Connor Bedard or Jack Hughes?

[Video Nasty]

Bedard. It’s not like Hughes is dropping the 130 some predicted after the opening two weeks of last season. He’s still only hovering around PPG today and since then.

 

[wetcoast]

Still Hughes. Bedard has a long way to go. He could very well end up just as good, maybe even a bit better, but his recent trajectory is certainly a bit concerning.

Funny I was going to write the same thing bolded for Hughes.

 

[Coffee]

too hard

 

[Xirik]

I enjoyed the last thread where people thought Bedard was going be better then Hughes last season and how this season he would be way past Hughes that there wouldn't be a conversation.

God that Hype was unreal.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Still Bedard. He’ll have a better rookie and second season. Just hasn’t lived up to expectations, but has no help and he was always a little overrated by the people who thought he was generational.

 

[Video Nasty]

I enjoyed the last thread where people thought Bedard was going be better then Hughes last season and how this season he would be way past Hughes that there wouldn't be a conversation.

God that Hype was unreal.

Let’s not forget that plenty had Hughes pegged as a top 5 scorer for the foreseeable future, as little as one year ago. Instead, a couple of injuries and simply not being as great as a quick start to 2023-2024 signaled over the next 80 or so games seems to have quelled that thought. Both sides are not immune.

 

[nucks88]

If the Canucks could manage to get either one of them I would go for Bedard....

 

[SimpleJack]

The fact that Bedard is still winning this poll despite how awful he’s currently playing speaks volumes about the talent and potential that exists.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

The fact that Bedard is still winning this poll despite how awful he’s currently playing speaks volumes about the talent and potential that exists.

I think it speaks more to how much he was hyped before he broke into the league.

 

[wetcoast]

I think it speaks more to how much he was hyped before he broke into the league.

I think it speaks more to Bedard being 19 and on a really crappy team with a lower than expected shooting % being only slightly behind Hughes in production at age 23 on a much better team?

 

[Primary Assist]

Wow 50/50, great poll OP.

Bedard doesn't have anywhere near the supporting cast as Hughes. I'm not a Devils fan, but as a Jersey boy I'll vote for Hughes.

Lose for Hughes was also the funnier tagline during his respective draft year

 

[La Bamba]

I would gamble on Bedard since he is 4 years younger but Hughes' game is more suited to the NHL especially with his skating. I wouldn't be surprised if Hughes had the better career but if Bedard developed elite level skating... oh boy. Similar to Tavares, I think Bedard's flaws are more exposed in the NHL versus in junior when he was putting up historic numbers

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I think it speaks more to Bedard being 19 and on a really crappy team with a lower than expected shooting % being only slightly behind Hughes in production at age 23 on a much better team?

Hughes is on pace for 86 points after a slow start (returning from surgery). Bedard is on pace for 59 points. They aren't remotely comparable players at this point.

Hughes has more goals in his last 6 games than Bedard has all season. And Bedard's last few 4 games have been alarmingly poor. He's been outplayed by Ryan Donato this year.

Funny I was going to write the same thing bolded for Hughes.

He's been back to his old self lately, with 4g 10p 26 shots in his last 6 games after a slow start returning after his off-season surgery. He played through injury for most of last year as well and still paced for 98 points.

There are definitely legitimate concerns about his health, but when he's 100% healthy he's a dominant offensive player.

 

[ViD]

The fact that Bedard is still winning this poll despite how awful he’s currently playing speaks volumes about the talent and potential that exists.

Or hype

 

[SimpleJack]

I think it speaks more to how much he was hyped before he broke into the league.

The talent is real, and that’s what people recognize. Nobody is voting for him here because he was hyped up before he ever got to the league.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

The talent is real, and that’s what people recognize. Nobody is voting for him here because he was hyped up before he ever got to the league.

He's extraordinarily talented, but he really hasn't looked it for much of this year. If he wasn't originally overhyped as a generational player, I think he'd be doing a lot worse in these polls.

The fact that he ran away with this poll 1.5 years ago and now it's more of a toss-up shows how the hype machine effected the way he was perceived. It's still having a lingering effect IMO.

 

[mphmiles]

One of the rare good polls on here, because I don't think there's an incorrect choice.

Right now, I think I'd have to go Bedard because I think he's a potential 50-60 goal guy going forward, but I also think it's highly possible Hughes' better skating makes him the significantly better two-way player when they both hit their prime.

 

[wetcoast]

Hughes is on pace for 86 points after a slow start (returning from surgery). Bedard is on pace for 59 points. They aren't remotely comparable players at this point.

Sure but Bedard isn't going to end up with a 5.6% shooting rate either.

Also like I said Bedard is 19 and Hughes should be in his peak at 23 nevermind linemates ect......

Hughes has more goals in his last 6 games than Bedard has all season. And Bedard's last few 4 games have been alarmingly poor. He's been outplayed by Ryan Donato this year.

Has he really of has Donato been more lucky so far?

I mean I dunno as I haven't watched all of the games but one guy has a PDO of 102.3 and the other guy 95.1 and the less lucky guy also has more points on the Black Hawks.

He's been back to his old self lately, with 4g 10p 26 shots in his last 6 games after a slow start returning after his off-season surgery. He played through injury for most of last year as well and still paced for 98 points.

Sure but he has played in all 21 games and one has to think that he is healthy right?

There are definitely legitimate concerns about his health, but when he's 100% healthy he's a dominant offensive player.

He is also 23 and Bedard is 19, when Hughes was 19 there was a gap...in favour of Bedard.

I get that you really like Hughes but Bedard has already had an excellent rookie season and even despite his struggles this year is still trending ahead of Hughes through each players first 2 NHL seasons and there is alot to project and like about bedard's game becoming equal or better than Hughes.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Sure but Bedard isn't going to end up with a 5.6% shooting rate either.

Also like I said Bedard is 19 and Hughes should be in his peak at 23 nevermind linemates ect......

He's definitely going to convert at a higher rate, but he's struggling to even get chances lately.

Has he really of has Donato been more lucky so far?

I mean I dunno as I haven't watched all of the games but one guy has a PDO of 102.3 and the other guy 95.1 and the less lucky guy also has more points on the Black Hawks.

Even ignoring production, Donato has been really good this year.

Sure but he has played in all 21 games and one has to think that he is healthy right?

Just because he's healthy enough to play doesn't mean he's healthy. The devils played him down the stretch last year and only shut him down for surgery when the team was eliminated.

He is also 23 and Bedard is 19, when Hughes was 19 there was a gap...in favour of Bedard.

Yeah I don't know how true or relevant that is. Hughes was much better than his counting stats suggested, he was already turning into a possession beast. He was night and day better vs his rookie year.

But players don't have the same development curves. Bedard was far more physically ready at 18/19 vs Hughes.

I get that you really like Hughes but Bedard has already had an excellent rookie season and even despite his struggles this year is still trending ahead of Hughes through each players first 2 NHL seasons and there is alot to project and like about bedard's game becoming equal or better than Hughes.

Bedard isn't really trending very well though. He's going in the opposite direction. Hughes was trending up at 19, and for anyone paying attention, you could see he was about to explode offensively. He was already showing signs of being a transition monster.

 

[wetcoast]

He's definitely going to convert at a higher rate, but he's struggling to even get chances lately.

We saw flashes last year and sure he is in a bot of a funk this year but I'll get to that alter in the post.

Even ignoring production, Donato has been really good this year.

Sure but no one, not even you is expecting Donato to be better than Bedard for the season right?

Just because he's healthy enough to play doesn't mean he's healthy. The devils played him down the stretch last year and only shut him down for surgery when the team was eliminated.

There was literally no reason for Hughes to play if he wasn't healthy and he has played in all 21 games so far, sure maybe he was rusty but it's not like he's coming back 2 months in rusty when the rest of the elague is going strong.

My main point is that a 23 year old hughes isn't really excelling ahead of Bedard even with the last 6 games.

Yeah I don't know how true or relevant that is. Hughes was much better than his counting stats suggested, he was already turning into a possession beast. He was night and day better vs his rookie year.

I dunno but I think production is pretty important and even with Bedard's poor start he is trending a bit better than Hughes did in year 2 and my bet is that Bedard is going to improve on that.

But players don't have the same development curves. Bedard was far more physically ready at 18/19 vs Hughes.

Sure I think Bedard was probably a bit more physically ready than Hughes but let's not pretend that he was a late birthday big guy like AM or something here, it's not a huge difference.

Bedard isn't really trending very well though. He's going in the opposite direction. Hughes was trending up at 19, and for anyone paying attention, you could see he was about to explode offensively. He was already showing signs of being a transition monster.

Even where both guys are now are 19 Bedard is ahead slightly and it's very unlikely that bedard doesn;t get some luck and turns it up.

Here are their lines adjusted at age 19 (Bedard's is projected to a full season as is Hughes)

Hughes 17-30-47
Bedard 14-46-60


If I had said the same thing 6 games ago about Hughes you would have had similar and valid small sample arguments.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

We saw flashes last year and sure he is in a bot of a funk this year but I'll get to that alter in the post.



Sure but no one, not even you is expecting Donato to be better than Bedard for the season right?

I've said before I expect him to get it going here eventually, but the trend after his first month in the league is really not good, and his struggles to get good looks is noteworthy. He's very obviously the most talented forward on the Hawks, but he's gotta make some adjustments.

There was literally no reason for Hughes to play if he wasn't healthy and he has played in all 21 games so far, sure maybe he was rusty but it's not like he's coming back 2 months in rusty when the rest of the elague is going strong.

They were trying to make the playoffs, that's why he was playing hurt last year.

My main point is that a 23 year old hughes isn't really excelling ahead of Bedard even with the last 6 games.

Hughes is pacing for 86 points vs Bedard's 59. He's got more points in his last 5 games than Bedard has in his last 13. He's lapping him.

I dunno but I think production is pretty important and even with Bedard's poor start he is trending a bit better than Hughes did in year 2 and my bet is that Bedard is going to improve on that.


Sure I think Bedard was probably a bit more physically ready than Hughes but let's not pretend that he was a late birthday big guy like AM or something here, it's not a huge difference.


Even where both guys are now are 19 Bedard is ahead slightly and it's very unlikely that bedard doesn;t get some luck and turns it up.

Here are their lines adjusted at age 19 (Bedard's is projected to a full season as is Hughes)

Hughes 17-30-47
Bedard 14-46-60


If I had said the same thing 6 games ago about Hughes you would have had similar and valid small sample arguments.

I'm not gonna get into a debate about who was better at 19 as it's really not relevant when comparing to a guy who was very clearly not physically ready to play in the league. Hughes took a huge step from 18 to 19, as he was one of the best transition players in the league. Then he took another big jump at age 20. He was very clearly on an upward trajectory.

Bedard has shown no indication of such a trajectory. I have no doubt he's going to be much better than he has been, but I wouldn't expect him to surpass Hughes (especially a healthy Hughes).

 

[Connor McConnor]

I used to think Bedard would surpass Hughes by a healthy margin but now im not as sure. Hughes has a lot more, and I mean A LOT MORE, talent around him. He needed 2 years to get going. I think in 2 years if we are comparing year 21 seasons, Bedard hits the 100 mark. I still lean Bedard but it’s a lot closer than I thought. His physical abilities are just not good enough for a “generational” prospect he was touted to be. Hughes isn’t exactly a top 10 player right now either, probably not even top 20. I’d expect Bedard to firmly be a top 10 player by his age 23 season

 

[dirtydanglez]

bedards biggest hurdle is that he came in at the beginning of a rebuild. its going to take many seasons to build a team around him.

 

[Connor McConnor]

I've said before I expect him to get it going here eventually, but the trend after his first month in the league is really not good, and his struggles to get good looks is noteworthy. He's very obviously the most talented forward on the Hawks, but he's gotta make some adjustments.


They were trying to make the playoffs, that's why he was playing hurt last year.

Hughes is pacing for 86 points vs Bedard's 59. He's got more points in his last 5 games than Bedard has in his last 13. He's lapping him.

I'm not gonna get into a debate about who was better at 19 as it's really not relevant when comparing to a guy who was very clearly not physically ready to play in the league. Hughes took a huge step from 18 to 19, as he was one of the best transition players in the league. Then he took another big jump at age 20. He was very clearly on an upward trajectory.

Bedard has shown no indication of such a trajectory. I have no doubt he's going to be much better than he has been, but I wouldn't expect him to surpass Hughes (especially a healthy Hughes).

It’s a lot easier to have an upward trajectory when you get drafted on a team that had already been rebuilding for 5+ years and had talent around him. Also just dismissing the fact Hughes wasn’t ready but Bedard was is weird. One should get credit for being good enough immediately to put up a rookie season like he did playing with the worst roster in arguably the past 30 years

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

It’s a lot easier to have an upward trajectory when you get drafted on a team that had already been rebuilding for 5+ years and had talent around him. Also just dismissing the fact Hughes wasn’t ready but Bedard was is weird. One should get credit for being good enough immediately to put up a rookie season like he did playing with the worst roster in arguably the past 30 years

It's not about giving credit, it's about projecting the player. Guys like Crosby and Bedard, who are already very well physically developed and filled in, often times don't improve a ton from their teenage years. Skinner was a bit like this as well - he was another shorter, stockier guy who came to the league ready to contribute.