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NHL Draft Rankings: Top 5 Prospects in the Pacific Division

By Lucas Burrell

VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 22: Signage visible on the light posts near the venue during the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - JUNE 22: Signage visible on the light posts near the venue during the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 22, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Jonathan Kozub/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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ANN ARBOR, MI – FEBRUARY 23: Michigan Wolverines defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) skates with the puck against Ohio State Buckeyes forward Freddy Gerard (15) during a regular season Big 10 Conference hockey game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines on February 23, 2019 at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
ANN ARBOR, MI – FEBRUARY 23: Michigan Wolverines defenseman Quinn Hughes (43) skates with the puck against Ohio State Buckeyes forward Freddy Gerard (15) during a regular season Big 10 Conference hockey game between the Ohio State Buckeyes and Michigan Wolverines on February 23, 2019 at Yost Ice Arena in Ann Arbor, Michigan. (Photo by Scott W. Grau/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

Quinn “Quintin” Hughes

Drafted – 2018 7th Overall, Vancouver Canucks

Position – D

Attributes – L, 5’10, 170

The prospect on this list likely to make the most impact on their current team this upcoming season is the number seven overall in the 2017 NHL Draft Quintin Hughes. The 19-year-old defender will play a huge role in Vancouver’s forced renaissance in 2019  – 2020.

Unlike the forwards where teams are shifting to bigger players nowadays a prototypical defenseman is on the smaller side who are excellent skaters, can make a smart first pass out of their own zone, and jump into the play on offense if need be. Hughes checks every single of these boxes.

A player renown for his vision and hockey sense. Hughes see’s the game at a different pace than the other skaters on the ice. A sixth sense for the ebb and flow of play which gives him the patience to find open areas of the ice, discover passing lanes, and fire pucks through net front screens.

Hughes is another player coming out of the USA National Team Developmental Program but has most recently spent time at the University of Michigan where he averaged nearly a point per game (0.89) from the blue line in his two seasons as a Wolverine.

The dynamic defenseman will likely be clocking big minutes next season for the Canucks on 5v5 and the powerplay. Look out for Hughes’ name included in Calder Trophy discussion for a bulk of the 2019 – 2020 campaign.

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