Connor Bedard or Jack Hughes?

[Voight]

no denying that Hughes' first 2 seasons weren't that great but he just wasn't NHL ready or that's the impression I got out of it. he should have never been in the NHL right out the gate just nothing left for him to learn at a lower level

He should've gone to the NCAA.

 

[Regal]

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.

I think Bedard’s physical development was a bit oversold. He certainly takes his training seriously, but he’s still pretty tiny.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

I think Bedard’s physical development was a bit oversold. He certainly takes his training seriously, but he’s still pretty tiny.

He's already 185 lbs. Not sure how much more weight he can pack onto that frame.

 

[Regal]

He's already 185 lbs. Not sure how much more weight he can pack onto that frame.

Weight can be fickle though. He just doesn’t look like he has near the lower body strength out there that Crosby did.

 

[Fatass]

He's already 185 lbs. Not sure how much more weight he can pack onto that frame.

He looks like a 14 year old boy. Still plenty of physical development for him. Even so, imo Bedard will never be as impactful as Hughes.

 

[centipede2233]

It’s a skating man’s league. Gotta go with hughes

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

Weight can be fickle though. He just doesn’t look like he has near the lower body strength out there that Crosby did.

No disagreement there. I think his upper body is a lot more developed than Sids at the same age.

He looks like a 14 year old boy. Still plenty of physical development for him. Even so, imo Bedard will never be as impactful as Hughes.

He's definitely got more maturing to do, but less so than Hughes. Crosby and Skinner also looked crazy young despite being pretty well built at 18.

 

[NikolaTesla]

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).

How can you just shrug off a 4 years difference as it means nothing?

You claim that comparing them when they were both 19 years old is not relevant but somehow you manage to twist it and say that comparing the current 23 vs 19 years olds is more relevant? This is some Pejorative Slured shit.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

How can you just shrug off a 4 years difference as it means nothing?

You claim that comparing them when they were both 19 years old but somehow you manage to twist it and say that comparing the current 23 vs 19 years olds as more relevant? This is some Pejorative Slured shit.

I wasn't the one who brought up the comparison between them today, because there is no comparison.

 

[NikolaTesla]

I wasn't the one who brought up the comparison between them today, because there is no comparison.

What a pathetic reply.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

What a pathetic reply.

Sorry my reply to your straw man didn't meet your standard.

 

[wetcoast]

I wasn't the one who brought up the comparison between them today, because there is no comparison.

But you replied to it like what 3 times so maybe own your statements.

If you applied the same standard that you are to bedard at 19 to Hughes then there is no way that you would have said things like dominant offensive player in his future ect but you simply don't want to project for the future.

You also didn't take into consideration the initial premise that no Bedard and Hughes production aren't that far off, ie the gap isn't as big as you are making out this season because i included the context of age 19-23 and team mates/linemates.

Bedard is obviously off to a poor start especially shooting % wise and you know darn well that he is going to end up with more than 60 adjusted points this season and some luck will come his way.

Ever since Bedard emerged on the prospect scene you have really downplayed his accomplishments and pedigree.

I don't have time to go back but me thinks maybe some poster triggered you when they said he was a better prospect than Hughes or something but I dunno you really have blinders for certain players.

I know that you don't post here in bad faith but man did Bedard kick your dog or soemthing?

 

[Video Nasty]

Bedard had 9 goals in 13 games off 43 shots to start his career—20.9%

He had back to back 2 goal games in Games 12 and 13.

Since then, he has 16 goals in 73 games off 217 shots—7.4%

He has just two more 2 goal games across those 73 games.

WTF

 

[Xirik]

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

you make it sound like the Devils were stacked when he arrived.

it wasn't
New Jersey Devils 2019-20 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com

The only team that really sucked more then them that year was the Wings.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

But you replied to it like what 3 times so maybe own your statements.

Only to point out how they aren't comparable right now.

If you applied the same standard that you are to bedard at 19 to Hughes then there is no way that you would have said things like dominant offensive player in his future ect but you simply don't want to project for the future.

Agreed, he surpassed my expectations.

Bedard is obviously off to a poor start especially shooting % wise and you know darn well that he is going to end up with more than 60 adjusted points this season and some luck will come his way.

I completely agree. I think I posted last week that I still think he's gonna break 80 this year.

Ever since Bedard emerged on the prospect scene you have really downplayed his accomplishments and pedigree.

I don't have time to go back but me thinks maybe some poster triggered you when they said he was a better prospect than Hughes or something but I dunno you really have blinders for certain players.

I know that you don't post here in bad faith but man did Bedard kick your dog or soemthing?

I predicted Bedard would score 78 points as a rookie before his career started, and mid-80s before this season started.

At every point I've actually been overestimating him, yet somehow I've been labeled as a hater because I refuse to accept the narrative that he's a McDavid or Crosby level talent. Then when I get attacked for that position, I'm forced to explain the reasons why he's not on that level. People take that as me trying to downplay him because they selectively ignore my other posts that are very supportive of him.

 

[thefutures]

I wasn't the one who brought up the comparison between them today, because there is no comparison.

You are correct. There is no comparison when the 2 are compared fairly at the same age and development.

 

[dgibb10]

you make it sound like the Devils were stacked when he arrived.

it wasn't
New Jersey Devils 2019-20 roster and scoring statistics at hockeydb.com

The only team that really sucked more then them that year was the Wings.

#ELITELINEMATES

 

[Bounces R Way]

This is a good poll and I think there's a lot of valid reasons to vote for either player. Hughes the better skater now and when they were drafted. Bedard the better shot now and I believe the better playmaker when they were drafted. Both don't have great size for a franchise C.

I don't care much that Bedard hasn't lit the world on fire this season. I didn't care that Hughes didn't his first couple years in the league either. These are both two of the top 10 most purely hockey talented players in the league for me. As for who I would build my team around, I think I'd still lean Bedard slightly. Less to do with hockey and more to do with his attitude on things, Jack still seems a little immature to me. With their size however I think you're going to need a great 2C as well and Hughes has that in Hischier and Bedard has.. well Jason Dickinson? Ryan Donato? I don't even know who is supposed to be a top 6 fwd for the Blackhawks right now.

This is one where I'm firm on a more information needed stance.

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

This is a good poll and I think there's a lot of valid reasons to vote for either player. Hughes the better skater now and when they were drafted. Bedard the better shot now and I believe the better playmaker when they were drafted. Both don't have great size for a franchise C.

I don't care much that Bedard hasn't lit the world on fire this season. I didn't care that Hughes didn't his first couple years in the league either. These are both two of the top 10 most purely hockey talented players in the league for me. As for who I would build my team around, I think I'd still lean Bedard slightly. Less to do with hockey and more to do with his attitude on things, Jack still seems a little immature to me. With their size however I think you're going to need a great 2C as well and Hughes has that in Hischier and Bedard has.. well Jason Dickinson? Ryan Donato? I don't even know who is supposed to be a top 6 fwd for the Blackhawks right now.

This is one where I'm firm on a more information needed stance.

The raw talent between these two is insane - could you imagine them playing together? Hughes dipsy doodling through defenders, finding Bedard in high slot, who freezes everyone with a fake shot before sliding it back to Hughes backdoor....

 

[Deviled]

Jack Hughes at 19-20 was behind only Connor McDavid in neutral zone efficiency and zone entries/exits

Connor Bedard at 19, and likely 20, is/will be nowhere near top-3 in a single category of any single statistic

Jack's skating was and is more elite than Bedard's shot is and will be. Sorry but thems the facts

LoL
GGPZ

 

[BB88]

Relative to expectations perhaps, but Bedard's rookie season is still one of the best we've seen in a while.

And it was certainly better than Hughes's rookie and sophomore year.

Purely from the offensive standpoint?

His overall game (without the puck) was one of the worst in the league

 

[authentic]

Weight can be fickle though. He just doesn’t look like he has near the lower body strength out there that Crosby did.

He probably never will though

 

[Arthur Morgan]

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

wasnt mine originally, was allowed to restart this conversation. I thought it would be a good one to go over again.
I also lean towards Hughes but overall I dont think u can go wrong with either choice here

 

[Arthur Morgan]

He should've gone to the NCAA.

I dont think he woiuld have any thing to learn there too. Hughes was NHL ready but his body wasnt NHL ready

 

[AhosDatsyukian]

neither