Canucks pick blue-liner Quinn Hughes 7th overall
The Vancouver Canucks selected defenseman Quinn Hughes with the 7th overall pick in the 2018 NHL Draft on Friday in Dallas.
Quinn Hughes
Position: Defense
Height: 5-foot-10
Weight: 174 lbs
Age: 18
Club: Michigan (NCAA)
Nationality: American
| GP | G | A | P |
|---|---|---|---|
| 37 | 5 | 24 | 29 |
(Stats courtesy: EliteProspects.com)
Hughes is not only one of the most complete skaters in the draft, but he's also one of the most exciting, as his offensive talent and ability to take over games cemented him among the top-ranked North American skaters for most of the year.
"Last season in his Draft-2 year, Hughes was a point-per-game player in 26 USHL games. Those numbers are almost unheard of for a defenseman his age. To give you an idea of just how good they are, no other defenseman in USHL history has put up a better points-per-game ratio in his Draft-1 year (i.e. the season leading up to his draft). That includes fellow Americans Seth Jones and Charlie McAvoy, who are widely considered some of the top defensemen among USA Hockey’s younger set," theScore's draft expert Hannah Stuart wrote.
High hockey IQ and quickness make Hughes the prototypical offensive rearguard, as evidenced by his 29 assists in 37 games for the Wolverines this season. He also chipped in with one goal and four apples in seven games for Team USA at this year's World Junior Championship while earning a bronze medal.
Quinn's limited 5-foot-10 frame could spook some teams from selecting him in the top five, but an offensively elite puck-moving D-man with wheels like his won't be around long past that.
Click here to watch highlights of Hughes.