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NHL mock draft: Final projections for every first-round pick

By Derek Grochowski

BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 5: Rasmus Dahlin #8 of Sweden in play against Canada during the Gold medal game of the IIHF World Junior Championship at KeyBank Center on January 5, 2018 in Buffalo, New York. Canada beat Sweden 3-1. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images)
BUFFALO, NY - JANUARY 5: Rasmus Dahlin #8 of Sweden in play against Canada during the Gold medal game of the IIHF World Junior Championship at KeyBank Center on January 5, 2018 in Buffalo, New York. Canada beat Sweden 3-1. (Photo by Kevin Hoffman/Getty Images) /
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WORCESTER, MA – MARCH 25: Quinn Hughes #43 of the Michigan Wolverines skates against the Boston University Terriers during the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Northeast Regional Championship Final at the DCU Center on March 25, 2018 in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Wolverines won 6-3 and advanced to the Frozen Four in Minnesota. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Quinn Hughes
WORCESTER, MA – MARCH 25: Quinn Hughes #43 of the Michigan Wolverines skates against the Boston University Terriers during the NCAA Division I Men’s Ice Hockey Northeast Regional Championship Final at the DCU Center on March 25, 2018 in Worcester, Massachusetts. The Wolverines won 6-3 and advanced to the Frozen Four in Minnesota. (Photo by Richard T Gagnon/Getty Images) *** Local Caption *** Quinn Hughes /

7. Vancouver Canucks – D Quinn Hughes

Just like that the Vancouver Canucks have one of the best puck moving defenseman fall to them at the seventh pick. Quinn Hughes had a stellar season at the University of Michigan. There were questions about his size and how he would play against older more mature competition. He answered those questions by going to the World Championships at the end of the season and representing the United States. Not only was he invited to play for the U.S., but he played well and was a big part of them winning a bronze medal. Vancouver has had success dipping into the college hockey prospect pool in the past. Standout rookie Brock Boeser played at North Dakota before becoming a Vancouver Canuck.

The Vancouver Canucks win the first round with Quinn Hughes falling this far. There are only a few players in the entire draft with a higher upside than Hughes. He is an elite puck mover and skater. He can do absolutely everything with the puck. As far as defensemen go, he is the best skater in the draft. When talking about zone breakouts he can make passes or lead them all his own. At Michigan he had 29 points in 37 games.

Hughes really helped himself by playing in the World Championships this offseason. One of the questions that Hughes was facing as he played this season was how would he do against bigger competition. Hughes is a little smaller compared to current professionals. Fortunately for Hughes he excelled against the next level of competition. He only had two points in ten games but he opened so many plays up with his skating and passing. The next step for Hughes will probably be one more season at Michigan. Even though he dominated the college level this season, he might not be NHL ready. The Vancouver Canucks are in a position where they are close to being competitive but not in position to rush Hughes into the lineup.

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