Has Quinn Hughes been underwhelming since his rookie season?

[Vakarte]

Only a few seasons ago in 2020, Cale Makar and Quinn Hughes used to be a legitimate conversation on who's better. Fast forward 2 seasons and Makar has achieved his potential by becoming a franchise-changing talent who helped push his team to the Stanley Cup.

Quinn Hughes on the other hand hasn't had much luck as his teams continue to miss the playoffs. His production especially defensively has declined since his rookie year.

This has continued this year as the Canucks are having a disastrous season with Hughes struggling on defense.

For a guy who looked to be a perennial Norris-trophy contending D Man for years to come, he's low-key underachieved amongst expectations.

Click to read more...

 

[njdevil26]

So underwhelming you're going to have to trade him to New Jersey for way less now.

 

[TheDawnOfANewTage]

I feel like I’ve recently seen a young defenseman come out from under a bad management/coach situation to really excel. As a Buffalo fan I can’t quite pinpoint that point of positivity, though.

Sometimes a change of scenery means getting rid of the already-dead dinosaurs occupying the front offices.

 

[Doug Prishpreed]

Another Tyler Myers?

 

[Tufted Titmouse]

No, he's a star. Harder to appreciate players when the team is struggling.

 

[Vakarte]

I feel like I’ve recently seen a young defenseman come out from under a bad management/coach situation to really excel. As a Buffalo fan I can’t quite pinpoint that point of positivity, though.

Sometimes a change of scenery means getting rid of the already-dead dinosaurs occupying the front offices.

Or maybe Hughes can play better when next to teammates that are trying to cover up his mistakes on his own end.

This is correct.

He is better than Makar and always has been. If they traded places all would see.

Hughes has Miller, Horvat, Petey, etc., and needs more help?

That doesn't sound good for a star player.

 

[GeeoffBrown]

He has 14 pts in 12 games. Can't really ask for more production from the blueline.

Have you considered that maybe the Canucks are a poorly constructed team and that's why they miss the playoffs?

 

[Vakarte]

He has 14 pts in 12 games. Can't really ask for more production from the blueline.

Have you considered that maybe the Canucks are a poorly constructed team and that's why they miss the playoffs?

Are those points leading to anything if he can't defend to save his life + his team is always losing?

 

[Breakers]

LOL
His best season was last season
-He finished top 10 in defenseman scoring
-Improved his defense

There goes that theory

 

[Josepho]

He was underwhelming in 2021, and really good (better than in his rookie season) last year.

This year he was obviously hurt in the first few games and has been adequate since. Too soon to say.

 

[Sparty]

Are we just gonna act like he wasn't always a defensive liability? Don't feel like he's any better or worse now than he was, his team is just performing worse.

 

[Mrb1p]

Hughes shouldve been a winger. Hes good at breaking out and transition play... the rest is errr... hes very good on the PP but his lack of shooting talent and willingness to shoot holds him back from being a truly elite D.

 

[CupofOil]

He's surrounded by shit. He was at his best when partnered with Tanev and Canucks management has done nothing but botch the defense since Tanev departed while on the other hand, Sakic has done a masterful job of building that defense and supporting Makar. Not that Hughes is Makar but environment means a lot for young Dman development.

 

[Sparty]

Quinn Hughes on the other hand hasn't had much luck as his teams continue to miss the playoffs. His production especially defensively has declined since his rookie year.

I don't know where to find these advanced stats, but are there stats that show his defense has truly declined? I didn't think it was ever very good, but is it truly getting worse?

 

[Breakers]

I don't know where to find these advanced stats, but are there stats that show his defense has truly declined? I didn't think it was ever very good, but is it truly getting worse?

They aren’t

His defensive efficiency was better last season than it was with Tanev

 

[Nikki Potnick]

This is correct.

He is better than Makar and always has been. If they traded places all would see.

 

[LemonSauceD]

Hughes as he gets older will get better defensively. He’s not a complete liability out there, but because he’s undersized, he gets out muscled a lot near the boards and becomes ineffective against an aggressive 3-1-1 forechecking team. When his passing lanes are clogged, he starts to scramble and then tries to do too much.

He’s gotten a point in every game he’s played in, and historically speaking, he’s up there with all time defensemans in assists at his age. He’s truly a playmaking defenseman.

Only Bobby Orr, Paul Coffey, Brian Leetch, and Denis Potvin have more assists at his age.

 

[Zubrus Coffee Maker]

just because a player doesn’t match Cale Makar’s development path, it doesn’t make them underwhelming.

Hughes is a great player, and he’s still improving. He just turned 23 a month ago and is over Ppg as a defenseman

 

[Bgav]

Yeah great job OP. It’s really his fault the team is complete shit. Literally has to do everything for the Canucks backend lmao.

 

[GeeoffBrown]

Hughes shouldve been a winger. Hes good at breaking out and transition play... the rest is errr... hes very good on the PP but his lack of shooting talent and willingness to shoot holds him back from being a truly elite D.

It's becoming a trend where defensemen are tasked with driving the offense. It's not that long ago where a 65 point season was an elite offensive effort from a d-man, now these kids like Makar and Fox are pushing 100. So, maybe you're thinking about it wrong and defense IS the new wing.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I'd love to see Makar...or Fox...or any other top young d-man on the Canucks and see how they fare.

 

[Burnaby Schmo]

Not at all. There's no team system and whatever PP coach is running right now isn't utilizing his lateral motion like prior seasons. He'd just effortlessly glide along the blue line and juke out the lead defenders and get off crisp passes to open lanes. Once they go back to what worked, he'll be fine.

 

[Mrb1p]

It's becoming a trend where defensemen are tasked with driving the offense. It's not that long ago where a 65 point season was an elite offensive effort from a d-man, now these kids like Makar and Fox are pushing 100. So, maybe you're thinking about it wrong and defense IS the new wing.

Makar and Hughes have nothing in common. Makar can both defend and play offense, yes he pushes the pace high, but he can hold his own end. Hughes mostly can't and gets bottled up often.

Also theres just the fact that Makar is just flat out better offensively.

 

[Canuck Luck]

Lmao clearly hughes must have done something to the op looking at some of his responses

 

[CascadiaPuck]

Quinn Hughes is not the problem.

The quality of literally every other defenseman on the Canucks is.