Yes, that's why one would wait until they leaf-out in the spring. There's no reason to look at dead material sticking up and out between the pretty blooms. When it's obvious where the most vigorous nodes are on each branch, any puny ones beyond it can be removed, so the tip of each branch ends in gorgeous flowers.
Unless a Hydrangea is planted where it doesn't have enough room, they don't require heavy pruning at all. Certainly not enough pruning that all of the nodes that are prepared to bloom would be removed.
