Hughes, expected top pick of 2019 Draft, to miss Five Nations Tournament

Jack Hughes, No. 1 in
NHL Central Scouting's midterm list of North American skaters
eligible for the 2019 NHL Draft, has a lower-body injury and will not play with USA Hockey's National Team Development Program under-18 team at the 2019 Under-18 Five Nations Tournament in Sochi, Russia, from Feb. 5-9.

Hughes (5-foot-10, 168 pounds), who is considered day to day, will continue his rehabilitation in Plymouth, Michigan, where the NTDP is based.
The NTDP plays its first game against Sweden on Feb. 6, and also will play Finland, Czech Republic and Russia.
Hughes, projected to go No. 1 in the 2019 draft at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on June 21, will miss his third straight game when the NTDP plays Chicago of the United States Hockey League on Friday.
He leads the NTDP with 56 points (13 goals, 43 assists) in 28 games this season. He's tied for third on the NTDP all-time list with Chicago Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane with 172 points (53 goals, 119 assists), behind Arizona Coyotes forwards Clayton Keller (189 points) and Pittsburgh Penguins forward Phil Kessel (180 points).