DRAFT: Quinn Hughes Profile

AGE:18
HEIGHT:5
WEIGHT:10
TEAM:Michigan
CSS RANKING:6th among NA Skaters
Quinn "Quintin" Hughes' profile continued to grow on an international stage while playing for Team USA at this summer's IIHF World Championship. At the age of 18, the young defender did not look out of place against NHL players and seasoned veterans.

"It was unbelievable," Hughes said of the experience. "There were four Blackhawks there and it was awesome, all those guys were great. The coaching staff brought me along nicely and they were great. They did a nice job with me. There was an open line of communication and that for sure helped and the players really took me under their wing. They knew I was a young guy."
As the youthful addition to the roster, Hughes tried to "soak in everything" he could from his older teammates.
"There are a lot of pros there and to have a guy like Patrick Kane as your captain and getting to sit next to him in the locker room - he is going to be a hall of famer and probably the best American born player to ever play - it was fun for me," he said.

Hughes also represented USA at the 2017 U-18 World Championship, recording a goal and four assists in seven games as his team captured gold.
The success of the defenseman should not come as a shock as he has athleticism in his genes.
His mother Ellen was a three-sport college athlete, playing soccer, lacrosse and hockey at the University of New Hampshire. She also was a member of the U.S. Women's National Hockey Team.
Hughes' father Jim was a member of the U.S. Selects Team that won the 1988 Spengler Cup and he has coached or held player development positions at several levels of hockey.
His younger brother Jack is a member of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program and is projected to be a top prospect in next year's NHL Draft.
Being born into an athletic family certainly didn't hurt his future in sports.

The defenseman is coming off a freshman year at the University of Michigan where he potted five goals and recorded 24 helpers in 37 games.
He's described as a smooth-skating and mobile player who has the potential to be a complete, top-tier defender. He models his game after Blackhawks blueliner Duncan Keith and Kris Letang of the Penguins.
Hughes is ranked sixth among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting, firmly in the range where the Blackhawks will select eighth overall.
To join Keith in Chicago, and Kane in particular, would be an intriguing proposition for the young prospect.
"That would be pretty fun," Hughes said. "(Kane and I) connected a couple times (at Worlds). I think I missed a couple chances he gave to me, but I don't need to tell you how good he is as a player, he's won three cups for you guys. He's a slam dunk hall of famer and he's unbelievable on the ice. I think it would be really fun for me to play with him a couple more times for sure. I am going to be happy wherever I go. If it's Chicago or somewhere else it's going to be great no matter what."
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
"Supremely gifted skater and puckhandler who has the ability to control the game from the back end." - International Scouting Services
STATISTICS: