#also lowkey terrifying that everything was videotaped

[whirlpool-blogs]

NHL Draft 2019: What Jack Hughes said to Devils during scouting combine interview

Updated: May. 31, 2019

The Devils planned to conduct more than 60 interviews with prospects for the 2019 NHL Draft at this week’s NHL Scouting Combine in Buffalo.

It’s safe to say their interview with Jack Hughes ranked among the most important of the bunch. […]

Following their session with Hughes, the Devils released video of his answers to three questions posed during the meeting.

Here’s a glimpse at the questions and what Hughes said.

Question from Dr. Aimee Kimball (Devils director, player and team development): “Define success for me.”

Hughes: "In life, it’s making a purpose and achieving that, right? Dedicating your life to something, dedicating time to something, ending up achieving it and maybe doing better than that. Me personally, that would be a Stanley Cup. That’s something I’ve dreamed of my whole life. I think that’s why every hockey player at this level plays.

Question from GM Ray Shero: What do you know about yourself or about your game that you might not have known if you just stopped playing at the U18s and didn’t go to the World Championships?

Hughes: “Easy thing to do for me was to go back home, golf every day, hang out with my buddies until we leave for the combine. That was the easy thing to do. I just broke (Alex) Ovechkin’s (U18) record. I had 20 points in seven games. I felt I had more left in the tank, and I did the hard thing, which was go to men’s worlds, play a third-line center role. And I feel like I did that all for the experience to play against men and be around men.”

Question from assistant GM Tom Fitzgerald: “Do you have any fear at all of next season, coming into the best league in the world?”

Hughes: “No. I don’t think there’s any fear in me. For me it’s something I dreamed of my whole life. For me, I read and react. I think when I have time and space, I’m a threat to score or a threat to make a really nice play. It’s exciting. I think it would be unbelievable to play in the NHL as an 18-year-old.”