Why did Holland/Wings pass up on Q Hughes?

[FreeMcdavid]

It seemed like the stars aligned for Detroit Red Wings to make the obvious pick with Quinn Hughes. Instead they went for Zadina. Not a knock thread against Zadina as im sure he will be an NHLer but Hughes and Detroit just seemed like a match made in heaven.

Whats more shocking is apparently Hughes was told a few days before the draft that Detroit was not interested and the word is Detroit wanted a Dman but it was Bouchard.

Some ties between Hughes and Red Wings


-Q Hughes played for USNDT based out of Plymouth Michigan - 30 min away
- Went to to University of Michigan - 45 min away
-Captain and Franchise player Dylan Larkin is also U of M alum and Team mate of Hughes in Worlds.
- Larkin mentored Hughes during the Worlds as they were partnered up to be roomates
-Detroit Coach Jeff Blashill coached Hughes 2 months prior to draft as Hughes made Team USA World Championship Team. Blasshill was head coach
-Detroit' biggest organizational need was a Dman going into that Draft
- 4 of their last 5 1st rnd picks were forwards


Jeff Blasshill on Quinn Hughes- “His skillset, for me, was transferable because he is super explosive. I mean, super explosive. It wasn’t explosive for college hockey, it wasn’t explosive for the World Championships. It’s explosive with the best players in the world.”

Ken Holland pre draft on Q Hughes- " Hes going to be one of the best skater in the draft, he has the "IT" factor, he has great vision and great hockey sense"

Dylan Larkin on Hughes- "“He’s one of those guys who, from skating with him in practices, you think you have him and he makes one move, one quick cut-back or one move to the outside, and he’s gone and you can’t catch him,He’s got his head up and you’re looking right at him and you don’t know where he is going to go. He is a dangerous player.”

Brian Burke when Detroit drafted Zadina" Absolutely thats a switch, Kenny Holland told me yesterday (day before draft) that they were taking a Defenceman.


Did Detroit over-think things with the falling Zadina instead of making the perfect fit choice with Hughes?

 

[raymond23]

It’s been reported they were taking Bouchard if Zadina didn’t drop.

Zadina has shown a pretty unbelievable development curve from his D+1 to his D+2 season. It is way too early to be making any final statements on that decision quite yet.

 

[Oliewud]

I think its because zadina was ranked as a top 3 pick so when he fell they felt like they had to take him

 

[7even]

Because they are not genious like Canucks gg ez no re

Zadina was a faller, Bob's aggregate rankings had him 4, some independent scouting services had him at 3, just as a rough barometer for how he was felt about. Clearly the Red Wings' scouts felt similarly about him and had him BPA. Why does any team draft anyone

 

[FreeMcdavid]

It’s been reported they were taking Bouchard if Zadina didn’t drop.

Zadina has shown a pretty unbelievable development curve from his D+1 to his D+2 season. It is way too early to be making any final statements on that decision quite yet.

nobody is making any final statements, i can only speak of today and today Hughes is a superior player and prospect than Zadina. Like I said this isnt a bash thread for Zadina.

Its about a link a player has to a team yet the team had no interest.

 

[ESH]

It’s not like Zadina was some shocking selection

 

[FreeMcdavid]

Because they are not genious like Canucks gg ez no re

Zadina was a faller, Bob's aggregate rankings had him 4, some independent scouting services had him at 3, just as a rough barometer for how he was felt about. Clearly the Red Wings' scouts felt similarly about him and had him BPA. Why does any team draft anyone

You think it was the scouts that had the hammer on this pick? im genuinely curious because based on those quotes i provided, Management, coaches and players were very high on Hughes

 

[StreetHawk]

It’s been reported they were taking Bouchard if Zadina didn’t drop.

Zadina has shown a pretty unbelievable development curve from his D+1 to his D+2 season. It is way too early to be making any final statements on that decision quite yet.

Montreal and AZ picking at 3 and 5 opted for Centres which caused Zadina to fall. Still surprising to me that they passed on Hughes. Everything seemed aligned for it.

Had fully expected Hughes to go to either AZ or DET. AZ & DET ended up taking Soderstrom and Seider in 2019 the following year. So, D was an organizational need.

 

[TheOtherOne]

I don't see why where he's from should mean anything.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

There were question marks about Hughes size and how that would work in the NHL. I’m somewhat surprised that they would have taken Bouchard (not that I don’t think he would be a bad pick or anything) over Hughes but I can see why they would go for Zadina. It’s similar as to why some teams passed on Pettersson. I mean it’s always easier when you look at these things in hindsight.

 

[Claypool]

Why did Buffalo pass on him?

 

[ManwithNoIdentity]

Wish I knew

 

[Jesperi is my Daddy]

Its way too early to determine which picks were correct. Dahlin and Svechnikov were the consensus top 2 and they've been the best two from that draft so far. Players like Kotkaniemi and Zadina aren't lighting the world on the fire right now but that could change very soon. It might be someone like Boqvist, Kravtsov or Hayton lighting it up in the future. Hughes is a great young player and the Canucks did well to get him, but the other prospects from the top half of the first round will show their worth sooner or later.

 

[izzy]

zadina was listed as top 3, not shocking detroit took him where they did lol

 

[CherryToke]

“That’s a small body gentleman, a small body.”

 

[7even]

You think it was the scouts that had the hammer on this pick? im genuinely curious because based on those quotes i provided, Management, coaches and players were very high on Hughes

Teams make lists specifically for scenarios like this one, it's part of their preparation. A fall like Mat Barzal's, that's one thing, but a guy slipping from #3/4 to #7 was definitely on Detroit's radar. I would be 100% shocked if this was a heat of the moment decision.

That they had nice things to say about Hughes doesn't move the needle for me. Complimenting one player in the press doesn't speak to how you feel about another player.

 

[Cursed Lemon]

I don't see why where he's from should mean anything.

If only Ken Holland thought that way.

 

[ricky0034]

because they liked Zadina? supposedly they actually had him over Svechnikov

anyways it's way too early for this,Zadina is tied for the team lead in points on the Wings in the 16 games since he's gotten called up this year

 

[BCNate]

Hughes had question marks on whether or not he would be able defend against grown men at his size. He plays a unique style, it was also questionable whether that would translate over to the NHL. Boquist, Dobson, Bouchard and Hughes were all reasonable options for the Canucks at their pick, many people were choked we took Hughes.

Zadina was ranked 3rd for most of the year, Kotkaniemi and Hayton caused him to drop. At the time i'm sure wings fans were pretty pumped to get him.

 

[Bounces R Way]

Would have been far too simple. Holland likes to play the big brained long game.

 

[WetcoastOrca]

Zadina was a solid pick at that spot imo. I was more surprised at Montreal and Arizona’s picks.

 

[eviohh26]

I'd like to thank Detroit , Arizona , Montreal .

 

[TeddyBare]

Why did Buffalo pass on him?

EXACTLY
This to me is a bigger thing than Detroit.

 

[Canucks LB]

I don’t know why, but I’m really happy it happened.

It was absolutely jaw-dropping that he fell that far

 

[TheAngryHank]

Why do birds sing?