2019 NHL Draft Profile #1- Bear Hughes
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| (Photo Credit: The Coeur d'Alene Press) |
Ed. Note: With the 2019 NHL Draft just weeks away, all of my posts in the month of June will be focused on unranked yet intriguing prospects eligible to be selected in Vancouver later this month.
Hi, I'm Secret Scout. Each year, NHL teams compile hours of video, reams of in-person reports and spreadsheet upon spreadsheet of analytics to identify which teenagers have the best chance of one day playing at the highest level. However, the hockey world has simply grown too large to categorize all players of note in every league that exists.
My mission is to highlight the most intriguing draft-eligible prospects you've likely never heard of while hopefully widening your view of the hockey world along the way. First up is a player, who- if nicknames were indicative of future success- would be a lock to make the NHL. That player is Bear Hughes of the KIJHL. Who? Where? Let's find out after the jump.
Quick, what do Shea Weber, Adam Deadmarsh, Steve Tambellini and Ray Ferraro have in common? All four are natives of British Columbia, yes; but even more uniquely, all of them spent at least a bit of time in the KIJHL, or Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. A Junior B circuit founded in 1966, the KIJHL has been and is home to teams with storied histories like the Kimberley Dynamiters, Trail Smoke Eaters and Spokane Braves.
However, the KIJHL has not fared well as a source for legitimate NHL prospects in recent memory. In fact, no player has been taken from the league since defender Kevin Koopman in 2006 -- a sixth round draft choice of the Ottawa Senators who retired from hockey just two years after being selected in order to focus on medical school.
But this week's profiled player has a good chance of changing that. Sharp-shooting forward Bear Hughes- birth name Cassius- more than lived up to his nickname during the 2018-19 season; a rookie in the KIJHL, Hughes mauled his competition with 41 goals and 66 points in just 46 contests for the Spokane Braves:
| Secret Scout Profile | |
|---|---|
| Name: | Cassius "Bear" Hughes |
| Ht/Wt: | 6'0, 170 lbs |
| Position: | C/RW |
| 2018-19 Team: | Spokane Braves (KIJHL) |
| 2018-19 Stats: | 46 GP, 41-25-66, 50 PIM |
Named Neil Murdoch Division MVP, Top Scorer and Rookie of the Year along with overall league ROTY for his accomplishments during the regular season, Hughes would add 6 more goals and ten total points during a tough seven-game series as he and the Braves bowed out to the Nelson Leafs in the first round of the KIJHL playoffs.
But Hughes' season wasn't finished -- and that, not coincidentally, is why the prolific goal-scorer is as good a bet as any to find a home during the latter rounds of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Immediately after the Braves wrapped Game 7, Hughes found himself called up by the WHL's Spokane Chiefs. Nine days later, on March 15th 2019, he would go 50% in the face-off circle while putting two shots on goal in his major junior debut.
Thanks to the magic of the Internet, you can see for yourself what transpired the following evening when Spokane took on Tri-City during their second half of a back-to-back:
Thanks to the magic of the Internet, you can see for yourself what transpired the following evening when Spokane took on Tri-City during their second half of a back-to-back:
🐻🐻| Chiefs rookie and Post Falls, Idaho native Bear Hughes notched a pair of markers in his first Spokane Chiefs home game of his @TheWHL career. Congratulations, Bear! #GoChiefsGo pic.twitter.com/PnhuNwpDPq— Spokane Chiefs (@spokanechiefs) March 17, 2019
That's right -- in a storybook beginning to his junior career, Hughes would score two goals in just his second-ever WHL contest, including his first career tally less than two minutes into the game. As he would not dress again for the remainder of the regular season, Hughes would finish with the WHL's best goal-scoring pace: exactly 1.00 GPG.
Sample size jokes aside, Hughes' scoring feats are certainly worth a closer look. His 41 goals are the most by a first-year draft-eligible player in the KIJHL since 1999, when the league experimented with a 60-game season. In fact, Hughes' output is the highest for a first-year eligible since the KIJHL began publishing such stats online.
In terms of U18 players, only two others have scored more: NHLer Derek Ryan and Craig Martin, a pending NCAA free agent likely to attract NHL interest this summer (your rando Pierre McGuire factoid of the day: Martin played in the KIJHL during the 2011-12 season, finishing ahead of Big Brother Canada 7 winner Dane Rupert in the scoring race).
In terms of U18 players, only two others have scored more: NHLer Derek Ryan and Craig Martin, a pending NCAA free agent likely to attract NHL interest this summer (your rando Pierre McGuire factoid of the day: Martin played in the KIJHL during the 2011-12 season, finishing ahead of Big Brother Canada 7 winner Dane Rupert in the scoring race).
Ryan, incidentally, is the closest we have to what a career trajectory might look like for Hughes; like Hughes, Ryan was promoted to the Chiefs from the Braves, posting WHL seasons of 46, 61 and 59 points. While it took another four years in the Canadian college ranks and even a stint in Europe, Ryan is a legitimate- not to mention productive- NHLer.
Few teams would be willing to wait five years for even a 7th round pick to make the NHL, but a former Art Ross winner offers an even stronger case for what Hughes' career trajectory might look like. During his draft-eligible season, Dallas Stars stand-out and former 5th round selection Jamie Benn played in the BCHL; while one rung above the KIJHL, Benn's draft year output was otherwise extremely similar to Hughes':
| Secret Scout Head-to-Head | ||
|---|---|---|
| Player | Jamie Benn | Bear Hughes |
| D-1 | 38 GP, 31-24-55 (Jr. B) | 21 GP, 25-16-41 (USHS) |
| Draft Year | 53 GP, 42-23-65 (Jr. A) | 46 GP, 41-25-66 (Jr. B) |
| D+1 | 51 GP, 33-32-65 (WHL) | ? |
| D+2 | 56 GP, 46-36-82 (WHL) | ? |
Based on the above, it would appear likely that Hughes would trail Benn by a step on the junior hockey ladder another year. That would mean spending 2019-20 in the BCHL as he seeks to gain experience against higher-level competition.
However, Hughes' sudden and striking debut on the major junior scene is a game-changer for his career. Indeed, Chiefs coach Dan Lambert addressed the likelihood of him sticking in the WHL next season following his two-goal outburst:
If so, it would mean a meteoric rise; just last year, Hughes split time between Idaho high school hockey and a local prep team playing in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). His greatest achievement to that point came in the former, when he scored on a breakaway in OT to secure his high school team the state championship.
But all the stats and video clips are useless without assessing how the player actually plays.
The good news: Hughes comes by his goal totals honestly; known for handcuffing goalies with his best weapon- a lethal snapshot from just above the hashmarks- his overall shot mechanics, accuracy and release are all highly refined. Hughes' hand-eye coordination and reaction time are also borderline elite, allowing him to convert rebounds into goals at will.
Overall, there are few things Hughes does not do well in the offensive zone. A fierce forechecker with a motor that's always buzzing, his lithe footwork allows him to dictate the pace of play down low; in fact, one of Hughes' trademark moves during the KIJHL season was to snap up a loose puck and execute a quick spin-and-shoot using the D as a screen.
Hughes can also slow the pace of play when needed, victimizing defensemen with a pull-up wristshot from high in the zone reminiscent of an NBA point guard. He also excels as a trailer, entering the zone with speed and unleashing a seeing-eye one-timer that more often than not finds its way through traffic and into the back of the net.
Based on his one-sided point totals, one might think Hughes is a poor playmaker. However, much of his reluctance to pass had to do with opportunity; oftentimes, it was simply the better play for him to shoot. As the KIJHL season wore on, Hughes began to exploit his reputation as a scorer in order to set up linemates with greater frequency.
One area Hughes could improve in is challenging one-on-one; while blessed with soft hands, he more often than not shows a tendency to pull up and shoot from distance. WHL defensemen in particular took advantage of that trait, rubbing him out with ease. Hughes will need to learn to change up his method of attack to be a consistent producer at the next level.
As for everything else... well, that's the rub. Despite being a strong skater down low, Hughes lacks a clear separation gear. While not a detriment in Junior B, Hughes was often forced to act as the trailer in the WHL as he was unable to skate the puck in himself. Thankfully, this appears to be more an issue of mechanics than ability; with a longer stride and more lower-body muscle, it's likely he could improve substantially in this area.
Finally, while not shy about engaging physically, Hughes is very much a work of progress in the defensive zone; he often looked lost during backchecking assignments with the Chiefs, chasing the play as a result. Even in the KIJHL, Hughes took less-than-optimal paths to the puck when backcechking, forcing his linemates to cover for him.
The above was never more true than during the WHL playoffs; as the games became tighter and tighter, Hughes saw his ice-time cut back significantly. In all, he went pointless and registered a -1 in three games -- a virtual non-factor. Smarter positioning and of course better skating would both help in this regard, but overall, Hughes must look to employ as much enthusiasm below his own blueline as he does above the other team's.
In sum total, while a raw talent with plenty of room to improve, Bear Hughes is an intriguing offensive talent in a sport that thirsts for such players. His skillset is reminiscent of one Alex DeBrincat, especially in the way he is able to turn nothing plays into highlight-reel goals. Indeed, his shooting ability is probably the closest to DeBrincat out of all players in the entire 2019 draft class -- diminutive American Cole Caufield included.
Regardless of whether or not he is selected three weeks from now, Hughes has every chance to join the small but proud group of KIJHL alum who went on to reach the NHL. If not, he'll still have one of the best names in hockey history. Not bad for a player you probably hadn't heard of until this week.
However, Hughes' sudden and striking debut on the major junior scene is a game-changer for his career. Indeed, Chiefs coach Dan Lambert addressed the likelihood of him sticking in the WHL next season following his two-goal outburst:
| Secret Scout Quote of the Day | |
|---|---|
| “His first goal was a goal-scorer’s goal. Assuming his work ethic in the summer and everything else is good, he’s probably going to score a few more for the Chiefs moving forward.” -Spokane Chiefs coach Dan Lambert on 2019 Draft-eligible forward Cassius "Bear" Hughes (Source: The Spokesman-Review) |
If so, it would mean a meteoric rise; just last year, Hughes split time between Idaho high school hockey and a local prep team playing in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL). His greatest achievement to that point came in the former, when he scored on a breakaway in OT to secure his high school team the state championship.
But all the stats and video clips are useless without assessing how the player actually plays.
The good news: Hughes comes by his goal totals honestly; known for handcuffing goalies with his best weapon- a lethal snapshot from just above the hashmarks- his overall shot mechanics, accuracy and release are all highly refined. Hughes' hand-eye coordination and reaction time are also borderline elite, allowing him to convert rebounds into goals at will.
Overall, there are few things Hughes does not do well in the offensive zone. A fierce forechecker with a motor that's always buzzing, his lithe footwork allows him to dictate the pace of play down low; in fact, one of Hughes' trademark moves during the KIJHL season was to snap up a loose puck and execute a quick spin-and-shoot using the D as a screen.
Hughes can also slow the pace of play when needed, victimizing defensemen with a pull-up wristshot from high in the zone reminiscent of an NBA point guard. He also excels as a trailer, entering the zone with speed and unleashing a seeing-eye one-timer that more often than not finds its way through traffic and into the back of the net.
Based on his one-sided point totals, one might think Hughes is a poor playmaker. However, much of his reluctance to pass had to do with opportunity; oftentimes, it was simply the better play for him to shoot. As the KIJHL season wore on, Hughes began to exploit his reputation as a scorer in order to set up linemates with greater frequency.
One area Hughes could improve in is challenging one-on-one; while blessed with soft hands, he more often than not shows a tendency to pull up and shoot from distance. WHL defensemen in particular took advantage of that trait, rubbing him out with ease. Hughes will need to learn to change up his method of attack to be a consistent producer at the next level.
As for everything else... well, that's the rub. Despite being a strong skater down low, Hughes lacks a clear separation gear. While not a detriment in Junior B, Hughes was often forced to act as the trailer in the WHL as he was unable to skate the puck in himself. Thankfully, this appears to be more an issue of mechanics than ability; with a longer stride and more lower-body muscle, it's likely he could improve substantially in this area.
Finally, while not shy about engaging physically, Hughes is very much a work of progress in the defensive zone; he often looked lost during backchecking assignments with the Chiefs, chasing the play as a result. Even in the KIJHL, Hughes took less-than-optimal paths to the puck when backcechking, forcing his linemates to cover for him.
The above was never more true than during the WHL playoffs; as the games became tighter and tighter, Hughes saw his ice-time cut back significantly. In all, he went pointless and registered a -1 in three games -- a virtual non-factor. Smarter positioning and of course better skating would both help in this regard, but overall, Hughes must look to employ as much enthusiasm below his own blueline as he does above the other team's.
In sum total, while a raw talent with plenty of room to improve, Bear Hughes is an intriguing offensive talent in a sport that thirsts for such players. His skillset is reminiscent of one Alex DeBrincat, especially in the way he is able to turn nothing plays into highlight-reel goals. Indeed, his shooting ability is probably the closest to DeBrincat out of all players in the entire 2019 draft class -- diminutive American Cole Caufield included.
Regardless of whether or not he is selected three weeks from now, Hughes has every chance to join the small but proud group of KIJHL alum who went on to reach the NHL. If not, he'll still have one of the best names in hockey history. Not bad for a player you probably hadn't heard of until this week.
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