NHL Draft Prospect Profile: Luke Hughes

Sabres.com is profiling some of the top available prospects in the days leading up to the 2021 NHL Draft, which begins with Round 1 on Friday, July 23 at 8 p.m. The Sabres hold the No. 1 pick.
Luke Hughes, LHD - USNTDP (USHL)6-foot-2, 184 pounds2020-21: 56 GP, 10 G, 39 A, 49 P

Hughes is the fourth-ranked North American skater by NHL Central Scouting Services and projects to follow in his brothers' footsteps as a top-10 selection. Fellow defenseman Quinn Hughes, already an All-Star in the NHL, was taken seventh overall by Vancouver in 2018. Center Jack Hughes was drafted by New Jersey with the No. 1 pick in 2019.
Luke, at 6-foot-2, has the height advantage over his two brothers (both of whom are listed at 5-foot-10). But his best trait is his mobility, making him widely regarded as one of the best skaters in the draft. He is committed to the University of Michigan, where he will join a roster that could include fellow top-10 picks in defenseman Owen Power and forwards Matthew Beniers and Kent Johnson.
"He attacks holes, has great mobility on the blue line, can be a high-end two-way defender," NHL.com's Mike Morreale told Brian Duff and Martin Biron. "He dictates play when he has the puck. He's effective at both blue lines, advances the puck so well. his skating skills, that sense is what really stands out about him."
Find more from Morreale on how Hughes compares to Power in the video below.

What they're saying

An anonymous evaluator to NHL.com on why they would select Hughes over fellow defenseman Simon Edvinsson:
"I think Luke Hughes is different than brother Quinn Hughes. I think he's more like (Toronto Maple Leafs defenseman) Morgan Rielly. That's the type of defenseman I see Luke at in terms of that style of play. Do I think he's going to be a big-time point producer like Quinn? I don't. But I don't have any doubt Luke can kill penalties, play solid defense and do all the things necessary to become a top-pairing defenseman."

What he's saying

On how he would describe his game:
"I can play in all situations. I can play the power play, I can play the PK, I can defend the cycle, defend the rush, defend net front. I'm really poised with the puck in my transition game. And I think a big part of my game is my exits and entries, my exits out of the D-zone, my entries into the offensive zone. And in the offensive zone, I think I'm pretty deceptive with the puck, I try to make things happen in there. ... I think my three biggest strengths are my hockey sense, my skating and my compete level."
On who he models his play after:
"Two guys that I like to watch are Miro Heiskanen from Dallas, the way he skates and his size and how he uses his stick to his advantage, and the other one's Shea Theodore, how deceptive he is on the blue line, how both guys can play the left side and the right side. Those are two guys that I kind of compare to or like to watch."