The whole team was fun to play against.
Many changes have been made to address this.

A sophomore slump is not unique to Hughes.
It was predictable that he'd have a down year and he'll bounce back this year.
Book it.

- dbot

Sounds good so what type of contract?

Sounds good so what type of contract?
- Nighthawk

8 x 8.5m

The whole team was fun to play against.
Many changes have been made to address this.

A sophomore slump is not unique to Hughes.
It was predictable that he'd have a down year and he'll bounce back this year.
Book it.

- dbot

I guess if you consider it a sophomore slump, when he was bad in his first season, even being propped up by one of the better defensive defensemen in the league, then I don't know what to say.
He was still a -10, in what some of you consider to be a good season for him.

Except Krug is 30 and Hughes is 21.
- dbot

Yup. My closest comp at the time doesn’t put Hughes into comps with other deals solely on age & points. D liability like Barrie so I don’t pay him like the blogs comps. 3/6m or 6/7m or 8/7.5m

Not a fan of JB trading with Lou.
Lou would take JB to the cleaners.

via GIPHY

- dbot

You mean Lou Lamoriello, who is with the Islanders and hasn't been with New Jersey in years?

8 x 8.5m
- dbot

If that’s the price I bridge him. Wait til Bones makes him expendable if he pans out then trade Hughes if he does.

Not to worry, NJ will always have interest in him if the poop hits the fan.

It will be like Carolina and the Staal brothers.
- Whiskey-Tango

This would make for an excellent off-season.

You mean Lou Lamoriello, who is with the Islanders and hasn't been with New Jersey in years?
- Reubenkincade

😂😂👍

You mean Lou Lamoriello, who is with the Islanders and hasn't been with New Jersey in years?
- Reubenkincade

touche.

His legacy lives on

If that’s the price I bridge him. Wait til Bones makes him expendable if he pans out then trade Hughes if he does.
- Nighthawk

Disagree.

Here I am grinding Hughes on a deal I want playing GMJB. If slightly more then JB did well if not & what others suggest then sure as heck ppl will slam JB as per their standard knee jerk go to.

Disagree.
- dbot

👍

Debates are fun & differing opinions are spicey lol

8 x 8.5m
- dbot

You want to pay him like a #1 defenseman, yet he hasn't shown any inkling of being a #1 defenseman.

the comparables you suggest are good for right now, but you also have to consider what stage in their careers those players are at. Quinn is already scoring points like Krug in his early 20s. So you're buying UFA years at a premium NOW for a savings LATER.

If they bridge both Quinn and Petey and they continue to ascend, then we will be priced out.
- noisewater

I'm curios over what the hold up is as bridge could have been done by now. Their agents been talking bridge deals. But you wonder all the cap clearing moves had a term plan.

You want to pay him like a #1 defenseman, yet he hasn't shown any inkling of being a #1 defenseman.
- Reubenkincade

Hughes doesn’t score like #1 D.
He doesn’t shut down like #1 D.
He needs goal scorers to finish.
Doesn’t kill penalties.
Won’t see out there in last few minutes protecting a 1 goal lead.

Everything else he excels very highly at.

Add it all up it isn’t 9m per. 8m per is purely speculating he improves when some believe he’s reached his ceiling points wise & doubt his D gets or if much better.

Thanks Carol.

Strongly disagree with you on your comparable of Heiskanen and Makar.

Sam Girard is more likely a better comparable.
Also, a much better defenseman, Adam Pelech, signed for around 6 million per.

I think it is best for the organization, if they move on from Hughes.
- Reubenkincade

Wow Reuby...drunk?

I'm curios over what the hold up is as bridge could have been done by now. Their agents been talking bridge deals. But you wonder all the cap clearing moves had a term plan.
- NuckUp

Contract structure my guess.

Hughes doesn’t score like #1 D.
He doesn’t shut down like #1 D.
He needs goal scorers to finish.
Doesn’t kill penalties.
Won’t see out there in last few minutes protecting a 1 goal lead.

Everything else he excels very highly at.

Add it all up it isn’t 9m per. 8m per is purely speculating he improves when some believe he’s reached his ceiling points wise & doubt his D gets or if much better.
- Nighthawk

Debatable.

Those who want to move on from both Petey and Quinn... Please pass what you're smoking, that's some good sh¡t!
- noisewater

Remarkable!!

You want to pay him like a #1 defenseman, yet he hasn't shown any inkling of being a #1 defenseman.
- Reubenkincade

I want to pay him like a 21 yr old, calder finalist, puck moving Dman who plays on the #1pp, puts up points and is crucial to the team.

I am confident he'll continue to develop.
But yes, you're betting on that and buying free agency years.
I think it'll be expensive today and good value down the line.

I hope there is not a NMC included.

Hughes doesn’t score like #1 D.
He doesn’t shut down like #1 D.
He needs goal scorers to finish.
Doesn’t kill penalties.
Won’t see out there in last few minutes protecting a 1 goal lead.

Everything else he excels very highly at.

Add it all up it isn’t 9m per. 8m per is purely speculating he improves when some believe he’s reached his ceiling points wise & doubt his D gets or if much better.
- Nighthawk

I agree with you and Rubes. Paying for potential without accomplishment is a dangerous route that puts the long term value of players at risk. Bridge is the way to go if the long term ask is too high.

Debatable.
- Reubenkincade

No it’s not. He’s the most mobile of the D & can carry the biscuit out & a PP QB & drives the play.

I want to pay him like a 21 yr old, calder finalist, puck moving Dman who plays on the #1pp, puts up points and is crucial to the team.

I am confident he'll continue to develop.
But yes, you're betting on that and buying free agency years.
I think it'll be expensive today and good value down the line.

I hope there is not a NMC included.
- dbot

Any NTC or NMC should reduce the price.

I agree with you and Rubes. Paying for potential without accomplishment is a dangerous route that puts the long term value of players at risk. Bridge is the way to go if the long term ask is too high.
- Load Management

Bingo & could be what is delaying signing.

Hughes doesn’t score like #1 D.
He doesn’t shut down like #1 D.
He needs goal scorers to finish.
Doesn’t kill penalties.
Won’t see out there in last few minutes protecting a 1 goal lead.

Everything else he excels very highly at.

Add it all up it isn’t 9m per. 8m per is purely speculating he improves when some believe he’s reached his ceiling points wise & doubt his D gets or if much better.
- Nighthawk

Carol isn't wrong Hughes' best comparable is Makar.

If he gets paid so be it.