'The scouting community - reporters doing articles or scouting prospects, that do this for a living, and of course the NHL scouts - is all trying to decipher where do these guys fall in the pick of the litter. 'It's been nonstop, it's been relentless,' Wroblewski said. Wroblewski said the scouting presence this season for the Hughes-led U-18 team has been 'overwhelming,' but in a good sense. 'We've all kind of been through the ringer already,' Hughes said last Tuesday in a phone interview with NBC Sports Philadelphia. His older brother Quinn was drafted seventh overall by the Canucks last summer and plays at Michigan, while his younger brother Luke is 15 years old and considered an up-and-coming talent. His father Jim Hughes, mother Ellen Weinberg-Hughes and uncle Marty Hughes all played Division I hockey. He credits much of his maturity and preparation to his 'great support system,' featuring his family and coaches. He's well-spoken because he's well-groomed, unfazed by the hype of being the top-ranked 2019 draft prospect. Like his brother Quinn, young kids are going to look at him and want to be him as a player, sort of revolutionize the position that a quote, unquote undersized centerman can persevere and make it to be a superstar in the National Hockey League - because there's not a ton of them that have done that.

There's a component here that I think has yet to be realized. He doesn't have McDavid's size, but he's got things that I think McDavid would be envious of, as well. You throw him into the blender with wingers like Kane and Gaudreau, but then you have to put him in the middle of the ice, so he's got that speed like McDavid.

One of Jack's unique traits is that even though there are questions out there in regards to his size, he's a true center iceman and he will play in the middle and he will figure out a way to make it work. You're starting to see more and more of the hybrid type of player - guys that play with speed and skill. My belief is that he'll be in the NHL next year and there's really not a comparable. While Hughes is only 5-foot-10, 168 pounds and turns 18 just a month before the draft, Wroblewski sees him developing into a player of his own mold. 1 selections - from Patrick Kane (2007) to Connor McDavid (2015) and fellow USNTDP product Auston Matthews (2016). Many will line Hughes up against past No.

Similar to any NHL draft, the climb of the top overall pick will be debated.

Jack hughes nhl 19