. Maybe he takes off from game one. Is there anyone in the NJ fanbase hoping he doesn't? All I'm saying, as some others are, is that you play him and hope for the best but you don't presume he will absolutely hit 100% and be on top of his NHL game without any adjustment. I don't see that as either controversial or doom and gloom. I'm hopeful.
Lou is God
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Unless he plays like balls of fire in the few games he gets at the end of the regular season I expect him to be healthy scratches for the start of the playoffs, however if we're struggling in the series and need to change things up, then he might see playoff action.
Oneiro
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My guess is he'll be fine.
Yeah, there will be hiccups in his own zone and probably some poor decisions at the offensive blue line. But you're going to have more control of the puck and easier entries than you ever would with Smith or Graves. I'll take 80-90% control in transition over the 10% blowup risk.
If Lindy puts him out there to defend a one goal lead with 1:30 left, then that's on us anyway.
Yeah, there will be hiccups in his own zone and probably some poor decisions at the offensive blue line. But you're going to have more control of the puck and easier entries than you ever would with Smith or Graves. I'll take 80-90% control in transition over the 10% blowup risk.
If Lindy puts him out there to defend a one goal lead with 1:30 left, then that's on us anyway.
Devils731
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Luke taking a page from Jack
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I can see if being the 7th Dman in the playoffs if we are healthy, but he is for sure a regular next year.
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GameSeven
ἢ τὰς ἢ ἐπὶ τὰς
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Article mentions that Luke has watched most NJ games this season and focuses on the style and scheme for the defense. Here's hoping he can adapt to the pro game as well as his brother has.
TrufleShufle
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I 100% expect Luke to go through what Jack did. He has more than enough skills, probably more tools than a lot of Dman currently in the NHL. But he will make a shit ton of mistakes based off not knowing what doesn't work in the NHL.
There will definitely be some insane mistakes, but each one will be a "ooooo that won't work here," learning moment.
I'm also fairly confident that certain posters will use these mistakes against him and start digging in their heals on the opinion that he's a bust and we only took him because of his name, and on the other hand other posters will completely ignore the mistakes, or lumping anyone who points them out into the first category of poster. It's gunna be a typical Devils HF board good time, and I'm excited for it.
There will definitely be some insane mistakes, but each one will be a "ooooo that won't work here," learning moment.
I'm also fairly confident that certain posters will use these mistakes against him and start digging in their heals on the opinion that he's a bust and we only took him because of his name, and on the other hand other posters will completely ignore the mistakes, or lumping anyone who points them out into the first category of poster. It's gunna be a typical Devils HF board good time, and I'm excited for it.
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