Jack Hughes:Defining What It Means To Go 1st Overall
Introduction
When you think of New Jersey Devils’ centerman Jack Hughes where does your head space go? Future superstar. Face of the league. “Baby Patty Kane?”
Now look back at what you would’ve said 4 years ago. Bust. Overhyped. Overrated. Terrible.
The common misconception of being the 1st overall pick in past years has gotten outta hand.
Over the last 5 seasons, the 1st overall pick in each draft has been expected and has started the season with their NHL team 4 out of those 5 drafts, (the one outlier being Owen Power in 2021).
Development Matters
Below is a graph of the 1st overall picks PPG over the last 5 seasons in their 1st year of NHL hockey
2018, Rasmus Dahlin, 2019, Jack Hughes, 2020, Alexis Lafrenière, 2021, Owen Power, 2022, Juraj Slafkovsky
The biggest thing that this graph says:
Player development can’t be undervalued no matter how good the player may be.
Every year 1st overall picks are meant to be future stars, even superstars and are expected to make great first impressions on the league, and its many fans. Jack Hughes was the first player to open the public’s eye to the developmental side of things. Despite putting up historical numbers in his draft eligible season with the U.S. National Development U18 team, in which he broke the single season records in points per game (2.24, minimum 45 games played), and the all time points record across a junior career.
He showed constant displays of potential stardom, and came into the 2019 NHL Draft drawing comparisons to Patrick Kane - - not to mention, being treated like one of the greatest NHL prospects of all time and rightfully so.
The first showing of struggles came during the 2019 world junior championships, and although that team was poorly structured, Hughes never truly looked like he was the biggest difference maker on the ice like he had been deemed so truly to be. Despite notching 4 assists in 4 games for the stars ‘n’ stripes, Hughes was constantly bullied around and didn’t leave a golden mark on his draft eligibility - - even if he was the true golden child that everyone was saying he was.
The Term “An Undersized Player” Is Relevant
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, even with the rise in skill from players now to even players as early as 10 years ago, you can still be too short to play hockey.
Of course in no disrespect to players around the world, playing in the NHL takes unbelievable strength, conditioning and discipline. Not to say Hughes never had those things before reaching the NHL level, but that was consistently one of the biggest knocks on his game leading up to the draft; and boy did it show.
And let’s face it, Hughes is small.
Despite not showing his face at the physical aspect of the Draft Combine, Hughes was hovering around 5’10” 165-170 pounds in his draft year.
The importance of having size in the NHL has always been important, but despite the finesse and skill of the new generation, size has been more important than ever. With the rise in skill, all players are becoming more skilled. That makes one 6’5” skilled guy twice as important to a team than two 5’10” skilled guys.
Take Tage Thompson as an example. What he’s doing is unheard of. He’s a prime example of physicality/skill > skill.
Despite the conception of this new era of hockey, the elevation you get of being a big guy with skill in the NHL is larger than ever.
It’s like the 3-point shot in the NBA. You love guys like Steph Curry, Dame Lillard, and even guys like Devin Booker who dominate the game with their 3-point shooting. What people tend to forget, is that guys like Giannis, Embiid Jaren Jackson, Jr., and even role players like Brook Lopez have started to dominate their roles in the league like no one has before because of these changes in the game.
Hughes was the poster child to the change in physicality in the NHL. He showed why it’s so important to work with your skilled players to adapt their games to the physicality. We saw it with Hughes throughout his entire rookie season - - he could never open up the game like he did against his previous competition because of that change.
Being Patient
Now, Hughes is the assistant captain on one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference, was an All-Star selection, not to mention blossoming into a name that’ll be known as a face of the league for years to come. Through 59 games this season, Hughes has posted 36 goals, 40 assists and 76 points - - putting himself on pace for 48 goals, 53 assists, 101 points in 78 total games barring any injury, suspension, etc.
Throughout the 4 years of his NHL playing career he’s shown nothing but improvement and more consistent flashes of those Patrick Kane comparisons he earned back in his draft eligible season.
Hughes has shown that no matter the start to a career you have, adapting and developing to the game is the most important part of an NHL player’s career.
Over his young 4 year career he has shown both of those qualities at a high level, and has become immensely more refined, smart and stronger, as well as confident in his game at both ends of the ice.
Hughes was put on an interesting blend of new and old when he was thrown into the league. The top six was certified, and as soon as Hughes underperformed there was no room to leave him inside the middle-six, and even then he wasn’t fully prepared to take on big minutes at the NHL level.
Even then, he was still managing 15:52 minutes of ice time a night, and that number has since spiked to over 20 minutes rightfully so.
The way that Hughes was able to turn heads in the way that he did was monumental to the scouting process and that people should view prospects and yet, it’s not getting the attention it deserves.
Enough said.