How could I not? His agility and footwork allow him to beat defenders one-on-one as well as to walk the line and make quick moves to open up passing and shooting lanes. His skating really helps him, but that will not be enough for him to shut down the opposition’s biggest and best players. All Rights Reserved. Height 5’10” — Weight 174 lbs [178 cm / 79 kg]. His 24 points in 31 contests trail only Cale Makar for first-year players. Quinn Hughes and his Calder compatriot Cale Makar the year prior. In his freshman season at the University of Michigan, Hughes has helped his team to reach the Frozen Four, where they will face Notre Dame in the national semi-final later this week. Forums for armchair-gm, mock-draft, GM Game, and NHL discussion He had a strong season partnered with superstar rookie Quinn Hughes as his defensive style complemented Hughes well. … He wants the puck on his stick on zone entries and even chooses to skate the puck solo when the puck transitions to him in his defensive zone. The fleet-footed defender added three assists in his most recent contest to extend his point streak to eight games and 12 points. He recorded his first NHL point by setting Brock Boeser up with an easy finish. Hughes checks … Cam Robinson, November 2018 – Hughes returned to College for his sophomore campaign and is off to a strong start. If it isn’t already, skating and skill blending will be the top priority for many younger players now. Required fields are marked *. Always looking for the dynamic pass to set up a goal, the competitive nature in all zones is terrific and fearless. He has the passing ability and the hockey IQ to quarterback the play from the point. With his skating and stickhandling ability, Hughes is not afraid to skate the puck out of his zone or lead the rush. Check back tomorrow for the next prospect on our draft board. Quinn Hughes was Vancouver’ best defenceman and was instrumental in their underdog journey to pushing the Vegas Golden Knights to seven games in the Western Conference Semi-Finals. But that’s what you expect from those two slots. Raised and nurtured within a deeply-rooted hockey family, the current freshman at Michigan is one of the NCAA’s top newcomers and became an instant go-to option on a team loaded with NHL prospects and quality upperclassmen. Published: Apr 27 at 10:52. Cam Robinson, December 2017 – Quinn Hughes is a freak. They sat next to each other in the locker room and had nothing but good things to say about each other. I sure hope you own him in your keeper leagues. A team drafting him will have to devise a plan to protect him in his end, maybe even pull back the reins. 2019 Topps Stickers #541 Quinn Hughes: $1.35: 2019 Upper Deck 1994-95 Rookie Tribute Die-Cuts #5 Quinn Hughes: $0.41 Cam Robinson, April 2019 – For the second straight spring, Hughes will represent his country at the World Championships. Those who cared were ecstatic when the Arizona Coyotes went off-script at the 2018 NHL Entry Draft in Dallas, Texas and picked Soo Greyhounds centre Barrett Hayton at fifth overall. He uses his elite skating to shut down gaps and cover attacking players. His wrist shot is strong and accurate, and features a quick release. He will need to get stronger to become a more effective defender, especially when transitioning to the NHL. Add in the fact that he could truly quarterback a powerplay with his vision, puck skills, and playmaking ability and you have a prospect that could provide immense value at the NHL level. About five foot ten, he has one of the highest hockey IQ in this class. Hughes’ ability to generate time and space for his mates, and creat high-danger scoring chances scream top power-play deployment. In 2018, the draft thesis for Quinn Hughes came down to where one stood in the debate over the importance of size in today’s NHL. .readExpand { Not to mention every other undersized minor hockey defenceman watching on their screens. Sure, he’s a bit undersized and his shot leaves something to be desired, but the upside here is tremendous. DRAFT. It was a tour de force and a glimpse into what a Hughes led Canucks blueline could be for the next decade. He seems to think the game and anticipate plays better than others out there on the ice. September 19, 2020, 10:00 AM | Brett Lee. The team that drafts him knows he will use his stick positioning, feet, and lateral quickness to defend, and will fall short against stronger bigger attackers who will win the majority of physical confrontations. The 2018 seventh-overall selection showcased his tremendous skating ability through 15:36 of ice. That much was clear. Any way you look at it, the team will be adding an instant upgrade to the roster. Draft scouting meeting video reveals Canucks had Quinn Hughes ranked third overall in 2018 Canucks repeatedly emphasize picking best player available leading up to 2019 Draft. With his skating and stickhandling ability, Hughes is not afraid to skate the puck out of his zone or lead the rush. ... Quinn Hughes (D) – Univ. Search is currently unavailable. He uses it often when trailing the play on the rush, or when pressured by shot blockers. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. 2020 NHL playoffs: How Miro Heiskanen, Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes are dominating the postseason ... third in the NHL draft by the Devils. While not as complete a package as projected first overall pick Rasmus Dahlin, Quintin Hughes is as good a consolation prize as they come for teams looking for an elite offensive defenseman. (Photo by Steven King/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images), Your email address will not be published. Cam Robinson, December 2019 – Hughes is making his bid for the Calder Memorial Trophy as the league’s top rookie. He has very good speed and acceleration in both directions. The defensive game is a question mark, and how much he can improve in the next couple of years will determine if he is a first pairing defenceman at even strength or more of a second pairing player. Implications for the Blackhawks Hughes very well could be off the board when the Blackhawks are on the clock with the eighth pick. Vancouver going 0-10 to begin the season should hopefully expedite the process. Hughes uses his agility and edge work to weave through the opposition with ease. Hughes blends exquisite edgework with blistering acceleration and a mind for creating offense. Hughes has excellent vision and playmaking ability, as well as the hockey sense to almost always make the right play. Playing in College will allow Hughes to spend a lot of time in the weight room adding the required strength he will need to continue to be successful when he moves into the pro ranks. Cam Robinson. ... overall pick in the NHL draft -- in a 2017 class … max-height: none !important; "As a forward you have the puck a lot when you're younger," Hughes told NHL.com. But it gave the Vancouver Canucks an opening to select a potentially game-breaking defenceman the likes of which they hadn’t seen before in Quinn Hughes. Star Status: Attained. Overall, Hughes has arguably the best skating in the draft, a luxury especially as a defenseman. TEXT-EMBED ROUND 1 TEAM ORIGINAL PLAYER DETAILS; 1-Quinn Hughes (+6 ) 2-Rasmus Dahlin (-1 ) 3-Andrei Svechnikov (-1 ) 4-Brady Tkachuk. Overall, Hughes has arguably the best skating in the draft, a luxury especially as a defenseman. Please check your browser settings to ensure that it is not blocking Facebook from running on straight.com. I think that definitely helped.". If available at the eighth pick, Hughes would look amazing on the Hawks’ blue line for the next 15 years. I noticed you crossing the street... and then you noticed me starring. With a 29th ranked power play, the squad desperately needs an infusion of talent – something Hughes boasts in spades. } } His potential is through the roof. Additionally, it sounded like Hughes and Patrick Kane really enjoyed playing together and getting to know each other at the World Championships. Cam Robinson, December 2018 – Hughes has continued his dominance early on in the NCAA season. Even just a couple of months ago, some felt Hughes would likely go more around pick 10, but with a strong showing at the World Championships, his draft stock rebounded to being a potential top-five pick. He should quarterback the power play and lead the rush. Hughes has a textbook stride, and the ability to change directions on a dime. These playoffs showed that defencemen of Hughes’ build can be a true top-pairing defenceman and will surely impact the next generation of defenders. Hughes can be an elite offensive and puck-moving defenceman at the next level. /* ----------------------------------------- */ The issue has been, it’s been coming from the second unit rather than the first. a.glyph-help:hover, a.glyph-help:focus { max-height: 120px; The NHL has become a game that is far more about speed and skill than it was in year’s past. /* ----------------------------------------- */, https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kS6MN7Zmop4. His fantasy potential is extremely high. But for now, it’s hard to say that Quinn Hughes at the number seven slot in the 2018 Entry Draft isn’t the steal of the draft. For comparison sake, the 5’10 rearguard outproduced fellow 2018 draft pick and forward, Brady Tkachuk and has more points than 2017 fourth overall pick, Cale Makar as a first-year NCAA player. - NHL Central Scouting's David Gregory. h4, .h4, h5, .h5, h6, .h6 { That’s not just defencemen, that’s all skaters. His 16 points in 17 games made him the highest single playoff scoring defenceman in franchise history in a significantly fewer amount of games played than incumbent Jeff Brown who had 15 points in 24 games. While not necessarily a shoot-first type of player, Hughes possesses a very good wrist shot, which he gets off very quickly with decent power and accuracy. When Hughes gets going, there’s no way for defenders to keep up. His agility and footwork allow him to beat defenders one-on-one as well as to walk the line and make quick moves to open up passing and shooting lanes. As we continue to inch our way closer to the 2018 NHL Draft in Dallas our next Sport Chek Top of the Class profile takes a look Michigan defenceman Quinn Hughes.