Wolverines’ Hughes, Slaker, Norris named to Big Ten preseason watch list

By @MichaelCaples –

The Big Ten is expecting big things from three Wolverines.

To kick off its season preview week, the college hockey conference is unveiling its preseason watch list, and it started with recognition for Quinn Hughes, Jake Slaker and Josh Norris.

Hughes, a product of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program, potted 29 points in 37 games from the blue line during his freshman campaign in 2017-18. Hughes was the sixth overall pick of the Vancouver Canucks in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft.

Like Hughes, Norris is also entering is sophomore campaign after two seasons with the U.S. NTDP. The Oxford-born forward potted 23 points in 37 games last season as a freshman. Norris, a first-round NHL pick in 2017, is currently a prospect in the Ottawa Senators organization after being traded by San Jose in the Erik Karlsson deal.

Slaker, a native of Chicago, Ill., enters his junior season after setting career-highs in goals (15) and points (27) in 40 games during his sophomore season.