GDT: IIHF U18s - Hughes Watch

[devilsblood]

Tough to tell, Turcotte had mono not long ago so I doubt he was even 100% fit.

I thought he looked great early in the tourney, so maybe fatigue set in over the last couple games?

I know Turcotte is said to be better defensively, but Zegras was really impressive with the puck.

 

[Emperoreddy]

I think he plays today.

I haven’t been watching the west games enough to know.

 

[devilsblood]

His skating really might be the best since McDavid came into the league. Not to say he can do everything McDavid can do, but just going on pure skating and edge work, I am drawing a blank on guys who skate this well coming in recent years.

I feel like there has to be a more down to earth skating comparable then McDavid. I hate that comparison. Creates too many expectations.

Barzal too of course. Is Hughes clearly better then Barzal?

 

[Emperoreddy]

Did Zegras jump above Turcotte for anyone else over the last couple games?

Idk if I have Zegras jumping Turcotte, but it did confirm Byram for the 3rd pick IMO. I didn’t see enough from Turcotte to put him in that spot, and I definitely didn’t think Pod did anything to keep that spot from earlier rankings.

Which isn’t to say Turcotte won’t be good

 

[Emperoreddy]

Barzal too of course. Is Hughes clearly better then Barzal?

He is who I was debating the most in my head. I feel like Hughes’ edgework is better. I think their hands are comparable, Barzal has amazing hands. Hughes has a better shot in my mind.

I think they are comparable defensively too. I would take Nico over them both to protect a late lead.

 

[devilsblood]

He is who I was debating the most in my head. I feel like Hughes’ edgework is better. I think their hands are comparable, Barzal has amazing hands. Hughes has a better shot in my mind.

I think they are comparable defensively too. I would take Nico over them both to protect a late lead.

Just pure skating though? Barzal or Hughes?

(as per defending a lead, ya Nico all day, def think that is a spot that Hughes will need to work on).

 

[JimEIV]

Just pure skating though? Barzal or Hughes?

(as per defending a lead, ya Nico all day, def think that is a spot that Hughes will need to work on).

I think Barzal is quicker. But I still need to see Jack against another level.

But I don't think it is a appropriate compassion.

 

[Emperoreddy]

Just pure skating though? Barzal or Hughes?

(as per defending a lead, ya Nico all day, def think that is a spot that Hughes will need to work on).

I am most likely coming in bias, but I feel like Hughes is the better pure skater. Definitely on the edges. Not 100% on pure speed.

 

[devilsblood]

I think Barzal is quicker. But I still need to see Jack against another level.

funny but I was thinking Hughes was more quick then blazing fast.

Though there were times he went from 60 to 80 in a snap, so is that quickness or blazing speed? I dunno.

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

I thought he looked great early in the tourney, so maybe fatigue set in over the last couple games?

I know Turcotte is said to be better defensively, but Zegras was really impressive with the puck.

I like Turcotte more. Yeah, Zegras has great hands and passing skills, but almost every other aspects of his game seems to be weaker than Turcotte's. Or maybe I could say that Zegras might get few more points, but I appreciate Turcotte's two-way game more.

On the other hand I was a little bit disappointed by Turcotte's game especially in the semifinals.

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

Sweden wins the gold medal in overtime. Good game overall.

This was first time when I was impressed by Podkolzin. He played a really strong game against Sweden, and showed what a good power forward can do at this level. I have still some question marks about his game, but at least now I have seen what this guy can do.

 

[JimEIV]

funny but I was thinking Hughes was more quick then blazing fast.

Though there were times he went from 60 to 80 in a snap, so is that quickness or blazing speed? I dunno.

I think they play very different games. I think Barzel's game is predicted on speed and Hughes is much more methodical. So when I see Hughes with his head up looking for the open man it may seem to be a slower pace?

Perhaps the fact that Hughes has that "surveyor" element to his game gives an appearance of being slower? It's difficult to tell from what I have seen so far ..it almost looks like he speeds things up to slow them down if that makes sense at all.

 

[devilsblood]

I think they play very different games. I think Barzel's game is predicted on speed and Hughes is much more methodical. So when I see Hughes with his head up looking for the open man it may seem to be a slower pace?

Perhaps the fact that Hughes has that "surveyor" element to his game gives an appearance of being slower? It's difficult to tell from what I have seen so far ..it almost looks like he speeds things up to slow them down if that makes sense at all.

No doubt, I thought the same, Hughes doesn't always play at a top speed. The threat of his speed allows him space and he takes advantage of that space by slowing it down. But he can also turn it on when he wants as well.

Offensively I thought his game was very adaptable. He can play fast, he can play slow, he can play as a brilliant play maker, but we also saw him in goal scorer mode as well.

 

[StevenToddIves]

Barzal too of course. Is Hughes clearly better then Barzal?

I had Barzal ranked higher than any other draft writer during his draft year of 2015. I was working for todaysslapshot.com (Fanrag) and took a lot of flak for ranking Barzal over such names as Strome, Marner, Provorov, Werenski, Zacha, Connor, Meier and Rantanen. But I was extremely high on Barzal's game and upside.

I can say that Barzal in 2015 was not even close to Hughes in 2019.

Though in 2019, Hughes would not be the first overall pick (likely third behind McDavid and Eichel, and ahead of Marner/Hanifin), Barzal would not crack the top 3 in 2019 (Hughes/Kakko/Byram).

 

[devilsblood]

I had Barzal ranked higher than any other draft writer during his draft year of 2015. I was working for todaysslapshot.com (Fanrag) and took a lot of flak for ranking Barzal over such names as Strome, Marner, Provorov, Werenski, Zacha, Connor, Meier and Rantanen. But I was extremely high on Barzal's game and upside.

I can say that Barzal in 2015 was not even close to Hughes in 2019.

Though in 2019, Hughes would not be the first overall pick (likely third behind McDavid and Eichel, and ahead of Marner/Hanifin), Barzal would not crack the top 3 in 2019 (Hughes/Kakko/Byram).

We were talking pure skating ability, not overall play.

 

[severian]

I had Barzal ranked higher than any other draft writer during his draft year of 2015. I was working for todaysslapshot.com (Fanrag) and took a lot of flak for ranking Barzal over such names as Strome, Marner, Provorov, Werenski, Zacha, Connor, Meier and Rantanen. But I was extremely high on Barzal's game and upside.

I can say that Barzal in 2015 was not even close to Hughes in 2019.

Though in 2019, Hughes would not be the first overall pick (likely third behind McDavid and Eichel, and ahead of Marner/Hanifin), Barzal would not crack the top 3 in 2019 (Hughes/Kakko/Byram).

I’m not sure is Barzal is better than Rantanen or Marner

 

[mtnet]

The extended give and go initiated by that behind the back pass was sublime

Sandwiched between the zone entry and finish no less

 

[BurntToast]

Reading past posts. Kakko’s success isn’t guaranteed. Hughes and Kakko will have the same chance at success as a rookie. Kakko is not prolific shooter he is a grinder, possession player, and gets points by going to the dirty areas. Aka power forward, which by the way struggle coming into the NHL. Why because the players are bigger and better. Also the effects of having less ice and space can be difficult to adjust to. I am not saying he won’t succeed but it may not come as easy as people believe.

 

[StevenToddIves]

We were talking pure skating ability, not overall play.

Oh, I missed that like the sarcasm icon. Then they are certainly in the same tier, yes.

 

[StevenToddIves]

I’m not sure is Barzal is better than Rantanen or Marner

Neither am I, but was referring to my rankings when I was writing about the 2015 draft.

 

[PKs Broken Stick]

This was first time when I was impressed by Podkolzin. He played a really strong game against Sweden, and showed what a good power forward can do at this level. I have still some question marks about his game, but at least now I have seen what this guy can do.

sounds like zacha

 

[Monsieur Verdoux]

sounds like zacha

Well, maybe Podkolzin's inconsistency reminds me a little bit of Zacha, but on the other hand he doesn't shy to use his size and strength. Anyway I wouldn't say that Zacha is a power forward.

 

[Nubmer6]

Well, maybe Podkolzin's inconsistency reminds me a little bit of Zacha, but on the other hand he doesn't shy to use his size and strength. Anyway I wouldn't say that Zacha is a power forward.

I don't think Zacha was shy about using his size back in juniors considering he was suspended a few times for using it too much. I'm not sure if that made him gun-shy about using his size, or if he didn't adjust to playing against larger players in the NHL, but he certainly isn't physical enough now.

 

[OmNomNom]

I don't think Zacha was shy about using his size back in juniors considering he was suspended a few times for using it too much. I'm not sure if that made him gun-shy about using his size, or if he didn't adjust to playing against larger players in the NHL, but he certainly isn't physical enough now.

two words: coaching and systems

 

[Call Me Al]

a third word could be concussions.

he's had quite a few now since being in the nhl