Hughes, 23, was the 7th overall pick in the 2018 Draft and hasn't failed to live up to the expectations. He is an outstanding defenceman who collected 76 points in 78 games and an impressive +15 rating. He has yet to enter his prime, which only has us dreaming about how he can improve.
He's matured since his NHL debut a little over four years ago; he's taken huge strides in his development, growing every little aspect of his game. Hughes still has four years at a highly reasonable $7.85M cap hit, making him an excellent candidate for the team's captaincy.