Kornacki: Hughes Deals in the Dazzling
2/11/2018 7:55:00 AM | Ice Hockey, Features
By Steve Kornacki
DETROIT, Mich. -- Quinn Hughes deals in the dazzling.
The University of Michigan freshman defenseman, a consensus Top 10 pick in June's NHL Draft, scored his second big goal in as many nights in Saturday's (Feb. 10) 3-2 win over Michigan State at Little Caesars Arena.
He wasted no time beating goalie John Lethemon after receiving a slick pass from defensive partner Joseph Cecconi late in the third period, and that ended up being the difference in the game.
Hughes opened the scoring in Friday's (Feb. 9) 1-1 tie with the Spartans in East Lansing that ended up as a two-point game when Tony Calderone decided the shootout with a goal.
And that was no ordinary goal for Hughes, who toe-dragged past a defender, kicked the puck to himself and poked it into the net with his stick while falling to the ice. It ranked No. 3 on ESPN's Top 10 Plays of the day.
"You can see that he's a very special player," said Michigan coach Mel Pearson. "He has the knack for being in the right place at the right time, and has tremendous offensive talent and tremendous offensive skill. But he's been playing well all year. He's such a competitor. He wants to win so bad that sometimes he'll do too much."
"He's playing defense real well for us, though. He's a plus player (plus-6) and plays in a lot of key situations. You have to give a player like him room to do some things, and you have a little risk-reward in there, but the reward is worth the risk. He might try to do a little too much offensively. He might not be on the defensive side at times he should be because he's more offensive.
"He's one of the best skaters I've ever seen in my 35 years of college hockey. He can play well defensively. He got burned maybe once tonight. But he's a phenomenal player, very gifted and a lot God-given. And he's a great kid."
?? Quinn Hughes' goal checks in at 3?? on @SportsCenter #SCTop10! #GoBlue pic.twitter.com/XSII0ffJxX
— Michigan Hockey (@umichhockey) February 10, 2018
Quinn's father, Jim, was the captain at Providence College in 1989 and has been a college and pro coach, serving as an assistant coach for the Boston Bruins and as director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs for six seasons. His mother, Ellen Weinberg-Hughes, played on the U.S. Women's National Hockey Team and played hockey and soccer at the University of New Hampshire.
I asked Pearson how many players have such strong hockey bloodlines on both sides of the family, and he laughed.
"Not many," said Pearson. "He's got some great genes in him, and that's that God-given talent. I'm talking about that 'It Factor' that he has. He's so quick and has great edges. He's just so quick on his feet, so light, and he can really accelerate in a hurry. I think people think they're going to get him, this small, little (5-foot-10, 175 pounds) defenseman, and he's right by them."
Hughes added, "My parents help me a lot. I can lean on them for anything I need hockey-wise or personal-wise. So, it's a great support system and I wouldn't be here without them."
He just happens to be the youngest player in college hockey, born on Oct. 14, 1999 in Orlando, when his father was an assistant coach on the Orlando Solar Bears and helped win the IHL's Turner Cup. Quinn said he's held onto the Solar Bears Christmas stocking his parents got him after he was born, and it bears one of the coolest logos in sports, a polar bear wearing sunglasses.
That late birthday determined that Hughes would not be drafted straight out of the USA Hockey National Team Development Program, and instead would have to wait until after his freshman season -- just like Wolverine defenseman Zach Werenski did. Werenski, of the Columbus Blue Jackets, recently became an NHL All-Star in only his second pro season.
Scouts for NHL teams have become regulars at Yost Ice Arena and wherever the Wolverines play. That places extra pressure on a player who scored his first goal on Oct. 6 against St. Lawrence while still 17.
"I don't know how he does it," said Pearson. "I really don't know how he does it with the pressure that is put upon him. He's just done a good job of trying to shield himself. We have to let people have access to him and talk to him. They have to do their jobs.
"But I can't imagine being the youngest player in college hockey, and that's enough pressure, let alone having the NHL Draft and all the pressure that comes with that and the talk about him. He goes about his business and does a great job."
Hughes, who grew up in the Toronto area after departing Orlando as a toddler, has been handling the extra attention phenoms receive for several years.
"I've been dealing with it for a long time -- probably since I was 14 or 15," said Hughes. "So, if you want to be the best, if you want to be an impact player, that's going to happen. I've seen it the most in my little brother, Jack (a 16-year-old center in the USA Hockey National Team Development Program in Plymouth, Michigan). Teams just tell their players to take him away and shadow him.
"You've just got to deal with it. All the best players, it's something they have to deal with."
The Sporting News featured a story in September titled: "Introducing Quinn Hughes, the NHL's next hot American defense prospect".
Adam Herman wrote, "The flashy, captivating defenseman is projected to be a surefire top-10 pick next June in what is the best class of defensemen in ages."
Hughes has 15 assists and has delivered some pretty nifty passes. But he has just three goals, and had 24 consecutive games without one until getting them back-to-back nights.
"Sometimes it just goes in bunches for me," said Hughes. "Obviously, I was a little frustrated not scoring in a while. But things happen and I was lucky I got a couple goals this weekend."
Hughes' goal Saturday night made it 3-1 with just under six minutes remaining in the game.
"I thought that was the dagger," said Pearson. "But that's why you play right to the end. You never know. That was similar to last night's goal. He seems to be in the right place at the right time. He had some good looks tonight and few real good opportunities. I was glad to see him cash in."
Hughes said, "I thought I was going to get it from (center) Cooper Marody first. But it worked out. It went to Joe and Joe made a great heads-up pass, and I went to sink it five hole."
He's partnered on the blue line with Cecconi, a 6-foot-2, 205-pound junior who was the fifth-round pick of the Dallas Stars in 2015. Â Cecconi has four goals and 12 assists, and has exploded offensively this season.
"Joe's a great player and it's really fun playing with him," said Hughes. "He helps me and I help him. It's very complementary. He's an awesome player and an even better teammate. When we mesh like that, it really helps."
Cecconi said of the goal Hughes scored Saturday: "I saw Quinn coming in late, and once you get him the puck he can do a lot of good things."
The two of them posed along with the entire team in the locker room around the "Duel in the D" trophy after securing five of six points from the Spartans in back-to-back games.
"We got spanked by them, 5-0, in their building in December," said Hughes. "We really thought that was unacceptable, and so this was important to us. We don't like losing to those guys."
That's the competitor in him coming out.
He scraps for everything he gets on the ice -- just as he gets the most out of that great talent. Quinn Hughes is one to savor.
• Michigan Outduels Rival MSU to Defend 'Iron D' Trophy (2/10/18)
• Shootout Winner Gives U-M Extra B1G Point Over MSU (2/9/18)
