Can Jack Hughes become the second best player behind Connor McDavid?

[Stephen]

The answer is going to be simultaneously yes and no.

Yes in the sense that he can be part of the permanent ongoing conversation, but no in the sense that he likely won't achieve full time, definitive separation between a group of Matthews, Mackinnon, Draisaitl at center who jockey for position year over year... and also here comes Bedard.

And no in the sense that Hughes will probably not be able to separate himself from a Makar who will stake claim from an entirely different position, dominating different categories, trophies and resistant to the apples to apples comparison.

 

[John Mandalorian]

Can a meteor landing in Austria cause what happened in Sodom and Gomorrah? Sure.

 

[MessierII]

to be fair, I think he means now - stuff Kucherov did 5 years ago isn't really relevant to who is the better player today.

regardless, its Kucherov until proven otherwise. It could definitely hapen, Kuch is aging and Hughes is just hitting his stride.

Even still, potential only takes you so far, 1 season where you finish 8th in Hart voting and 12th in pts is nothing when you have guys like Drai/Makar/MacKinnon/Matthews etc to compete for #2 in the coming years.

Kucherov had 113 points last year though so based on the most recent season he’s still not on that level. Same with Draisaitl. He has a ways to go to be in that conversation with those guys and McKinnon/Matthews. Not saying he can’t get in it but to say he already has is ridiculous.

 

[Breakfast of Champs]

Kucherov had 113 points last year though so based on the most recent season he’s still not on that level. Same with Draisaitl. He has a ways to go to be in that conversation with those guys and McKinnon/Matthews. Not saying he can’t get in it but to say he already has is ridiculous.

Hughes did have 99 pts and 43 goals in 4 fewer games. So 14 fewer pts but 13 more goals. He also finished higher in Hart trophy voting. I'm not saying he is yet as good or better than Kucherov but it isn't blasphemous to assume this could be the year Hughes passes Kuch with both trending in different directions.

I agree though he still has a ways to go to be considered with MacKinnon/Drai/Makar etc. He could do it but it would likely take a few years in the serious Hart discussion at least before he even approaches those guys

 

[Video Nasty]

Draisaitl has been at minimum, top 4 in both goals and points for half a decade straight aka something not done since Gretzky. He has also won actual awards.

If we can’t get a wide consensus that he’s the second best player in the game for what he has actually accomplished, it’s doubtful Hughes will ever do anything close to make his own legitimate case.

 

[LuGBuG]

He’s definitely my favourite player to watch right now from other teams. He’s electric and last playoffs made me a big fan.

 

[Tradedri]

Eventually yes.

Drai’s lack of speed will eventually be a problem. I feel that Hughes will for sure surpass MacKinnon - just way more tools to dissect teams and in a smooth efficient way which will age well.

Hughes vs. Matthews is the most interesting one. Their 30s will decide it I think.

I think he’s tracking to be somewhat better than Kucherov, who I think is somehow one of the most underrated players in this league’s history despite his accomplishments. I take prime Kuch above MacKinnon as well.

Drai's game does not depend on speed. He can control the tempo of the game.

 

[HabzSauce]

Eventually maybe but next 1-2 years I don't think so.

It's still Drai, McKinnon and Matthews at the top (for forwards).

 

[kranuck]

Hughes is probably just gonna keep getting better so I see it as possible.

People tend to forget that MacKinnon (who I have ahead of Hughes today), during his 21 y/o season, scored 53 points in 82 games. Jack Hughes had 99 in 78. MacKinnon finally broke through when he was in the same season as Hughes is now. In other words, still plenty of room for Hughes to grow his game.

That’s not how aging works.

 

[Ezekial]

Can he? Yes

Will he? Maybe, probably not. Lots of good young players in the league.

He's incredible, though, and has the potential to be #2 imo

 

[TheNumber4]

I thought last year he had the potential to be the 1B to McD. He’s good, real good.

 

[McFlash97]

Yah no. There is this guy named Leon Draisaitl. The German Gretzky.

With a personality to boot.

 

[TimeZone]

Comfortably behind Matthews, Nate, Leon, Pasta, Kuch for now.

He's right thete with Elias as an elite talent with quite the ceiling.

 

[Buck Naked]

That’s not how aging works.

No, that's how comparisons work.

 

[authentic]

to be fair, I think he means now - stuff Kucherov did 5 years ago isn't really relevant to who is the better player today.

regardless, its Kucherov until proven otherwise. It could definitely hapen, Kuch is aging and Hughes is just hitting his stride.

Even still, potential only takes you so far, 1 season where you finish 8th in Hart voting and 12th in pts is nothing when you have guys like Drai/Makar/MacKinnon/Matthews etc to compete for #2 in the coming years.

Hughes is a better player than Kucherov currently. Watched enough of both of them since last season to know this, one is 30 and the other is 22 so I feel confident that Hughes > Kucherov going forward.

 

[authentic]

Drai's game does not depend on speed. He can control the tempo of the game.

I don’t know why people talk about Draisaitl like he’s a slow player either. He’s actually pretty fast and has been for years now. It’s like people haven’t watched him since his rookie season or something.

 

[Blue and Green]

I thought last year he had the potential to be the 1B to McD. He’s good, real good.

Jack Hughes is really good but no way is he reaching McDavid's tier. Tim Stutzle's first three seasons were pretty much the same as Hughes' first three seasons; he just doesn't get the media attention because he's German and he plays in Ottawa.

Bedard is the guy that will take a run at reaching McDavid's level.

 

[Ducks4Cup]

There’s at least 5-6 other centers I’d take before him, let alone 10-15 players.

Let’s see the list

 

[TheNumber4]

Jack Hughes is really good but no way is he reaching McDavid's tier. Tim Stutzle's first three seasons were pretty much the same as Hughes' first three seasons; he just doesn't get the media attention because he's German and he plays in Ottawa.

Bedard is the guy that will take a run at reaching McDavid's level.

I like Stutzle. Hughes is better. We’ll see how Hughes does this year, I would t be surprised to see him in the top 3 of scoring by end of the year.

 

[Oneiro]

Drai's game does not depend on speed. He can control the tempo of the game.

He’s brilliant, reminiscent of Thornton in some ways. Most of what I’m saying is thinking that he’ll be subject to the aging curve more than Hughes, who while also having had two injuries, is such an efficient skater. This is the common denominator of guys who have played for a long long time.

But hoping for the Pavelski type of late career trajectory for Drai is really defying the odds when there is far more evidence in the post lockout era that guys like St. Louis, Zuccarrello, Kane, Elias, etc. all lasted longer than their peers with size and have some monster late career seasons to show for it.

 

[Kennedys]

Even as a Habs fans i'll say no because... Matthews.

 

[Nucks2001]

He's really good but that would mean he leapfrogs guys like, Matthews, Mackinnon, Draisaitl and even Bedard in the future. Don't see it happening.

Huh? Hughes is 5-6 years younger than guys like Leon and MacKinnon and he’s shown more at his age than the putrid outputs of Leon and Mack at 22. He’s not better than them right now, but it’s almost a CERTAINTY that Hughes will be better. Those guys will be pruning while he’ll be in the middle of his prime.

 

[Shocker]

Yeah sure, after Drai and others start dropping off a bit with age.

 

[Devil made me do it]

Def possible. I’d probably go Bedard then him.

Bedard hasn't done anything in the NHL and he is nowhere near as talented as Jack.

 

[Score08]

1. Mcdavid
2. Pasta
3. Rantanen/drai
4. Everyone else.