New Jersey Devils: Don’t Compare Jack Hughes To Nolan Patrick
By Nick Villano
We’re going to make this one quick, no top line explaining what the article is, no wasting your time because we just want to help you all out here. This year’s NHL Draft is nothing even close to the 2017 NHL Draft for the New Jersey Devils.
In 2017, it was considered one of the worst top picks in a long time. Nolan Patrick was incredibly flawed, and he allowed Nico Hischier to pass him because of his level of play and inability to stay health.
Nolan Patrick was such a flawed prospect, and were seeing those flaws on the ice. Was he still a very, very good prospect? Yes, of course. A player doesn’t go that early in the NHL Draft if he isn’t, but when talking about bust potential for a number-one overall pick, Nico and Nolan were quite high. Luckily, we’ve made the right decision at this point.
On the other hand, Jack Hughes does not have these issues. He’s smooth as silk, can make moves that only a few players in the league can make now, and he’s incredibly durable. He’s already playing an NHL workload, meaning he’ll only have to get used to the travel in his first NHL season, and is less likely to hit that dreaded rookie wall.
The reason for this article is after a really great showing at the IIHF World Championships from Kaapo Kakko, many are comparing this draft to 2017. There, the Devils did not choose the one-point consensus first-overall pick in Nolan Patrick and went with Nico Hischier. The difference there is many of the smartest men and women in hockey changed their mock drafts to put Nico as the top pick. This isn’t happening here.
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Probably the biggest reason for that is positioning. Nico and Nolan were both centers. If you hit on that pick, you build where it matters. Here, you’re comparing Hughes, a center, to Kakko, a winger. Could Kakko play center in the NHL? Sure, I guess. That’s the thing, you have to guess because he’s not playing that as his primary position. Hughes is a center, and he’s dominating when given the chance.
You can choose Kakko or Hughes, The point of this was not to change your mind there. The point was to tell you this isn’t Nico and Nolan. There was serious bust worries there. There are zero bust worries with both Hughes and Kakko. The Devils are in a great position right now.