Hughes, No. 1 on NHL Central Scouting's final ranking for the 2019 NHL Draft, is expected to be the No. 1 pick. He got a jump-start in learning the professional life from his tournament teammates.
"It's been unreal," Hughes said prior to the U.S. losing 4-3 to Russia in the quarterfinals at Ondrej Nepela Arena in Bratislava, Slovakia, on Thursday. "I'm just learning about what it's like to be a pro every day, just hanging out with these guys in the rink and around town. It's been an invaluable experience.
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"I think that was the biggest thing coming here, just what I could experience and be a part of. It's not many days where you get asked as a 17-year-old … to play for an NHL all-star team. I knew I could learn a lot of things. I didn't want to turn down USA Hockey**
