[Novo]_ From my January report: Devils’ AGM Dan MacKinnon said he thinks Luke Hughes’ deployment will be a “day-to-day, week-to-week thing” then go from there. Emily Kaplan says he’s not expected to play in Boston.
From my January report: #NJDevils AGM Dan MacKinnon said he thinks Luke Hughes’ deployment will be a “day-to-day, week-to-week thing” then go from there.
.@emilymkaplan says he’s not expected to play in Boston.
🔗: https://t.co/t1dpcCVG1N pic.twitter.com/BjGiXj0zeI
— Ryan Novozinsky (@ryannovo62) April 7, 2023
by Devil_Dane
13 Comments
Direct quote from Ryan’s article:
“It’s an open secret: the plan is for (Hughes) to turn pro here after his season at Michigan wraps up,” MacKinnon said. “Hopefully, they have a nice long run there at the college ranks. Yeah, but the plan is for him to turn pro, come to New Jersey and I think it will be a day-to-day, week-to-week thing from there. We’ll see how he can hit the ground running and how he fits in.”
Yeah I don’t think it makes any sense at all to put him out there against Boston. Really setting him up for failure.
Give him at least a couple days to practice, learn the system, etc. Maybe we can get him out there against Buffalo in a very limited roll.
Do we expect to see him on tuesday against BUF?
This is the situation where 11/7 makes sense and serves a clear purpose. Let a bottom 6 guy take a rest day and have Luke as the 7th d. Give him powerplay and sheltered minutes. And let the kid play a bit to get his feet wet.
I keep seeing that he’s not expected to play tonight, but I haven’t seen anything about a contract. He didn’t sign yet right?
Of course he is not. The team hasn’t even see him play in practice lol.
I’m very torn about this.
On one hand, this team is firing on all cylinders and ices its best D corps in over a decade. Especially now that Bahl has taken this enormous step. When Sevo/Sieg is your *third* pair, look out. Why mess with a good thing?
On the other hand, man would a Hughes – Marino pair look nasty. And imagine the brothers skating circles around the o zone?
I have no idea what I’d do, but that’s why I’m not a coach.
Honestly, beyond anything that Luke does, where do you put him? There’s no one you can really justify taking out, now that Bahl has decided he’s a top-4 defenseman. Honestly, I think Graves is walking in the offseason.
Good. That’s an unnecessary amount of pressure to put on a 19 year old kid who just suffered a disappointing NCAA loss. I’m pretty sure he’s sick right now as well. Let’s do this right and take our time with him. No need to be starting his career against one of the best teams in NHL history.
What number will he wear?
Tuesday sheltered minutes, rest a starter
He needs to practice with the team
Get him on that NHL eating and lifting plan and put on those lbs!