C Jack Hughes - USNTDP (2019, 1st, NJD) Part 5

[TheUnseenHand]

Yeah, out of all the reasons to be impressed by Hughes, and there are many, a 3 vs 3 tournament probably ranks last.

I do still think it shows the talent gap between him and players you can consider his peers. With everyone going half speed, he's twice as fast as everyone.

I agree with the sentiment, though. It says nothing about how it will translate.

 

[DVision44]

Yeah, out of all the reasons to be impressed by Hughes, and there are many, a 3 vs 3 tournament probably ranks last.

Yeah, I don't think it was just about the tournament... it was a chance to see him on the ice with the other prospects that're already in the system... and how he matched up..

 

[Cheddabombs]

You're all gonna look stupid when they change overtime next season to be a series of 3 on 3 games at both ends of the ice. And Hughes dominates like he shows he can.

 

[HOPE]

Hughes is out of this world. already one my my favorite player without even playing a single NHL game.

 

[Colin226]

Devils locked him up

 

[NuxFan09]

Congrats to Hughes, the Devils and Devils fans! First step of some good times to come for the franchise, I'm sure.

 

[NuxFan09]

Also, is it likely that Hughes and Hischier are your top 1 and 2 centres or does one of them move to wing? I imagine there's a good chance Hughes starts at wing to get acclimated but I'm talking about long term.

 

[LarrysMustache]

Also, is it likely that Hughes and Hischier are your top 1 and 2 centres or does one of them move to wing? I imagine there's a good chance Hischier starts at wing to get acclimated but I'm talking about long term.

Likely, 1-2 center. That's the way you win. Don't try and f with your blue chips' position, that's a recipe for failure.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Also, is it likely that Hughes and Hischier are your top 1 and 2 centres or does one of them move to wing? I imagine there's a good chance Hischier starts at wing to get acclimated but I'm talking about long term.

I'm guessing you mean Hughes starts at wing considering Hischier's been playing center the past two seasons. I think it's a definite possibility. They could put him next to Zacha who's very responsible defensively and continued to get better last year offensively. But I'd imagine they start him out as a center and see how that goes first.

 

[NuxFan09]

I'm guessing you mean Hughes starts at wing considering Hischier's been playing center the past two seasons. I think it's a definite possibility. They could put him next to Zacha who's very responsible defensively and continued to get better last year offensively. But I'd imagine they start him out as a center and see how that goes first.

Gah, yeah I meant Hughes. Edited.

That's good news about Zacha by the way. It looked like things were going really south when he was sent down to the AHL for awhile there.

 

[Hisch13r]

I'm guessing you mean Hughes starts at wing considering Hischier's been playing center the past two seasons. I think it's a definite possibility. They could put him next to Zacha who's very responsible defensively and continued to get better last year offensively. But I'd imagine they start him out as a center and see how that goes first.

I'd rather Zacha on Hughes' wing. Zacha always plays better on the wing and I don't want Simmonds anywhere near the top 6

 

[Cheddabombs]

Gah, yeah I meant Hughes. Edited.

That's good news about Zacha by the way. It looked like things were going really south when he was sent down to the AHL for awhile there.

Yeah it seemed like that AHL stint was a nice kick in the ass for him. He played better after than and particularly down the stretch, so fingers crossed that continues to start this season.

I'd rather Zacha on Hughes' wing. Zacha always plays better on the wing and I don't want Simmonds anywhere near the top 6

I'd definitely be open to that, but I disagree that Zacha plays better on the wing. His style of play is just suited for a center with the way he plays in the defensive zone especially. Plus, putting Hughes on Zacha's wing can let him more so focus on just creating offense and then Zacha can take care of the nitty gritty center-defensive duties.

All that said though I think they'll start Hughes as a center and go from there.

 

[Devilsfan118]

I think Hughes will undoubtedly struggle with faceoffs at C, but I don't think they move him to wing unless it starts to affect his overall game.

You don't get a chance to develop franchise centers very often. I'd keep him at C until it's clear he doesn't fit there.

 

[ijuka]

Nathan MacKinnon played W as a rookie and ended up developing just fine. It's quite common practice to introduce a player to NHL as a W and if they handle it well, then move him to C instead of the other way around.

Starting a player on C and then moving them to W because they can't handle C can really mess with a player's confidence IMO.

 

[Peasy]

I think Hughes will undoubtedly struggle with faceoffs at C, but I don't think they move him to wing unless it starts to affect his overall game.

You don't get a chance to develop franchise centers very often. I'd keep him at C until it's clear he doesn't fit there.

Kuznetsov was 39% on faceoffs this year, his highest ever was 48%. Malkin has been terrible at faceoffs his entire career.

Struggling at faceoffs is not the worst thing in the world.

 

[Cheddabombs]

Nathan MacKinnon played W as a rookie and ended up developing just fine. It's quite common practice to introduce a player to NHL as a W and if they handle it well, then move him to C instead of the other way around.

Starting a player on C and then moving them to W because they can't handle C can really mess with a player's confidence IMO.

I disagree with the last part as a general premise but specifically here, if there's one thing I'm not worried about it's Jack's confidence.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Why reduce this to struggling with face offs? It’s the easy way out of any criticism. I don’t think the criticism of his ability to play center has ever been mainly about face offs or size, yet that’s what it’s reduced to.

 

[Maple Leaf]

2nd line center

 

[Rabid Ranger]

Why reduce this to struggling with face offs? It’s the easy way out of any criticism. I don’t think the criticism of his ability to play center has ever been mainly about face offs or size, yet that’s what it’s reduced to.

What is it then?

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

What is it then?

Don’t act dense. This discussion was had many times throughout the season. You can disagree, but you surely know what the criticisms are about his ability to play center.

 

[Nocashstyle]

Don’t act dense. This discussion was had many times throughout the season. You can disagree, but you surely know what the criticisms are about his ability to play center.

Honestly never heard this

 

[kidkosher]

Don’t act dense. This discussion was had many times throughout the season. You can disagree, but you surely know what the criticisms are about his ability to play center.

Can you give the reason?

 

[TheUnseenHand]

Can you give the reason?

He turns too wide to play from the center of the ice. Has to start his turns on one side to have enough room.

 

[Jersey Fresh]

He turns too wide to play from the center of the ice. Has to start his turns on one side to have enough room.

Who started this whole "wide turns" thing?

 

[bigdog16]

Who started this whole "wide turns" thing?

Ijuka and finnishsniper i am pretty sure. Those two would do whatever it took to bash Hughes. It was gross