The truly great players can just play at the highest level effortlessly.

Would Hughes have qualified for the exceptional talent tag if he was in juniors?
- DrMidnite

I really don't know, but the players who have been granted exceptional status are:

John Tavares
Aaron Ekblad
Connor McDavid
Sean Day
Joe Veleno

So not all given it are considered generational, but I think many other players might have been given it if they chose to play in the CHL.

The truly great players can just play at the highest level effortlessly.

Would Hughes have qualified for the exceptional talent tag if he was in juniors?
- DrMidnite

I thought Hughes asked and was turned down by the OHL. I remember his dad saying it was a blessing in disguise.

I am NOT calling Hughes the next Matthews, just using it as a comparison because they both took similar paths. Of course I know some dummy will come along and tell me how I said Hughes is Matthews, but hey can't change stupid.

Here is a stat comparison if anyone is worried about his "stats":

Age 15
Hughes: 80 GP 58-101-159 (Toronto Midgets) 1.987 ppg
Matthews: 48 GP 55-45-100 (Arizona Midgets) 2.083 ppg

Age 16
Hughes: 27 GP 21-33-54 (USNTDP) 2.000 ppg
Matthews: 20 GP 10-10-20 (USNTDP) 1.000 ppg

Hughes: 24 GP 13-35-48 (USDP U17) 2.000 ppg
Matthews: 24 GP 12-21-33 (USDP U17) 1.375 ppg

Hughes: 36 GP 27-41-68 (USDP U18) 1.888 ppg
Matthews: 20 GP 12-5-17 (USDP U18) 0.850 ppg

Hughes: 6 GP 5-10-15 (WHC-17) 2.500 ppg
Matthews: 6 GP 4-4-8 (WHC-17) 1.333 ppg

Hughes: 7 GP 5-7-12 (WJC-18) 1.714 ppg
Matthews: 7 GP 5-2-7 (WJC-18) 1.000 ppg

Age 17
Hughes: 10 GP 1-14-15 (USHL) 1.500 ppg
Matthews: 24 GP 20-28-48 (USHL) 2.000 ppg

Hughes: 26 GP 12-38-50 (USDP) 1.923 ppg
Matthews: 60 GP 55-62-117 (USDP) 1.950 ppg

Hughes: 4 GP 0-4-4 (WJC-20) 1.000 ppg
Matthews: 5 GP 1-2-3 (WJC-20) 0.600 ppg
- Glak18

Nobody is going to like the comparison. Probably not even you. But his immediate NHL impact I see as something in the realm of Jeff skinner if he had McDavid skating.

I thought Hughes asked and was turned down by the OHL. I remember his dad saying it was a blessing in disguise.
- landros 2

I believe I remember seeing his dad say this as well after he was denied, but I also remember they weren't sure they were going that route anyway. He was pretty committed to following his brother to the USDP.

I think Sean Day had more to do with getting denied than it was about Hughes.

Nobody is going to like the comparison. Probably not even you. But his immediate NHL impact I see as something in the realm of Jeff skinner if he had McDavid skating.
- Tfaehner

I am fine with a 30 goal scorer to begin an NHL career, but I think Patrick Kane is closer. He is not going to be putting up McDavid numbers anytime soon.

Nobody is going to like the comparison. Probably not even you. But his immediate NHL impact I see as something in the realm of Jeff skinner if he had McDavid skating.
- Tfaehner

Skies the limit when you can make plays at that speed. Very few on the planet can do that....what the kid does with it is another question....but I like his odds to be a star in the NHL.

I am fine with a 30 goal scorer to begin an NHL career, but I think Patrick Kane is closer. He is not going to be putting up McDavid numbers anytime soon.
- Glak18

I dont see the same shot on Hughes. But maybe.

Nobody is going to like the comparison. Probably not even you. But his immediate NHL impact I see as something in the realm of Jeff skinner if he had McDavid skating.
- Tfaehner

I'd take a healthy better Jeff Skinner.

Better than a project.

I believe I remember seeing his dad say this as well after he was denied, but I also remember they weren't sure they were going that route anyway. He was pretty committed to following his brother to the USDP.

I think Sean Day had more to do with getting denied than it was about Hughes.
- Glak18

What does that mean, did Day fizzle?

Thought he just graduated from juniors.

I dont see the same shot on Hughes. But maybe.
- Tfaehner

That's fine, but a players impact on a team has more to do with just what their production numbers are and what they just do with the puck. I truly believe Hughes biggest impact is going to be how he affects who he plays with and other lines.

Don't get me wrong Giroux is a great player, but he does not get the same attention the likes of other players around the league gets. He could make an impact playing for any team, but you don't hold your breath every time he is on the ice. If at any time you have someone on the ice that that can hit a seam at full speed or blow past someone that absolutely changes how the other team defends against you.

That element is what the Flyers could use greatly to help not only their core, but their younger players as well.

What does that mean, did Day fizzle?

Thought he just graduated from juniors.
- DrMidnite

You don't know who Sean Day is? The 3rd round draft pick by the Rags...he was given exceptional status after McDavid. It didn't look too good with that decision then or now.

You don't know who Sean Day is? The 3rd round draft pick by the Rags...he was given exceptional status after McDavid. It didn't look too good with that decision then or now.
- Glak18

I googled him.

So I assume it stunted his growth.

I'd take a healthy better Jeff Skinner.

Better than a project.
- DrMidnite

So you would take a career 50-60 point scorer who is having a career year over a project...McDavid, Matthews, Eichel, Stamkos, Thornton those guys were projects too.

I googled him.

So I assume it stunted his growth.
- DrMidnite

No, he wasn't that good to begin with.

So you would take a career 50-60 point scorer who is having a career year over a project...McDavid, Matthews, Eichel, Stamkos, Thornton those guys were projects too.
- Glak18

No, I would take this 'better Jeff Skinner=Hughes' guy if he is the best player in a draft during a tank year.

Going back, I would have offer sheeted Stamkos and would to the same for Marner.

No, he wasn't that good to begin with.
- Glak18

I guess I don't understand the point of the tag then.

I assumed it was to accelerate the development of prodigious players.

But that should be a RARE occasion.

So you would take a career 50-60 point scorer who is having a career year over a project...McDavid, Matthews, Eichel, Stamkos, Thornton those guys were projects too.
- Glak18

And if those guys were projects, what is your idea of an immediate contributor?

Who offers very little then builds to an elite level?

I guess I don't understand the point of the tag then.

I assumed it was to accelerate the development of prodigious players.

But that should be a RARE occasion.
- DrMidnite

Only thing to understand is neither Day nor Veleno should of been given exceptional status, but they were. Mistakes were made and the board became extra cautious to never have it happen again.

Only thing to understand is neither Day nor Veleno should of been given exceptional status, but they were. Mistakes were made and the board became extra cautious to never have it happen again.
- Glak18

Ok thanks

That's fine, but a players impact on a team has more to do with just what their production numbers are and what they just do with the puck. I truly believe Hughes biggest impact is going to be how he affects who he plays with and other lines.

Don't get me wrong Giroux is a great player, but he does not get the same attention the likes of other players around the league gets. He could make an impact playing for any team, but you don't hold your breath every time he is on the ice. If at any time you have someone on the ice that that can hit a seam at full speed or blow past someone that absolutely changes how the other team defends against you.

That element is what the Flyers could use greatly to help not only their core, but their younger players as well.
- Glak18

Yup it's one the biggest reasons I thought a guy like panarin who plays the game at such a high speed would help. Getting it in the draft on an elc would be even better. And would open up to full court press a guy like stone

And if those guys were projects, what is your idea of an immediate contributor?

Who offers very little then builds to an elite level?
- DrMidnite

NO, you called them projects by calling Hughes a project. Just because YOU don't think Hughes is good enough to be in the category of those players that's fine, but that doesn't make Hughes any less of a player.

Remember 5 minutes ago you had to google who Sean Day was, now you think you have the ability to evaluate talent for a prospect? Yeah Hughes offers very little....you should be a scout.

NO, you called them projects by calling Hughes a project. Just because YOU don't think Hughes is good enough to be in the category of those players that's fine, but that doesn't make Hughes any less of a player.

Remember 5 minutes ago you had to google who Sean Day was, now you think you have the ability to evaluate talent for a prospect? Yeah Hughes offers very little....you should be a scout.
- Glak18

I dont see either Hughes or kakko as a project. They both will have immediate NHL impact. But they need to develop in their time in the NHL- as all players even McDavid Matthew's do - to be elite complete players.

No, I would take this 'better Jeff Skinner=Hughes' guy if he is the best player in a draft during a tank year.

Going back, I would have offer sheeted Stamkos and would to the same for Marner.
- DrMidnite

Offer sheeting is bad business.

I dont see either Hughes or kakko as a project. They both will have immediate NHL impact. But they need to develop in their time in the NHL- as all players even McDavid Matthew's do - to be elite complete players.
- Tfaehner

No one does....

But this guy

I'd take a healthy better Jeff Skinner.

Better than a project.
- DrMidnite

No one does....

But this guy
- Glak18

I'm thinking what he meant is he would accept if Hughes was a faster Jeff skinner to enter the league instead of drafting a project. As good as frost farabee may be they ate projects cause they took years to make the NHL. At least I think that's what he meant.