God don't sign Hughes to long term.
Wait a couple of years when his defensive liabilities are evident to all fans.
If you pay a DEFENCE MAN big bucks he better be able to make a difference without scoring goals, in other words PLAY DEFENCE.
All the very best defence men in history were;
- Bigger
- hi scoring
- could hit
- played on the PK
- WERE TOP PLAYERS DEFENSIVELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The last 25 cup winners didn't have little defence men, most had the largest back end.
Ya, ya I know, give him time.
Every scouting report going back 7 years state he needs to work on his defence and wonder how he would handle larger NHL type players.
With him on the team the team has to try to conform itself to fit him, the team has to find a player to play with him.
If scoring on the PP is needed then move a forward back, with him on the ice the forward is doing the back checking or playing defence anyway most times.
Hughes is ENTERTAINMENT. A small cuddly little "bear" that can dart around the ice dazzling fans with his skating.
But if playoffs are the goal then trade Hughes. There are teams that will want entertainment or a PR factor. "The Hughes brothers" (The Blues Brothers) could sell tickets.
I doubt Hughes will ever be a plus player if he gets 50-50 zone starts. He is a big minus while already having the best defensive defence man as his partner and having 65% offensive zone starts and NO PK time. The team is already twisting themselves into knots trying to make him look good.