Quote:
Originally Posted by Enoch Root
Hughes played his full D+2 season in the NHL. He is 5'10" and was probably 165 lbs at the time.
Sheltered, 3rd pairing minutes would be way more valuable than another year of junior for him.
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There's no linear path and if he goes back it isn't the end of the world. High picks like Schiefle and Kadri (albeit forwards) went back and/or down a couple times and it worked out just fine. Parekh was a long way off last fall. If he's closed the gap even 30-50% closer to where he needs to be, he will likely make the team.
I don't think you handle a player like him with the intention of playing on the third pair in a role that doesn't suit his game. He's here to play as an offensive, dynamic player and trying to repress that with reduced minutes and marching orders seems highly counter productive and potentially harmful simply to get him into the NHL.