Pucks and Pitchforks
Fansided

New Jersey Devils Could Choose Between Luke Hughes and Owen Power

By Luke Garrison

RIGA, LATVIA - MAY 30: Owen Power #25 of Canada compete against Stefano Giliati #10 of Italy during the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship group stage game between Italy and Canada at Arena Riga on May 30, 2021 in Riga, Latvia. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images)
RIGA, LATVIA - MAY 30: Owen Power #25 of Canada compete against Stefano Giliati #10 of Italy during the 2021 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship group stage game between Italy and Canada at Arena Riga on May 30, 2021 in Riga, Latvia. (Photo by EyesWideOpen/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

It’s time for what is perhaps the luckiest or unluckiest part of the year for New Jersey Devils fans. The NHL Draft Lottery has become what many fans look forward to year after year due to the team’s awful play. We see much creativity coming from the fans, especially with the hashtags they want to get one specific player. As for the 2021 NHL Draft Lottery, though, there are two leading players that we would love to have. Luke Hughes and Owen Power are the top prospects that are going to be in this year’s draft. If the cards somehow end up in our favor, and we get no.1, which of the two would we want to get?

Why Having Both Hughes Brothers Could be Better than Having Power.

The Devils have never had a pair of brothers play on the same team before. Probably some of us enjoyed watching the Sedin Twins growing up whenever we played the Canucks. But finally, this year, we could have this opportunity to own our version of the Sedin twins. Luke Hughes is a defenseman, which is still something the Devils are still really lacking. Luke did play for the US National U18 Team and did exceptionally well with 34 points in 38 games. Like his brother, Jack Hughes, Luke also played to the USNDTP Juniors and scored 15 points in just 18 games. Unfortunately, his time with the Juniors this year was cut short due to having surgery in March due to foot tendon repair from a skate cut. By the time Luke could’ve returned, COVID protocol paused the USNDTP season as well.

One trait pointed out by many scouts is Luke’s skating ability is just like his brothers. Hughes is a great skater who can make transitions in his skating. A skilled skating defenseman is what the Devils could be looking for, like what we’ve seen with Ty Smith or, say, Scott Niedermeyer. If the Devils do get him, one thing fans would love to see is the connection between both brothers. Having Jack and Luke playing together on this team would be fun to watch due to the chemistry. Luke is going to the University of Michigan next year, so he may not play right away. But with the right coaching and handling, this could turn out like, say, what Cole Caufield has done with the Canadians and Wisconsin. But it would all depend on if we win the draft lottery or we are in a spot where we could take him.

More from Pucks and Pitchforks

Owen Power Would Give the Devils a Tall Skilled Defenseman to Work With

Owen Power and Luke Hughes do have some things in common. Both Hughes and Power are playing at Michigan, both are defensemen, and both are to be in the top 5 in this year’s draft. But there is one thing that sets Owen Power apart from Luke Hughes. Powers is such a tall defenseman standing tall at 6″5. Power can use his size to his advantage when skating into the zone and making great passes, as well as his abilities on defense like shot-blocking. In the last couple of years, Powers played in Chicago with the Chicago Steel of the USHL. He earned 25 points in his first season and 40 points in the following season. After his 2019-20 season ended, Hughes also enrolled in the University of Michigan. But unlike Hughes, Power has already finished his first year at Michigan and finished with 16 points total. As of right now, he is also competing in the 2021 IIHF World Championships with Team Canada.

Bringing Power to the Devils would add another heightened defenseman on our roster. Right now, Kevin Bahl is our tallest player standing at 6″6. Having another tall defenseman with his skating and stellar defense could bring more variety to the team. Power is doing so great at his size that it would be impossible for any team to skip over him unless an NHL team isn’t looking for defense. If the Devils want Power or Hughes, the best they can hope for is selecting 1st overall. The fans could be happy either way drafting Hughes or Power. It all leads to one question. Where will the Devils end up in the lottery draft? Only have two days away until we find that out.

Home/Draft