Thinking he breaks 60 this season. He will have two top-6 talents on his side (not Hall though) and will likely be on he PP1 or at worst PP2 fulltime
If Clayton Keller put up 65 points his rookie year, I don’t see why Hughes couldn’t. Isn’t that right, Pavelbuchnevich?
McD Matthews Mack I think are in a slightly higher tier than Huges ( with McD alone in his own above everyone ) .I think 60 points is a little high for Hughes to realistically hit this year .Keller had 2 pts the year after his draft. It was the following year he 65. Same for Elias Pettersson...spent another year in Sweden, then put up 66 pts the following season.
Hughes will have some adjustment periods, and won't be thrust into 1c duties, so I'd temper expectations in year one. 60+ points put put him in pretty elite company (Mathews, McDavid, MacKinnon).
Hughes may not get 1st line minutes however he likely gets on the 1st PP unit with Hall, Gusev, Simmonds and Subban. That could get him 25+ PP points.Keller had 2 pts the year after his draft. It was the following year he 65. Same for Elias Pettersson...spent another year in Sweden, then put up 66 pts the following season.
Hughes will have some adjustment periods, and won't be thrust into 1c duties, so I'd temper expectations in year one. 60+ points put put him in pretty elite company (Mathews, McDavid, MacKinnon).
McD Matthews Mack I think are in a slightly higher tier than Huges ( with McD alone in his own above everyone ) .I think 60 points is a little high for Hughes to realistically hit this year .
He will need some time to adjust to the NHL game and tempo , new linemates , more games , travel schedule is a bit more taxing .
I’m hoping for 20g 30a . Anything over that is a bonus
Hughes may not get 1st line minutes however he likely gets on the 1st PP unit with Hall, Gusev, Simmonds and Subban. That could get him 25+ PP points.
Dahlin got 44 pts as an 18 year old defensemen on a terrible team.50 pts as an 18-year old would be very impressive. Still puts him in a very small club of elite guys.
I am guessing he starts season as 3C...may get to feast a bit on lesser defensive schemes. But 1st PP would surprise me.
Nico put up 52 his rookie year, I expect Hughes to be over that
He is the same level of prospect as those two so I dont see why he cant - plus he will have a great supporting cast in the top-6Keller had 2 pts the year after his draft. It was the following year he 65. Same for Elias Pettersson...spent another year in Sweden, then put up 66 pts the following season.
Hughes will have some adjustment periods, and won't be thrust into 1c duties, so I'd temper expectations in year one. 60+ points put put him in pretty elite company (Mathews, McDavid, MacKinnon).
Jack wont be 19 until the end of the regular season, hes super young for his draft classA fair "comparable" would be another C who made his debut last year in Kotkaniemi (who is 10 months older than Hughes).
If KK was able to put up 34 pts on a 3rd line without elite/top-end talent next to him, I can't see how Hughes wouldn't be able to crack 50 points being slightly older and trusted into a 2C role right away with better linemates.
Now the reality is that Hughes may crack 50 or 60, but he'll likely be heavily deficient defensively. Good thing they have Hischier on the first line so Hughes' deployment will likely be north of 60% starts in the O-zone.
Jack wont be 19 until the end of the regular season, hes super young for his draft class
Plus he is a much better prospectI know, thus why I made the comparison with Kotkaniemi. KK came into the league at a younger age than Hughes since he's a July kid. He'll likely still be in the top 5 of youngest players in the league this upcoming year whilst entering his second pro year.
The added development months and better linemates for Hughes will for sure ensure he reaches higher than 50 IMO. (Unless he turns out the way Nolan Patrick did.)
Odds he plays with Hall are pretty low - both command the ice and progress with he puck on their stick. Gusev will be with Jack and Hall will stick with Nico who he has loved playing with - hes said their styles mesh really wellIt'll be interesting to see if he plays with Gusev (or who he does play with). I hope he kills it this year but I think it will take a few years for his game to adapt
I thought they might try out a triple-H line once he gets his bearings in the league but yeah I suspect it will be him and Gusev, which should be fun. Whose the third guy on that line? Simmonds??Odds he plays with Hall are pretty low - both command the ice and progress with he puck on their stick. Gusev will be with Jack and Hall will stick with Nico who he has loved playing with - hes said their styles mesh really well
Offensively for sure Hughes * should * be leaps and bounds beyond KK.Plus he is a much better prospect
Kyle Palmieri. Jesper Bratt playe top right as e has chemistry with HischierI thought they might try out a triple-H line once he gets his bearings in the league but yeah I suspect it will be him and Gusev, which should be fun. Whose the third guy on that line? Simmonds??