Yeah, the talent is there. It’s weird to me that Brannstrom became such a trendy prospect last year, and everyone wanted to pump his tires... but there’s not much discussion on Hughes, who I think is better in every way. Same thing with Girard, despite having a historic season in the Q.
I guess his last name isn’t cool enough or something? Do we just assume small Euro defenseman > small NA defenseman?
I don't think this is a good comparison.
Brannstrom is more of a puck-moving defenseman. He can carry the puck, he can pass it, and he can defend. He makes very good decisions with the puck, as well. Hughes is more of an offensive defenseman. There is similar ability to carry the puck, and I think Hughes does it a little better. Hughes is probably a little more offensively skilled, but I think there's a big difference in their hockey IQ's and defense. For smaller defenseman to make it as anything more than Ryan Murphy's in the NHL, they need to be able to defend competently and make quick, smart decisions. I think Brannstrom does both of those things very well. I'm not sure that Hughes decision making or defense is good enough yet to say he's definitely going to make it as an impact NHL'er.
They both played at the WJC, and Brannstrom was significantly better. He was one of the tournament's best defensemen, Hughes was pretty bad. I think WJC performances tend to get overrated, but I think you'd find that if they played in the same league, Brannstrom would put up better performances. I think he's a better hockey player right now and he's more reliable as an NHL prospect. Hughes might have slightly more offensive upside, but I don't think its that much more. Also, they are less than two months apart in age, so while they are in different drafts, the age factor is negligible in the grand scheme of things.
In terms of discussion maybe, but Hughes is consistently ranked higher by all scouting services than Brännström ever was. I've also seen quite a bit of debate on Twitter after the WJC, though. Mostly with people arguing Hughes' offensive abilities easily make him a top-five pick but at the same time his defensive struggles in the tournament should push him down.I don’t think they play the exact same way, I just think Brannstrom got way overhyped and now Hughes is getting underhyped (in terms of amount of discussion). And yeah maybe Hughes wasn’t that great in the U20, but he was great for USA last year every time before that.
I see Hughes as someone similar to Gostisbehere. Who isn't really great defensively, but has carved out a career as an excellent powerplay player, who can be sheltered at 5v5 with heavy O-zone starts. Last year he was basically a bottom pairing defender in usage at ES, this year he's around a middle pairing guy.I don't think this is a good comparison.
Brannstrom is more of a puck-moving defenseman. He can carry the puck, he can pass it, and he can defend. He makes very good decisions with the puck, as well. Hughes is more of an offensive defenseman. There is similar ability to carry the puck, and I think Hughes does it a little better. Hughes is probably a little more offensively skilled, but I think there's a big difference in their hockey IQ's and defense. For smaller defenseman to make it as anything more than Ryan Murphy's in the NHL, they need to be able to defend competently and make quick, smart decisions. I think Brannstrom does both of those things very well. I'm not sure that Hughes decision making or defense is good enough yet to say he's definitely going to make it as an impact NHL'er.
They both played at the WJC, and Brannstrom was significantly better. He was one of the tournament's best defensemen, Hughes was pretty bad. I think WJC performances tend to get overrated, but I think you'd find that if they played in the same league, Brannstrom would put up better performances. I think he's a better hockey player right now and he's more reliable as an NHL prospect. Hughes might have slightly more offensive upside, but I don't think its that much more. Also, they are less than two months apart in age, so while they are in different drafts, the age factor is negligible in the grand scheme of things.
I love the skill and confidence, but those could be ugly odd-man rushes in the making.Those are some nice goals, but man is he positioned far up ice.
He's so talented, but no player in the draft is scarier for me. When he's good, he's amazing. When he's bad, he looks like he's never played defense before.
I don't mean that he's bad defensively, and I'm upset by it. It's more like he reads plays like a forward covering for someone, and not as a defenseman.Hes young, very few sound defensive prospects also put up points and have high end offensive skills (the complete package). Like most kids at 17-18 he has alot to learn yet.
I don't mean that he's bad defensively, and I'm upset by it. It's more like he reads plays like a forward covering for someone, and not as a defenseman.
When he's facing an oncoming rush, he's usually not even positioned like a defenseman, but more like a backchecking forward. His positioning has been aggressive almost all the time when I've seen him, and he's pinched basically every time it was even an option. I don't know if it's that he can't pick his spots or just that he won't, but it's a little scary for me.
Some pundit said that Hughes is more a rover than a defenseman, and I think that's accurate. I worry that playing as a rover with the NTDP, and at Michigan, and at the WJC is not teaching him an awful lot about being a defenseman in the NHL—even an offensive one.
I don't think I'm really getting myself across properly. Hmm. I'd much rather have Gostisbehere or Krug, because I see them as having a better understanding of the position. It's not that they're great defensively, but they have better decisionmaking in that role. They generate oftentimes from being defensemen; they're still in some kind of defensive posture, they're still at the blue line, and they know they're only allowed to pinch if certain things happen. Hughes to me frequently stops playing defense, plays like a forward past the circles and behind the net for most of the shift, and never goes back or resets back to defense. I know these guys are supposed to be copying Karlsson, but Karlsson doesn't do it like that very often.It all comes down to what you’re expecting to get. If you’re good with getting a guy like Ghost or Krug, that can be top 10 pt producers at their position, but only play ~20 minutes or so, he’s a great bet to give you that.
If you’re looking for a guy to play 22-24+ minutes, you should probably just be looking at someone else.
But these kids all grew up watching a PPG defenseman who positions himself aggressively, I’m sure we will see more of this.
It also shows that Tkachuk is a highly overrated prospect and shouldn’t be near the top 5 of this draft.WOW. I just realized that Hughes has the same amount of points as Brady Tkachuk does in one less game.
That's really impressive.
It also shows that Tkachuk is a highly overrated prospect and shouldn’t be near the top 5 of this draft.
WOW. I just realized that Hughes has the same amount of points as Brady Tkachuk does in one less game.
That's really impressive.
I don't mean that he's bad defensively, and I'm upset by it. It's more like he reads plays like a forward covering for someone, and not as a defenseman.
When he's facing an oncoming rush, he's usually not even positioned like a defenseman, but more like a backchecking forward. His positioning has been aggressive almost all the time when I've seen him, and he's pinched basically every time it was even an option. I don't know if it's that he can't pick his spots or just that he won't, but it's a little scary for me.
Some pundit said that Hughes is more a rover than a defenseman, and I think that's accurate. I worry that playing as a rover with the NTDP, and at Michigan, and at the WJC is not teaching him an awful lot about being a defenseman in the NHL—even an offensive one.