Prospect Info: Jack Hughes

[Hischier and Hughes]

Crosby has 2 scoring titles. Martin St Louis also had 2 during the Crosby era.

Gretzky had 11.

Hockey like all sports is progressive, players build upon the foundation laid down by the players before them, so players will be more skilled then the generation before them.

Now Gretzky was not a pure skills guy, he was just Gretzky. But Lemieux might be the most talented player to ever play the game. Even in an inury riddled career, complete with a bout with cancer, and a good amount of those years playing in a league with Gretzky, he had 6 scoring titles.

Crosby is not in the same realm.

Not exactly the right thread to get into this as I could go on and on

lets just say we agreee to disagree

 

[Devilswede]

Hey Everybody!!

Remember that report about Hughes scoring SIX points against Switzerland that no one could find highlights on?



FOUND IT!

That's not it. That's from a game back in november.

 

[Ripshot 43]

Hey Everybody!!

Remember that report about Hughes scoring SIX points against Switzerland that no one could find highlights on?


FOUND IT!

Caulfield definitely knows how to find the soft areas and just wait for Hughes to find him with the puck.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

Did you ever see Gretzky play live? It was a thing of magic. Every single play was perfect. Every pass every shot every dangle or change of speed or direction. It was like he was viewing the ice from above while playing on it. Truly incredible.

Did you ever see LeMieux play live? He had two careers pre and post injury. Before his back started hurting too badly he could play keep away with the puck pretty much at will from other NHL caliber players. His size strength and reach combined for an insanely complete player. Even after the injuries mounted you’d go to a game he’d score two goals and have two assists and you amazed because all he did was stay up at the blue line in the defensive zone and he rarely went lower than the slot in the offensive zone. Again it was remarkable.

I see McDavid’s speed as creating moments like those two but I’m not sure about CROSBY.

As an aside, you are so stoked about HUGHES and your enthusiasm is fun but some of your comments suggest he walks into the league and takes it by storm and doesn’t look back from there. What about his game tells you he will be that amazing? I’m not challenging you or disagreeing with you I am just curious since you are so over the moon about him - seemingly way more than STI

Well I wouldnt say im more over the moon about Hughes than STI, just in terms of his production in his first year or two.

As for what convinces me of these projections, its his skating and vision that allow me to believe he can be our leading or 2nd leading scorer as a rookie. Jack has been skating at an NHL pace since he was 15/16 and by that I mean the speed in which he skates AND plays. Jack is much like McDavid in they both skate phenomenally but also stick handle, pass, and survey the ice at that same high-end speed. Now take those two major skills and consider how translation to the NHL works - for most players its the speed they cant initially keep up with as well as thea pace of shifts being so much more intense. Yes, Hughes could tire out halfway or 3/4 through as its only a normal possibility but I digress. Also take into account his lack of size but keep in mind his incredible skating, his edgework and pivots are so unbelievably strong at his age that his core balance and skating-strength alone accounts for an extra 10-20 pounds of what I call ghost weight - its like following and trying to hitting a 200lb middle-6 forward vs 200lb Crosby, Crosby is so strong on his skates that he comes off like hes 220lbs.

So I have Hughes entering the league and IMMEDIATELY being one of the games best skaters, so half of the transition to the NHL is already complete. Hughes biggest three challenges to me are: endurance, patience, and physicality. Any prospect should have endurance questions as they dont play 82+ at such a high pace. Patience is for the fact that sometimes Hughes tries a bit too much when his team is down and he will have to understand he is no longer the best in his hockey world anymore so he cant just let loose every time - however we will let him do this sometimes. Then the obvious physicality aspect most are worried about, and while im not overly concerned about it Im no idiot to think a guy like Byfuglien isnt daunting to Hughes at the age of 18.

All in all the second Hughes steps into training camp and the seasons start, IMO, he is our most skilled forward. Is he the most refined? No, the most experienced? Obviously not, which is why I havent been stating it as a fact that Hughes will outproduce everyone. But when you have already half of the biggest parts of NHL-transition figured out simply in natural raw talent, you have more of a head start than most. Add on to this that guys like Kane were drafted to far worse teams than Hughes has been and I dont see how its unreasonable at all to EXPECT 60+ while I wouldnt be surprised one bit if he broke 80+

If the Devils were a WC1-2 team and our top-6 remains relatively healthy, Id have Hughes pegged at a 70-80pt pace over 82games. Hischier scored 53 and as much as Hischier is my favorite NHLer, Hughes is twice the natural talent and prospect Nico was. To add 15-20+ points to those totals arent that crazy IMO as the team is better and also Hughes' skillset is far more conductive of high-end production

 

[My3Sons]

Well I wouldnt say im more over the moon about Hughes than STI, just in terms of his production in his first year or two.

As for what convinces me of these projections, its his skating and vision that allow me to believe he can be our leading or 2nd leading scorer as a rookie. Jack has been skating at an NHL pace since he was 15/16 and by that I mean the speed in which he skates AND plays. Jack is much like McDavid in they both skate phenomenally but also stick handle, pass, and survey the ice at that same high-end speed. Now take those two major skills and consider how translation to the NHL works - for most players its the speed they cant initially keep up with as well as thea pace of shifts being so much more intense. Yes, Hughes could tire out halfway or 3/4 through as its only a normal possibility but I digress. Also take into account his lack of size but keep in mind his incredible skating, his edgework and pivots are so unbelievably strong at his age that his core balance and skating-strength alone accounts for an extra 10-20 pounds of what I call ghost weight - its like following and trying to hitting a 200lb middle-6 forward vs 200lb Crosby, Crosby is so strong on his skates that he comes off like hes 220lbs.

So I have Hughes entering the league and IMMEDIATELY being one of the games best skaters, so half of the transition to the NHL is already complete. Hughes biggest three challenges to me are: endurance, patience, and physicality. Any prospect should have endurance questions as they dont play 82+ at such a high pace. Patience is for the fact that sometimes Hughes tries a bit too much when his team is down and he will have to understand he is no longer the best in his hockey world anymore so he cant just let loose every time - however we will let him do this sometimes. Then the obvious physicality aspect most are worried about, and while im not overly concerned about it Im no idiot to think a guy like Byfuglien isnt daunting to Hughes at the age of 18.

All in all the second Hughes steps into training camp and the seasons start, IMO, he is our most skilled forward. Is he the most refined? No, the most experienced? Obviously not, which is why I havent been stating it as a fact that Hughes will outproduce everyone. But when you have already half of the biggest parts of NHL-transition figured out simply in natural raw talent, you have more of a head start than most. Add on to this that guys like Kane were drafted to far worse teams than Hughes has been and I dont see how its unreasonable at all to EXPECT 60+ while I wouldnt be surprised one bit if he broke 80+

If the Devils were a WC1-2 team and our top-6 remains relatively healthy, Id have Hughes pegged at a 70-80pt pace over 82games. Hischier scored 53 and as much as Hischier is my favorite NHLer, Hughes is twice the natural talent and prospect Nico was. To add 15-20+ points to those totals arent that crazy IMO as the team is better and also Hughes' skillset is far more conductive of high-end production

I hope you are spot on about him. That would be great.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

I hope you are spot on about him. That would be great.

Well if im not I may be shunned by yall lol

Whether he lives up to my comments in his rookie year remains to be seen but Im extremely confident he becomes the total package we're all expecting - and thats a talent NJ has never seen at forward

 

[glenwo2]

That's not it. That's from a game back in november.

What???

You serious?

GODDAMMIT!!!!

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

What???

You serious?

GODDAMMIT!!!!

And to think I trusted you...

 

[Nubmer6]

And to think I trusted you...

You DID????????

 

[devilsblood]

If the Devils were a WC1-2 team and our top-6 remains relatively healthy, Id have Hughes pegged at a 70-80pt pace over 82games. Hischier scored 53 and as much as Hischier is my favorite NHLer, Hughes is twice the natural talent and prospect Nico was. To add 15-20+ points to those totals arent that crazy IMO as the team is better and also Hughes' skillset is far more conductive of high-end production

I know this is a bit of hyperbole, but stuff like this bothers me.

 

[devilsblood]

That's not it. That's from a game back in november.

The other time Hughes put up 6 points against the Swiss? That's funny.

 

[Nubmer6]

The other time Hughes put up 6 points against the Swiss? That's funny.

Swiss cheese

 

[devilsblood]

Swiss cheese

smells like it.

 

[Comparison Ford]

im suprised there arent more Barzal comparisons? seems like he may be a perfect comparable, no?

 

[devilsblood]

im suprised there arent more Barzal comparisons? seems like he may be a perfect comparable, no?

I agree, and a few others have noted it as well.

The Kane comparisons are off imo.

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

im suprised there arent more Barzal comparisons? seems like he may be a perfect comparable, no?

A 'perfect' comparable if it had to be one single player would be McDavid (for the thousandth time no not meaning as good but referring to skillsets and playstyles). Both are about using their speed and stickhandling at said speed to their advantage and can make complicated passes look extremely simplistic

 

[Tundra]

Couldn't help but be reminded of this. It isn't often you remember a specific rush up ice that turned into nothing. To this day, one of the more impressive rushes from end to end seen by a Devil in a long time and ironically is 9 years to the day tomorrow. All started by Colin White tossing Carcillo aside off the puck.

Most talented player EVER to wear a devils jersey. I know the numbers weren't where we would have liked, but he was worth the money to watch.

 

[devilsfan35]

Why is there an expectation that Hughes needs to play the wing? He’s been playing centre his whole life from my understanding and if we want to be able to compete for the cup every year, we are better off developing him as a centre. Zacha can play wing or alternate with Hughes but long term Hughes is not a winger

 

[glenwo2]

You DID????????

Yeah...THAT'S NEW.

Swiss cheese

Tell that to Nico.

He'll fight you. lol

 

[Hischier and Hughes]

Why is there an expectation that Hughes needs to play the wing? He’s been playing centre his whole life from my understanding and if we want to be able to compete for the cup every year, we are better off developing him as a centre. Zacha can play wing or alternate with Hughes but long term Hughes is not a winger

Zacha could just become a winger who takes a lot of draws. I personally think Zacha is a great RW for Hughes

 

[Jack Be Quick]

Im swedish damn it.....

EDIT: I meant to reply Jersey Fresh

That was not my intention from the start, cuz I didnt even know you guys where so deadlocked at Hughes to begin with. My intention was to just hear what you guys thinks about him basicly, but then it got to something else.. Kind of, cuz I dont like eighter teams that has #1-#3 draft spot, and im swedish... I just simply like Kakkos games more and got intressted in why its so clear that Hughes is better to you guys. I think Kakko will be the better player, thats what cought me.. That he is not even close to hughes is your minds

Since when is a trolling rags fan allowed to post with such impunity around here?

Is it the euro esl angle?

Doesn't make it less obnoxious imo.

 

[glenwo2]

Since when is a trolling rags fan allowed to post with such impunity around here?

Is it the euro esl angle?

Doesn't make it less obnoxious imo.

Well he's not really trolling per say but that last part where he says "That he is not even close to hughes IS YOUR MINDS" kind of sounds dooshy.

Then again, I don't think English is his first language.

Maybe he meant to say that Hughes being first is only in our minds or something, which is fine for him to say. We both know Hughes is better and he can keep his own opinion if he wants.

 

[Jack Be Quick]

I believe that @fr9dd9 gets our point now. He's pulling for his countryman, and Kakko is indeed a special talent. I wish all of these kids the best. But everyone just needs to accept the fact that Jack Hughes going #1 overall to the Devils is by no means an affront to Kappo Kakko, and the attempt to counteract this by casting aspersions on Jack Hughes' future on Devils-threads is just unwarranted instigation.

On my latest mock draft thread, I am continuing my series of draft sleeper write-ups. Today I wrote up explosive Finnish winger Leevi Aaltonen, whom I like a lot and the extremely smart prospect analyst @thethinglonger has been very high on from the get-go. I have also spent more time giving positive accolades to Finnish D Lassi Thomson and Antti Tuomisto than any other draft pundit I have seen. So, the Finnish hockey fans on these boards can count on me to give due credit to their prospects.

Pulling for your countrymen is one thing.

Intentionally antagonizing an opposing fanbase while hiding behind misguided nationalism is an entirely different issue.

 

[fr9dd9]

Since when is a trolling rags fan allowed to post with such impunity around here?

Is it the euro esl angle?

Doesn't make it less obnoxious imo.

Im not a fan of any team, I live in sweden and like to keep an eye on upcoming EU prospects, thats all. I did however feel like I shouldnt comment in the thread cuz of the name(and its god forbidden on hfboards to talk about someone else in another thread) but it was your draft thread and I just wanted to share some of Kakko recent accomplishments. I probably havent seen Kakko or Hughes as much as pro scouts have, But I have watched alot and built my own thought about the two. I dont listen to scouts only, they are people just like us and some scouts even makes mistakes and get provoked by media ,hype and preassure. I have just watched them both play and came to share a video of someone I thought was in the discussion for the #1, But apperantly it upset alot of people and I wont do it again. But in all honesty I didnt know the NJD (fans) where this sold on hughes and would be angry if someone is trying to debate about Kakko being potential #1. I did however read some stuff the njd coach said, but the coach rearly have the same insight as the team scouts. So just cuz he is sold on hughes does not mean the scouts dont keep an eye on both leading up to the draft. In my opinion there is still time to change the outcome of the draft with the WC coming up, But I was wrong commenting to begin with and will leave you guys alone.

 

[Jack Be Quick]

I would say anywhere between 40-60 depending on the circumstances like you said. Linemates. How much PP time he gets. Did we actually retool it from the crap show of last season. Health of course.

I would be fine with that depending on said circumstances.

If healthy, 40 would be a tragic disappointment under any circumstance and I'd honestly be open to trade talks.

If he's not better than Nico this franchise is screwed for a while.