NFT: IIHF U18 Hockey World Championships (Jack Hughes)

In comment 14393706 MadPlaid said:

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I like the little guys too. Probably why I was such a big fan of Zuccarello and St. Louis. Theo Fleury was fun to watch too.

I generally do not like smaller players. But the ones who play with a chip on the shoulder I do like. Pat Verbeek, aka the little ball of hate epitomized it.

If I didn't hate the Bruins so much, Brad Marchand would be another.

Brendan Gallagher on MTL, more heart than 75% of the league.

and the other end of the spectrum is the supremely skilled small guy, the ones who are so skilled they play "bigger". Johnny Gaudrea and Paul Kairya in this camp (though at 5' 10" Kariya is probably not on the list of small players).

Fleury definitely falls into the former group, but like Verbeek and Marchand is insanely skilled.

I start out though preferring more size in my prototypical players.

In comment 14393609 Giantfootball025 said:

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can flat out put the puck int he net. As others have said it's his size that some are concerned about which might push him out of the top 10. But from a pure skill standpoint, he has the goods. I'm also really glad Hughes had a good game, because I really think Kakko is going to be the crown jewel of this draft. Every time I watch him play, his abilities shine. He's not as flashy as Hughes, but he has some high end tools that are fun to watch. His stick handling is really something. I don't think the Devils will pass on Hughes, and I'm glad Kakko will/should be a NYR.

I just wanted the Devils to land a top 2 pick to ensure that they get either Hughes or Kakko but now that they have their choice of both I would prefer Hughes but it's a very tough choice. Kakko is more NHL ready due to his impressive size but Hughes is going to get stronger over the next few years and once he adds to his frame he will be a stud. The fact that he is a true center also makes him the right choice but I wouldn't complain if the Devils decided on Kakko.

Hughes is just a better fit for their style of play. The Devils have a huge need at RW where they only have Palmieri and Bratt at the moment and Joey Anderson, Nathan Bastian as prospects. They could always move McLeod to RW but he's unproven as well. The Devils are in good shape at center with Hischier, Zacha, Zajac, Coleman plus prospects McLeod, Boqvist, and Talvitie on the way.

Hughes has to be the pick for Devils, with Hall uncertain to return. You can never have enough depth down the middle. However as a GM, would you be willing to gamble on Hughes not being the stud scouts pretty much unanimously say he's going to be. Still it's an exciting time to be Rangers and Devils fans right now as I'm not sure there is a right or wrong choice for either team.

In comment 14394207 Giantfootball025 said:

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Hughes has to be the pick for Devils, with Hall uncertain to return. You can never have enough depth down the middle. However as a GM, would you be willing to gamble on Hughes not being the stud scouts pretty much unanimously say he's going to be. Still it's an exciting time to be Rangers and Devils fans right now as I'm not sure there is a right or wrong choice for either team.

Hall is a LW. If the Devils take Hughes, which I think they will, I would like to see him center the first line with Hall and Palmieri. I think Hughes will be a better center than Hischier in the near future but it's unfair to expect him to be better next season at 18. I like the idea of having Hischier on the second line with Bratt and a FA signing.

I meant in terms of high end players. Hall is arguably their best player and most gifted. Hughes has that plus more upside while playing a position of great value.

on fire.

Beat the Czechs and the Fins.

Fins suffering from not having Kakko (and Kotkaniemi - one of the few drafted players who could play in this tourney).

Fins 0 - 2 and still need to play the Czechs.

USA vs Russia, tomorrow on Easter Sunday at 9:30 (reminds me of Rocky fighting Drago on Christmas, only less significant, but also it's real).

If US beats Russia they're assured top seed in group B I believe.

2 - 1 under 7 left in the 1st.

Hughes with the US goal.

with a sick pass to Turcotte on the 2 on 1 to tie it up at 2.

with a PP goal to put the US up 3 - 2. Nice set up from just-added Bobby Brink.

Really like Boldy.

I hope he drops to 15.

If you think Hughes is the better prospect but less “NHL ready”, who cares? It’s a 15 year decision not a 15 month decision.

scores (shocker) off a great pass from Hughes.

Caufield has such a quick release. his shot reminds me of Kessel.

US up 4 - 2 with 30 seconds left in the 2nd.

Question: did they not allow fans in to the arena? It looks like there are more players on the ice than fans in the stands.

In comment 14396200 John In CO said:

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Question: did they not allow fans in to the arena? It looks like there are more players on the ice than fans in the stands.

they let fans in, they're not well attended until the playoffs.

but also consider it's in Sweden and it's US vs Russia. So probably not a huge draw anyway.

Russia scores off the turnover, cuts the lead to 1.

tied the US record for goals in the U18 (Phil Kessel) with a stretch pass breakaway goal.

In comment 14396211 pjcas18 said:

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tied the US record for goals in the U18 (Phil Kessel) with a stretch pass breakaway goal.

He is making himself some money this tournament.

Caufield broke the US goals record, and will likely break the points record.

Ovie has the overall goals record of I think 18 and Kucherov the points record at 21.

Both could potentially fall.

US has the top 4 point leaders.

Caufield 11
Hughes 10
Boldy 9
Turcotte 8

All 4 could go top 10 in June

Canada is playing their 3rd game now, but I don't see anyone cracking the top 4

The Fins in danger of not advancing for the 1st time I can remember.

first round. Rangers have #2 and Wiinnipeg's and maybe the Stars pick, and ammo to move up after they make their first pick.

In comment 14393547 pjcas18 said:

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I think the Rangers wind up with 2 1st and 3 2nds for 2019. I think the only remaining undecided pick is if the Stars make it to the conference finals, which is possible, but odds are probably against it. I think the Rangers 2nd 1st will be around 21. If Caufield is in the top 10, I don't think 21 and a 2nd gets it done, but who knows, proposing trades it not my strength. I don't know I'd move up for him either. I'm just not enamored with smaller players. Someone will take him early though.

I think if Winnipeg loses that pick could be as high as 18.

In comment 14396486 Jay in Toronto said:

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In comment 14393547 pjcas18 said: Quote: I think the Rangers wind up with 2 1st and 3 2nds for 2019. I think the only remaining undecided pick is if the Stars make it to the conference finals, which is possible, but odds are probably against it. I think the Rangers 2nd 1st will be around 21. If Caufield is in the top 10, I don't think 21 and a 2nd gets it done, but who knows, proposing trades it not my strength. I don't know I'd move up for him either. I'm just not enamored with smaller players. Someone will take him early though. I think if Winnipeg loses that pick could be as high as 18.

Winnipeg lost. That pick right now is 22.

The way the NHL draft works is the last two picks (31 and 30) are the SCF, winner is obviously 31.

Picks 29 and 28 are the conference finals losers.

So now that WIN lost, that pick cannot be any worse than 22.

The remainder of the 1st round, picks 16 - 27 are the remaining teams in reverse order of their standings.

So every team currently picking (16 - 21) that makes it to the conference finals the Rangers picks gets better.


In order:

COL
LVG
DAL
CBJ
STL
CAR

If DAL makes it to the 3rd round, the Rangers get their 1st round pick this year too, but forget that for now, just focus on the WIN pick.

It can be as high as 18, but no worse than 22, for each of those 6 teams that make it to the conference finals, they get 1 pick up from 22.

So for example, if TOR, NYI, NSH and SJS make it to the conference finals the pick stays 22.

If you swap out one team worse record than the Jets (say CAR) and CAR and TOR make the conference finals in the east then the pick moves up to 21.

it's not really complicated though it seems like it.

this site track it nicely

NHL Draft Order - ( New Window )

just started. This should be a laugher.

US up 1 - 0 on a bullet from Beecher, 2 min in.

actually being smart, looks like a 2 - 1 - 2 to limit the US chances. Still 1 - 0 3/4 of the way through the 1st.

Latvia headed to the PP.

scores his 10th of the tourney and now officially breaks the record for US player goals in a U18.

Kessel had 9 in 2005.

needs 4 goals to break Ovechkin's record of 14.

Kovalchuk and Kucherov both had 11 to tie for second.

two more goals and Caufield is passing some legendary names.

this kid is fun to watch.

Hughes with two assists, climbing the points leader board too.

4 - 0 with 4 left in the 2nd.

This and juniors that take place in December? Which tournament is more prestigious? Is it largely same kids or does juniors have a higher age level?

In comment 14399356 bhill410 said:

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This and juniors that take place in December? Which tournament is more prestigious? Is it largely same kids or does juniors have a higher age level?

Yes. Age. This is U18. December is U20.

Neither is more prestigious. But some U18’s play in the U20 like Hughes and Kakko. Kakko had the gold medal winning goal against the US in December.

Plus the U20 is sometimes more interested because a lot of the players have been drafted already and you get a glimpse of your teams prospects

Interesting

best team so far, but due to group and results they play the Fins in the QF, 1 vs 4.

Fins are never easy, even this year with a young team.

Thursday at 9:30 AM I believe

I'll definitely be watching the Badgers next year. Granato must be walking on a cloud.

In comment 14400412 Jay in Toronto said:

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I'll definitely be watching the Badgers next year. Granato must be walking on a cloud.

a lot of young talent, sometimes it's easy to forget these kids will be college freshmen (if they stay committed to school) and many just 18 years old and playing against players sometimes 22 or 23.

Now, a good sign for the US players from the USNDPT is they play a schedule that includes a lot of college teams and their better players thrive, but it's not a Big 10 schedule

to Boston, but holy shit, Hughes saved his best game for the Qf's to perhaps get revenge on the Fins for U20 loss.

US blanks the Fins 6 - 0

Hat trick for Hughes and so much individual talent displayed.

a total of 4 points for Hughes, as he assisted on a Caufield goals (of course he did).

So now, after 5 games:

Hughes has 16 points
Caufield has 15 points
Boldy has 11
Newhook (Canada) has 8
Turcotte has 8


Caufield needs two goals to tie Ovie's goal record of 14, 3 to break it.

Hughes with 28 points over two tourneys needs 3 to tie Ovi's career U18 mark of 31.

Kucherov has the single tourney points record of 21, Hughes needs 5 to tie that.

USA has a rematch with Russia in the semi-finals on Saturday. USA beat Russia 6 - 3 in the regulation round, but it was closer than the score.

that best shows you why Hughes is so highly regarded, I'd look at NHL Network and see if there is a replay at all.

In comment 14405446 pjcas18 said:

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that best shows you why Hughes is so highly regarded, I'd look at NHL Network and see if there is a replay at all.

I saw the highlights this morning and he was incredible. He's my pick for the Devils.

on now in the semis.

matching awful calls amounted to nothing, 0 - 0 5 min in.

USA a surprising 0 for 5. Still scoreless 5 min in to the 2nd.

to the box continues. Neither team has broken through so far. over halfway through the 2nd.

Announcer with high praise for Russia goalie Askarov "he's the best goalie I've seen since Carey Price" - Askarov is an underage U18, he'll be in the 2020 draft.

shortie to take the lead. Russian forechecker out hustles Hughes for the chance

storms back in the 3rd, two Cole Caufield goals put US up 2 - 1.

Caufield ties Ovechkin for most goals ever in a U18 tournament.

This kids is going to shoot up draft boards.

Most natural goal scorer I've seen at this age in a while. Reminds me of a better scoring Martin St. Louis

ties it up, after a giveaway/miss by Boldy.

2 - 2 12:30 left in the 3rd.

in the tie game, Russia has the momentum

4 and a half left.

Could be the game

Knight with a sick save to keep it tied.

2:03 left in regulation.

coming up.

USA turns the puck over, Knight stops the breakaway.

Russia pressing, but Knight keeps it out.

again, saves a point blank shot.

off the cross bar.

3:30 left in OT

44 seconds left in OT, Russia gets called for too many men.

on 3 rest of the way and then a shootout.