Hughes among 2019 Draft prospects with NHL ties, bloodlines

Jack Hughes, expected to be the No. 1 pick when the 2019 NHL Draft begins at Rogers Arena in Vancouver on Friday (8 p.m. ET; NBCSN, SN, TVAS), is among numerous prospects who have NHL ties and bloodlines.

Hughes, a center who is No. 1 in NHL Central Scouting's final ranking of North American skaters, has two connections to the League. Older brother Quinn Hughes, a defenseman, was taken by the Vancouver Canucks with the No. 7 pick in the 2018 NHL Draft. Their father, Jim Hughes, has been an assistant with the Boston Bruins and director of player development for the Toronto Maple Leafs.
"He's very skilled, with his skating, hands and hockey sense, but it's how competitive he is," Quinn Hughes said of Jack. "I always felt that was the big difference in him. He doesn't care who he's playing, who's going to go at you. He's super competitive and loves the game and is so dialed in. I don't know what normal teenagers do, but he's dialed in, working out in the morning, getting the right sleep and food and everything like that. ... It's easy to respect him just because of everything he does and how he carries himself."
Quinn and Jack were at the prospects' clinic at Hillcrest Centre in Vancouver on Thursday.
"It's cool. Anytime you get to do something with your brother, it's fun, especially because next year when we're going to be pretty far away from each other, and even this year you don't get to see him too much," Quinn said. "Whenever you get these times and experiences it's very cool."
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Here are other prospects ranked in the top 50 in their respective categories for the 2019 draft who also have NHL ties and/or bloodlines (NHL Central Scouting ranking in parentheses):
Bowen Byram, D (No. 2, North American skaters)
His father, Shawn Byram, was a forward and fourth-round selection (No. 80) by the New York Islanders in the 1986 NHL Draft. He played five NHL games with the Islanders and Chicago Blackhawks.

Alex Turcotte, C (No. 4, North American skaters)
Alfie Turcotte, Alex's father, was a center selected by the Montreal Canadiens in the first round (No. 17) of the 1983 NHL Draft. He skated in 112 NHL games with the Canadiens, Winnipeg Jets and Washington Capitals.

Nicholas Robertson, LW (No. 17, North American skaters)
Older brother Jason Robertson is a forward who was selected by the Dallas Stars in the second round (No. 39) of the 2017 NHL Draft and led the Ontario Hockey League in scoring with 117 points (48 goals, 69 assists) this season.
Ryan Suzuki, C (No. 18, North American skaters)
Older brother Nick Suzuki, a forward, was selected No. 13 by the Vegas Golden Knights in the 2017 NHL Draft and is a prospect in the Canadiens system. Nick Suzuki won the Wayne Gretzky 99 Award as MVP of the OHL playoffs after leading all skaters with 42 points (16 goals, 26 assists) for league champion Guelph.
Jonathan Williams, G (No. 19, North American goalies)
Williams is a cousin of Stars goalie Ben Bishop, a Vezina Trophy finalist this season.
Samuel Poulin, RW (No. 22, North American skaters)
Poulin's father, Patrick Poulin, was taken by the Hartford Whalers with the No. 9 pick in the 1991 NHL Draft. He played in 634 NHL games with the Whalers, Blackhawks, Tampa Bay Lightning and Canadiens from 1991-2002.
Anttoni Honka, D (No. 22, International skaters)
Honka's older brother, Julius Honka, is a defenseman who was selected No. 14 by the Stars in the 2014 NHL Draft. He has played 87 NHL games in Dallas.
Antti Saarela, C (No. 24, International skaters)
His older brother, forward Aleksi Saarela, was selected by the New York Rangers in the third round (No. 89) of the 2015 NHL Draft and is a member of the Carolina Hurricanes organization. He helped Charlotte of the American Hockey League win the Calder Cup this season.
Mack Guzda, G (No. 25, North American goalies)
Guzda's cousin, Jeff Woywitka, was a defenseman selected by the Philadelphia Flyers in the first round (No. 27) of the 2001 NHL Draft and played 278 NHL games with the St. Louis Blues, Stars and Rangers.
Max Paddock, G (No. 30, North American goalies)
John Paddock, Max's uncle, was a forward who played 462 NHL games with the Capitals, Flyers and Quebec Nordiques. John Paddock has also had a long coaching career at all levels of hockey including the NHL, where he coached the Jets and Ottawa Senators, and is now general manager of Max's team, Regina of the Western Hockey League.
Ryan Johnson, D (No. 33, North American skaters)
Johnson's father, Craig Johnson, was a forward selected by the Blues in the second round (No. 33) of the 1990 NHL Draft. He played 557 NHL games with the Blues, Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Maple Leafs and Capitals.
Juuso Parssinen, C (No. 33, International skaters)
His father, Timo Parssinen was a forward selected by the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim in the fourth round (No. 102) of the 2001 NHL Draft. He had three assists in 17 games during the 2001-02 season.
John Farinacci, C (No. 35, North American skaters)
Farinacci's uncle, forward Ted Donato, was a fifth-round pick (No. 98) by the Boston Bruins in the 1987 NHL Draft and played in 796 NHL games with the Bruins, Islanders, Senators, Ducks, Stars, Kings, Blues and Rangers. Farinacci's cousin, Ryan Donato, is a forward who was selected by the Bruins in the second round (No. 56) in the 2014 NHL Draft and plays for the Minnesota Wild.
Nolan Foote, LW (No. 37, North American skaters)
His father, defenseman Adam Foote, is a two-time Stanley Cup champion (1996 and 2001) with the Colorado Avalanche who played 1,154 NHL games with the Nordiques, Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets. Older brother Callan Foote, also a defenseman, was selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the first round (No. 14) of the 2017 NHL Draft.
Alex Vlasic, D (No. 38, North American skaters)
His cousin is San Jose Sharks defenseman Marc-Edouard Vlasic.
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