| 10 | THE HOCKEY NEWS ULTIMATE FANTASY POOL GUIDE 2019-
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ACK HUGHES DIDN’T
simply break the USA
Hockey National Team
Development Program’s
all-time scoring record, he put
it in his crosshairs, drew back,
blasted away and blew it to
smithereens.
Already ahead of the curve
following a debut campaign in
which he scored 116 points,
one shy of Auston Matthews’
single-season record, Hughes
became the only player in pro-
gram history with two 100-plus
point seasons when he regis-
tered 34 goals and 112 points
in 50 games. With that, he left
Clayton Keller’s 189-point re-
cord in the dust, and Hughes’
228-point mark illustrates just
how dominant he has been over
the past two seasons. Add to it
that he bested Alex Ovechkin’s
longstanding U18 World Cham-
pionship record – Hughes’ 32
points were one more than the
31 scored by Ovechkin – and
you start to understand the lev-
el of offensive acumen that the
Devils rookie possesses.
Truly, Hughes is the complete
package. While he showcased
his deft playmaking skills andset the NTDP record with 154
career assists, Hughes also has
a lethal, pinpoint-accurate shot.
In two seasons with the pro-
gram, he scored 74 goals, sixth
Ǧβ-
thews. Put Hughes alongside
Taylor Hall on the power play
with P.K. Subban and watch the
points pile up.
The lone worry heading into
Hughes’ rookie season is his
size. Despite his dominance
last season, he’s going to skate
against men, not boys, and the
18-year-old is listed at a gener-
ous 5-foot-10 and 170 pounds.
To put that into context, Hughes
β
pounds lighter than New Jer-
sey’s No. 1 pick in 2017, Nico
Hischier. On the other hand,
we’re only months removed
from lightweight Canuck Elias
Pettersson winning the Calder
Trophy, and the freshman
standout’s top-tier production
should assuage some of the
concern about Hughes’ ability
to produce given his stature.
Here are the projected high-
est-scoring rookies according
to Ultimate Pool Guide fore-
caster Murray Townsend.FAB FRESHMEN
ROOKIES TO
FOCUS ON
Some will be high selections in your keeper pools, others will
be long-shot picks in the latter rounds BY JARED CLINTON
An instant fit in the Devils’ top-six who will
see time on special teams and be given every
opportunity to produce. Can add to Patrick
Kane comparisons with Calder Trophy win.JACK
HUGHES
PROJECTED: 76 POINTSArtemi Panarin’s arrival won’t do much to
quell the Kakko hype. The winger’s toolbox
is complete, and his play against men in Fin-
land’s top league has him primed for success.KAAPO
KAKKO
PROJECTED: 60 POINTSIt’s time for a transition in Anaheim, and the
2016 first-round pick will be asked to step
into a scoring role and lead the next genera-
tion for the Ducks.SAM
STEEL
PROJECTED: 49 POINTSHe offered a glimpse of his talent by scoring
one goal and six points in 10 playoff games
with the Avs, and the D-man is sure to dazzle
on the power play as a full-time NHLer.CALE
MAKAR
PROJECTED: 46 POINTSThe 2017 fourth-rounder looks like a steal. He
finished fourth among AHL rookies with 62
points in 59 games. He’s going to get plenty
of playing time in Ottawa.DRAKE
BATHERSON
PROJECTED: 42 POINTSA point-per-game performance in the KHL
is proof positive that he can produce against
men at the pro level. It’s time to test that on
the biggest stage.NIKOLAI
PROKHORKIN
PROJECTED: 41 POINTSTwo-way phenom battled injuries last season
but finished strong in the WHL before moving
up to the AHL, where he wowed with 10 goals
and 20 points in 28 total games.CODY
GLASS
PROJECTED: 40 POINTSAfter years marinating in Sweden, Olofsson
had more goals than all but seven players in
the AHL last season. The pure shooter can
motor and put up points in bunches.VICTOR
OLOFSSON
PROJECTED: 37 POINTSHis hat trick in his big-league debut on the
final night of last season has the Canadiens
salivating, but the big center is more of a
playmaker than triggerman.RYAN
POEHLING
PROJECTED: 33 POINTSThe master blaster arrived with fanfare but
spent most of last season in the minors. If
he makes the jump, he can have an instant
impact on Nashville’s power play.EELI
TOLVANEN
PROJECTED: 28 POINTS