Prospect Info: Luke Hughes - part III

[glenwo2]

I think Bahl should take Graves' spot.

The thing is that Graves had been instrumental in saving the Devils asses via clearing pucks out of the crease in the nick of time.

But where are our manners, sir?

This is supposed to be a thread about the new kid (literally) on the block. Luke Hughes.

 

[Its Always Sundstrom]

Love this - going to grab as my playoff avatar if that's alright.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

The thing is that Graves had been instrumental in saving the Devils asses via clearing pucks out of the crease in the nick of time.

But where are our manners, sir?

This is supposed to be a thread about the new kid (literally) on the block. Luke Hughes.

Graves was great for the first 60 games of the season.

Lowkey I was bringing this up because I think Hughes is pretty clearly better than Bahl as well. The regression we've seen from Graves and Siegs IMO makes it pretty obvious that we should be playing Bahl and Hughes in the playoffs.

 

[Call Me Al]

if luke gets it in will likely be in place of bahl - they’re not going to take out siegs or graves i don’t think, unless one of them really stinks up the joint

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

if luke gets it in will likely be in place of bahl - they’re not going to take out siegs or graves i don’t think, unless one of them really stinks up the joint

This is probably the closest thing to reality. Would suck for Bahl but honestly its hard to justify him over Luke.

 

[JimEIV]

no, i meant sitting him in game 3 if he’s over his head in games 1 and 2. which, by the way, i don’t think he will be. i think he’ll be fine.

Sorry, I misunderstood. I wouldn't complain if he started, I just don't think it's best for him and the team.

 

[longislanddevil]

I know we typically frown on 11/7 but this is certainly a unique circumstance. Our D depth is incredible right now. It is hard to envision anyone coming out. Bahl deserves to stay in and he’s clearly earned the trust of the coaching staff. The Graves-Marino shutdown pair is not going to be messed with. The only D man I could potentially see being sat is Siegs. He was a healthy scratch during the season and Bahl has taken his spot alongside Hamilton. I like Siegs and think he’s generally rock solid but it seems to be he has regressed from the past season.

So with all of this said….we know Wood will never be sat whether we like it or not. Would it be such a bad thing to scratch Bastian in favor of getting Luke into the lineup?! Count me in.

Graves was great for the first 60 games of the season.

Lowkey I was bringing this up because I think Hughes is pretty clearly better than Bahl as well. The regression we've seen from Graves and Siegs IMO makes it pretty obvious that we should be playing Bahl and Hughes in the playoffs.

I can see a short leash on Siegs but would be shocked if Lindy abandoned the Graves-Marino pairing.

 

[glenwo2]

Sorry but Bahl not starting just 'cause it's Luke Hughes is really unfair (and I love Luke!).

Bahl earned this opportunity with his play.

Some of us talk about Merits.

Well Bahl should play in the Playoffs based on them over a larger sample size than just the 2 games that Luke did.

 

[NJDevs26]

Let’s be fair about one thing, Luke was great last night but the level of intensity and focus will be ten times what it was in a meaningless game. Him playing well in a glorified preseason game doesn’t mean you give him Game 1 over Siegs or Bahl

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

I think Bahl should take Graves' spot.

Why? Down the stretch Marino and Graves has been the top overall pair; with no huge discernable difference between the three pairs. Damon with either Bahl or Siegenthaler has had the best stretch of his career and Dougie with either of those two makes up for his inconsistencies defensively by creating points.

Only place for Luke is if Hamilton is out.

 

[Darkauron]

I don't think we should be going 11/7 out of the gate. Going for a balanced lineup and not having to double shift in forwards would probably be better in my opinion.

 

[mm11]

Amazing how one family can produce (3) great hockey players to compete at this level. What supplements is Mr Hughes taking or took?

 

[JimEIV]

Yeah I'm not a fan of 11/7.

 

[haak84]

I’ll take it a step further and I can see hughes playing 20+ minutes a night. I think the positives far outweigh the negatives when you look at what he did with dougie last night. He’s going to make each offensive line that much better. His game is effortless and players like that need to be in for more minutes because of how they tilt the ice. We’ll see though, lindy might shuffle the d like the o since we have quite a few interchangeable parts and possible combinations.

 

[Triumph]

I’ll take it a step further and I can see hughes playing 20+ minutes a night. I think the positives far outweigh the negatives when you look at what he did with dougie last night. He’s going to make each offensive line that much better. His game is effortless and players like that need to be in for more minutes because of how they tilt the ice. We’ll see though, lindy might shuffle the d like the o since we have quite a few interchangeable parts and possible combinations.

He was really good last night, but Washington played that game like it was Game 82 of a season they were ready to be done with. I wish he'd had a better entry in the NHL than against Buffalo and Washington, two of the looser defensive teams in the league, one of which has long since ended their season.

 

[Bcap88]

I think bahl has been playing well but saying we can’t start Luke because he will have to be sheltered can be the same sentiment for bahl.

Bahl averages 14 minutes a game. If he were to faulter or look out of place I don’t hesitate to put Luke in to eat up those 14 minutes and provide offense

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Why? Down the stretch Marino and Graves has been the top overall pair; with no huge discernable difference between the three pairs. Damon with either Bahl or Siegenthaler has had the best stretch of his career and Dougie with either of those two makes up for his inconsistencies defensively by creating points.

Only place for Luke is if Hamilton is out.

Because Graves has been a dumpster fire since March

 

[Lou is God]

Amazing how one family can produce (3) great hockey players to compete at this level. What supplements is Mr Hughes taking or took?

Mrs Hughes was a great college hockey player herself, great athlete all around. She's responsible for teaching them how to skate like the wind.

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Because Graves has been a dumpster fire since March

Saw your other post on the Devils thread claiming Graves was the Devils worst defenseman.

You and I (as well as the Devils coaching staff) have clearly not been watching the same games.

You don't put a player on the ice 20+ minutes if he's the worst defenseman.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Saw your other post on the Devils thread claiming Graves was the Devils worst defenseman.

You and I (as well as the Devils coaching staff) have clearly not been watching the same games.

You don't put a player on the ice 20+ minutes if he's the worst defenseman.

He was great for the first 60 games. But he's been god awful (out of nowhere) for a while now.

I don't put a lot into appeal to authority - aren't you the guy who thinks Bratt is terrible? If he's so bad then why does he play so much?

 

[MasterofGrond]

Saw your other post on the Devils thread claiming Graves was the Devils worst defenseman.

You and I (as well as the Devils coaching staff) have clearly not been watching the same games.

You don't put a player on the ice 20+ minutes if he's the worst defenseman.

Devils coaching staff started Blackwood last night. Let’s not pretend they don’t f*** up easy decisions sometimes.

 

[Saugus]

Saw your other post on the Devils thread claiming Graves was the Devils worst defenseman.

You and I (as well as the Devils coaching staff) have clearly not been watching the same games.

You don't put a player on the ice 20+ minutes if he's the worst defenseman.

Graves with Marino is solid as a rock on a shutdown middle pairing.

Graves without Marino is indeed a dumpster fire.

 

[Oneiro]

Graves and Siegs are being targeted by teams forcing them to break out the puck and not the RHD. They’re directly responsible for most failed breakouts. I don’t think it’ll matter as much versus the Rangers who are weak in the NZ structurally. But against anyone else, Luke is going to help you a lot more.

 

[OmNomNom]

12/6, see who's hot/who's not

if we struggle w offense or someone sucks on the 4th line, then go 11/7. we can play benchers against each other for motivation

 

[Guttersniped]

For a comparison.

Makar was 20 during the 2018-19 Playoffs, almost a whole year older.

Their defensive pairs were Zadorov-Barrie, Girard-E. Johnson, Cole-Nemeth.

Makar didn’t play in the Game 1 (0-4 L) or Game 2 (3-2 OT W) vs Calgary.

Girard got injured so Makar replaced him for Game 3. He mostly played with Nemeth, the Avs won the series in 5 games.

Girard came back for San Jose in the 2nd Rd and Nemeth was scratched. Makar played with Girard.

After the Avs went down 3-2 in the series, Bednar threw Nemeth back in there and went to 7-11. Makar still played with Girard though.

So Makar first got in due to injury and Colorado had a worse defensive core. I still think Luke will most likely play at some point, don’t underestimate how much elite skill levels the playing field.

Spoiler: Makar’s 2018-19 Playoff

Here’s his 5v5 ice time

And Power Play