Detroit Red Wings: How does Jack Hughes change the landscape?

The idea of potentially winning the draft lottery intrigues me.  The idea of the franchise I love so dear, the Detroit Red Wings being able to add a “generational” type player in Jack Hughes is exciting.

The odds of having a ping-pong ball fall in our favor doesn’t excite me, but with a little lady-luck on our side, it is possible the Detroit Red Wings could end up in a position to land Jack Hughes.  I mean, the Ottawa Senators would forfeit the right to choose him as their first round pick goes to the Colorado Avalanche.

They had a choice to either give last years pick to Colorado or push it back to this year in their agreement at the time sent Matt Duchene to Ottawa.  They decided to select Brady Tkachuk, thinking they wouldn’t be as terrible as they are and in a spot to pick first overall.

Oops–the dysfunctional Sens remain the same, and that move will likely cost them another three-five years minimum.  At this point, it is looking like a never-ending rebuild for them. What I’m saying is — yes the Detroit Red Wings are not playing good hockey, but it isn’t all bad, they are not Ottawa.

More from Octopus Thrower

• Detroit Red Wings forward Carter Mazur injured in Prospect Tournament
• Detroit Red Wings: What does Klim Kostin’s role look like in 2023-24?
• Detroit Red Wings: 3 players who will make biggest impact in first year
• The Detroit Red Wings need Andrew Copp to start fast in 2023-24
• Detroit Red Wings had a busy off-season; but was it enough?

IF and it is a big IF, the Detroit Red Wings would be so lucky to land Hughes it would not only speed up the rebuild in Motown, it would add another valuable piece to lengthen the Wings lineup.  At this point, Dylan Larkin is the Detroit Red Wings top player, and number one center.  Hughes would make a wonderful Robin to his Batman.

Although I did feel strongly last summer that Filip Zadina would automatically fit into the Detroit lineup from day one, I was wrong.  I could be wrong again, but I feel Hughes would be in the lineup right away if he became a Wing.

Imagine having Dylan Larkin, Andreas Athanasiou, and Jack Hughes down the middle of the lineup.  In today’s NHL and maybe looking back through history the championships, in my opinion, are built down the middle of your lineup.

I’m not disregarding players like Ovechkin; he’s phenomenal.  Taylor Hall is a winger and won the Hart Trophy last year.  Patrick Kane, Mitch Marner & Kucherov (will win the Hart this year) are all wingers I understand that.  But being able to roll out highly skilled two-way centers is where dynasties are built.  Steve Yzerman & Sergei Fedorov, Wayne Gretzky, and Mark Messier, Zetterberg and Datsyuk, Crosby and Malkin.  There are tonnes of examples I am not mentioning but you understand the point I’m trying to drive home.

The idea the Wings could be able to add a young player who has a superstar type of label surrounding him, that is a natural center is thrilling.  He would change the whole landscape of the franchise and drastically advance the rebuild.

Adding Hughes would possibly allow the Detroit Red Wings the opportunity to put Athanasiou back as a winger where at this point he seems more comfortable.  I personally have written in the past prefer him as a center. I believe he has more upside in the middle.  The team is paying Frans Nielsen like a second/third center, but he’s better suited as a third/fourth at this point in his career.  Adding Hughes would allow Nielsen to be bumped down.

Jack Hughes has played 18 games this season with the U.S Development Team recording 9 goals, adding 22 assists totaling 31 points.  He was only in the box once in the 18 contests for 2 minutes and is a plus 11.

He seems to be more of a setup man, so playing him with say Zadina and Mantha would be mouth watering for those goal scoring types of players.  There is no guarantee the Wings will be able to add Hughes, but they are definitely in the running for his services, let’s hope we get the bounce we are hoping for.