Prospect Info: Aaron Huglen, RW, #102 overall 2019, University of Minnesota

[MayDayMayDay]

Whoa holy shit!

Ok, so my coworker friend here in Chicago just texted me. He's from Lakeville, MN, long way from Roseau, but he follows Gopher hockey pretty closely. Apparently Huglen is friends with his little brother, and he's raving about the pick. His words:

"He's still real young but he's got skill dude, there's a lot of people where I'm from that think he could be STUPID good."

 

[Pondslider]

Bills too. Cardinals draft their QB after hiring an offensive minded coach and then draft tons of wide receivers immediately. Bills draft their QB and trade up for defense and then take more defense.

It’s a Pegula problem.

The Pegulas are mandating the Bills and Sabres not draft offense?

 

[pigpen65]

Bills too. Cardinals draft their QB after hiring an offensive minded coach and then draft tons of wide receivers immediately. Bills draft their QB and trade up for defense and then take more defense.

It’s a Pegula problem.

Who, Rosen?

 

[My Cozen Dylan]

Who, Rosen?

Kyler Murray is who I think he is referring to.

 

[Cirris]

Sounds to me like he's at least 3+4 years out of any potential impact at the AHL/NHL level

When you get to round 4, you can say that about any pick.

He's got skills, but has huge question marks. If he answers the bell, he could be a nice add. If not he's a bust. It's not like 4th rounders pan out regularly.

 

[sincerity0]

Best pick (not player) of the draft. Why not do the whole draft this way? Skill skill skill

Remember when the Leafs came under new management, and they proceeded to draft two straight years of nothing but high end skill?

I believe Babcock said something like, “you need to get a lot of skill and smarts. Once you have that, you can fill in around it.”

Still waiting for the Sabres to prioritize skill in a meaningful way.

I’m a 100% believer that teams should try and draft high end skill with as many picks as possible. Obviously not every player will develop into an offensive juggernaut as they progress, but you won’t see players necessarily go from defensive specialists in lower leagues to a quality offensive player in the NHL. If anything their offensive contributions diminish as they develop.

Basically what I’m saying is Buffalo should keep drafting Evan Rodrigues because I think that’s what you (realistically) hope to find in rounds 3 and later.

 

[Chainshot]

Black Book rating 62: 5'11.25", 166 lbs, RW

Aaron started and finished the season with Fargo (USHL) where he was a key two-way centerman in both his stints with the Force. Huglen also represented USA at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he played a similar role as well as scoring a notable Lacrosse style goal vs Canada.

Huglen has an excellent top gear and explosiveness off the hop that is a cornerstone to his effectiveness at both ends of the ice. On top of his physical speed, he seems to think the game at a quicker level than most of his opponents which allows him to be in the right place at the right time and be an opportunistic player. Huglen offensive output was ok in his two stints in the USHL, totalling 4 goals and 10 assists in 28 games, however Huglen was mainly used as a 3rd line checking center and didn’t get the bulk of the offensive opportunities that older players on the roster received, so his offensive skill has been a bit untapped at the upper levels to this point.

Key point about his use bolded.

Huglen is an excellent faceoff centerman who uses his body in the circle well to buy time for support when he doesn’t win draws cleanly. Despite is slight frame at this stage, Huglen is strong on his skates and wins a good amount of his battles in the hard areas of the ice. He is smart in the way he positions his body to seal off his opponent. Huglen at least at this stage doesn’t project as an elite offensive producer at the next level but he possesses enough skills and impressive hockey sense that gives him decent odds of making it to the NHL someday. Aaron is a player that can play in any situation and is a lead by example type of player. Huglen is committed to the University of Minnesota for the fall of 2020.

“He’s one player I would really want to find a way to draft.” - HP Scout, Dusten Braaksma

 

[Ace]

The Pegulas are mandating the Bills and Sabres not draft offense?

The Pegula’s hire people who believe in an antiquated way of play while the leagues they’re in move further and further away from them.

 

[Woodhouse]

 

[Chainshot]

I have no problem with this pick but reading Pronman say he was unremarkable in USHL did make me chuckle and think "well that doesn't inspire confidence".

Checking line role.

 

[Woodhouse]

 

[Ace]

I need a huglen after this draft

 

[tsujimoto74]

 

[Woodhouse]

Here are the highlight reel goals:

 

[Woodhouse]

High school game highlights; #8 in green:

 

[TheMistyStranger]

High school game highlights; #8 in green:

I like the little shot he gave the Grand Rapids player after that first goal.

 

[Chainshot]

Surprised it took this long to show up in the thread.

 

[Woodhouse]

Surprised it took this long to show up in the thread.

True, but can't all the skilled kids do that nowadays though? Heck, there's another that he assisted on in that high school game above.

 

[Chainshot]

True, but can't all the skilled kids do that nowadays though? Heck, there's another that he assisted on in that high school game above.

What I was listening to in the car on the drive from the Planes of Hades up here to the outskirts of Hell (based on the heat) mentioned that goal first and almost exclusively. It made me chuckle.

 

[Chainshot]

Botterill saying Aaron will have a lot of work off-ice but loves the skill, per his post-draft presser. Also made a joke that it was due to the Mike Legg goal.

 

[Paxon]

Looks like a good flier to take

 

[OcAirlines]

Does anyone know what's up with this kid? Hasn't played a game yet this season, is listed as injured on EP for this season and next with no further details given and has gone completely silent on Twitter since the draft when he was decently active on there before.

 

[missingmika]

Does anyone know what's up with this kid? Hasn't played a game yet this season, is listed as injured on EP for this season and next with no further details given and has gone completely silent on Twitter since the draft when he was decently active on there before.

Fell for another Taro.

 

[dotcommunism]

Injured with no ETA to return as of late September.

 

[JLewyB]

Season lost to injury, Huglen maintains faith & hope of a future with Force, Gophers | Grand Forks Herald

Did we know the injury was before the draft? We traded up for this guy and he was already damaged goods.