So Jack Hughes didn't help himself much in the WJC, being out 3 games, but he didn't hurt himself either.
I found him against this competition to be much more diminutive than I'd felt before, he was easy to move off the puck it seemed and not able to easily cycle. For the first time I felt like his size would be a detriment.
When he had the puck in space, the electricity was apparent, but without the puck, not so much. Nonetheless, in my eyes, and the eyes of this author, while Kaapo Kakko (FIN) had the gold medal winning goal, he didn't do enough to surpass Hughes.
And I was expecting more when he said before the tourney (my paraphrasing) "it will be great going against competition my own age instead of playing 23 year old's from Western Michigan every night". The USNTDP plays NCAA teams a lot.
I still think Hughes is a franchise-changing player, but I've backed off my own personal Patrick Kane comp (for now). Kane was smaller than Hughes. Kane was 5'9 162 pounds when drafted. Hughes says he's 5' 10" 168 pounds, so there is optimism. Plus, Hughes projects as a C, and Kane is a W (all along Kane was a wing, didn't move off C) - as is Kakko and C are far more valuable than wings.
Here are the Sportsnet rankings:
1. Jack Hughes, C, USNTDP, 5-foot-10, 168 pounds: Not at his best due to injury at the WJC, but it doesn’t matter, he’s the top dog for 2019.
2. Kaapo Kakko, RW, TPS (Liiga), 6-foot-4, 207 pounds: The only thing missing is a dynamic element that Hughes has shown. His WJC performance has him anchored in the two-hole.
3. Vasily Podkolzin, RW, SKA St. Petersburg (MHL), 6-foot-1, 183 pounds: Continues to prove he can be leaned on when playing against older competition. He did it at the WJAC and stepped up a notch in class to perform well at the WJC.
4. Dylan Cozens, C, Lethbridge Hurricanes (WHL), 6-foot-3, 185 pounds: Didn’t hang his head after not getting a chance to go to Canada’s WJC selection camp. Skating ability and smarts make him a legit threat every night.
5. Matthew Boldy, LW, USNTDP, 6-foot-1, 187 pounds: Continues to grow, which can only help an already electric package.
6. Kirby Dach, C, Saskatoon Blades (WHL), 6-foot-3, 195 pounds: A beast of a man who is bound and determined to be a pro. A big part of a long-awaited turnaround in Saskatoon.
7. Peyton Krebs, C, Kootenay Ice (WHL), 5-foot-11, 180 pounds: Does being the best player on a poor team make it easier or harder for scouts?
8. Bowen Byram, D. Vancouver Giants (WHL), 6-foot-1, 195 pounds: Has done enough on both sides of the puck to project as a top-four two-way defenceman.
9. Alex Turcotte, C, USNTDP, 5-foot-11, 189 pounds: Just starting to get his game legs back after missing a month and a half. Details and reliability are the hallmarks of his game.
10. Raphael Lavoie, C/RW, Halifax Mooseheads (QMJHL), 6-foot-4, 192 pounds: Truly an enigma who you’d love to see play with the urgency of a fire drill.
11. Arthur Kaliyev, RW, Hamilton Bulldogs (OHL), 6-foot-1, 190 pounds: Will get a chance to play a lead role with key offensive players moving on. But that also means there’s less of a supporting cast.
12. Cam York, D, USNTDP, 5-foot-11, 171 pounds: Underrated in the defensive details. Puck movement, gap control and shot-blocking are above average thanks to a great skating foundation.
13. Spencer Knight, G, USNTDP, 6-foot-3, 197 pounds: Hard to argue not playing him at the WJC, but it would’ve made for some great scouting opportunities.
14. Trevor Zegras, C, USNTDP, 6-foot, 166 pounds: Plays with attitude, dangerous one-on-one and is a PP magician.
15. Cole Caufield, RW, USNTDP, 5-foot-6, 155 pounds: Continues to light the lamp, especially against college competition, which is a good indicator.
16. Philip Broberg, D, AIK (Allsvenskan), 6-foot-3, 190 pounds: He’s big and he skates well, but the jury is out on his stick/puck skills. Took advantage of an injury just to make Sweden’s WJC team, but was well down on their depth chart.
17. Alex Newhook, C, Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL), 5-foot-11, 190 pounds: Explosive forward missed four league games to play in WJAC and still has a big lead in the BCHL scoring race with 63 points in 35 games.
18. Jakob Pelletier, LW, Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL), 5-foot-9, 161 pounds: Smaller players have to exhibit a dynamic element with off the charts compete. Both boxes are checked for Pelletier.
19. Brett Leason, RW, Prince Albert Raiders (WHL), 6-foot-4, 207 pounds: Questions about pace and skating have quelled. Agility needs to improve, but he’s got a great stick and is especially effective on the forecheck. Not only can he finish, but is an underrated playmaker.
20. Ryan Suzuki, C, Barrie Colts (OHL), 6-foot, 172 pounds: Must prove there are more dimensions to his game, but his hockey IQ will keep him afloat until then.
21. Thomas Harley, D, Mississauga Steelheads (OHL), 6-foot-3, 188 pounds: As calm as the day is long, even when making the high risk play. Has been a pleasant surprise in an otherwise down year for the OHL.
22. Victor Soderstrom, D, Brynas (Sweden U20) 5-foot-11, 179 pounds: Steadiness always plays. He is like the Isac Lundestrom of defencemen.
23. Ville Heinola, D, Lukko (Liiga) 5-foot-11, 178 pounds: World junior injury notwithstanding, has continued a steady rise that has seen him maintain big minutes in Finland’s top pro league all season.
24. Nolan Foote, LW, Kelowna Rockets (WHL), 6-foot-3, 190 pounds: Goal scoring is his calling card, but there’s been steady progression in other areas.
25. Vladislav Kolyachonok, D, Flint Firebirds (WHL), 6-foot, 176 pounds: Matches high-end skating with high-end hockey IQ. Stories of his work ethic are legendary.
26. Pavel Dorofeyev, LW, Magnitogorsk (MHL) 6-foot-1, 167 pounds: Works hard to create offence and is an analytics darling with ability to consistently get chances from the “home plate area.”
27. Alex Vlasic, D, USNTDP, 6-foot-5, 193 pounds: An excellent skater with size who plays with bite. Has a great stick to make him difficult to beat in the defensive zone.
28. Matthew Robertson, D, Edmonton Oil Kings (WHL), 6-foot-3, 201 pounds: When he’s healthy he’s going to have to answer the question: “What kind of player will he be at the next level?”
29. Moritz Seider, D, Mannheim (DEL) 6-foot-3, 183 pounds: Being named captain for the U20 team as an underager speaks to the intangibles he brings to the table that complement his size.
30. Philip Tomasino, RW, Niagara IceDogs (OHL), 5-foot-11, 178 pounds: Used an injury to current linemate Akil Thomas to rise to the top of the Dogs’ lineup and has not relinquished his spot.
31. Simon Holmstrom, RW, HV71 (Sweden U20) 6-foot-1, 183 pounds: Has some ground to make up based on injuries that felled him for the November tournaments and the Hlinka-Gretzky tournament before that.
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