It’s also important to note Hughes started playing in the NHL at 18 years old. He was basically thrusted into the line up and hasn’t had the normal developmental curve like other defenseman his age.
Has Quinn Hughes been underwhelming since his rookie season?
- Thread starter Vakarte
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Tralfamadore
Don't Panic.
- Sep 25, 2011
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Hughes is great and not at all underwhelming he was just a little overrated by Van fans for a bit. Him and Makar were very comparable in their rookie seasons. Makar just took a bigger leap forward in development and also has the advantage of playing on a much better team.
Are you referring to his 5 game stint in 2019 because he was 19 when he began his full rookie year in the 2019/20 season.
Are you referring to his 5 game stint in 2019 because he was 19 when he began his full rookie year in the 2019/20 season.
dirtydanglez
Registered User
- Oct 30, 2022
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quinn hughes was only ever close to makars level if you ignore defense.
Huh? He was 19 1/2 when he started playing in the NHL down the stretch in the final 5 games of the 2018-2019 season and turned 20 by game 10 of his career.
On the one hand, I'm sure actually watching the Canucks would help inform those who think Quinn Hughes is the problem. On the other hand, there are so many better uses of time.
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
He's over a point per game and has been close to that mark his entire career, and is playing 25 minutes a game. It's extremely rare for a defenseman to be at that level at age 23.
Yes he's disappointing if you're comparing his career arc to Makar, whose career so far is in more of a conversation with guys like Bourque and Karlsson than anyone currently in the league. If you compare Hughes to any other defenseman, his career looks pretty damn good so far.
Yes he's disappointing if you're comparing his career arc to Makar, whose career so far is in more of a conversation with guys like Bourque and Karlsson than anyone currently in the league. If you compare Hughes to any other defenseman, his career looks pretty damn good so far.
The Great Weal
Phil's Pizza
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So you say he's well surrounded with Horvat, Pettey, and Boeser, yet you say he's bad defensively. Unless those three players play RHD, you are making no sense. The guy has had shit D partners since Tanev left.
Artorius Horus T
sincerety
174 career assists in 234 career games
0.75 assists per game...
dude is only 23.
Makar 190 assists in 246 games
0.77 assists per game.
both stats includes play-offs
0.75 assists per game...
dude is only 23.
Makar 190 assists in 246 games
0.77 assists per game.
both stats includes play-offs
Not true, he started at 19 after returning to college for his D+1 season. His first full season was his 20yo season. Makar played two full seasons in college after being drafted and started in the NHL when he was 21, so Hughes did start a year earlier than Makar and Fox, respective to age.
Makar only exceeded a ppg last year, and if Hughes does it this year, I wouldn't abandon putting Hughes in a column beside Makar for comparison's sake.
Hughes has scored at the same pace as Adam Fox while being 1.5 years younger than Fox at each respective point. The Fox/Makar/Hughes conversation never ended imo. Careers are long and Hughes will have his chance to show everyone a thing or two (that is, if his own brother doesn't beat him to it!)
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Svencouver
Registered User
I think "Defenseman that succeeds as a defenseman should play a completely different position" is the most consistently dumb and goofy argument I see on the website
fsanford
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Are these posts a result of a more instant gratification culture?
tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
1) Some players are just way better at playmaking than shooting. It is what it is.
2) Hughes is 23 years old. Only on extremely rare occasions (Orr, Bourque, Karlsson, Makar) is a 23-year-old D considered "truly elite". When he was 23, Nicklas Lidstrom got a Norris vote -- one vote -- for the first time in his career. Hedman just barely started hinting at his potential at this age. There's no reason whatsoever to think a defenseman is not going to be elite in the future just because he's not there at 23.
He has plenty of time. Add several more years of physical and mental development, and you've got an entirely different caliber of player.
Svencouver
Registered User
Hughes has been pretty impressive when making plays on his own. He has a ridiculous hockey IQ and arguably top 5 skating in the league that he leverages in all situations. It's hard to expect more than individual playmaking and puckmoving when you have consistently been on a team with no structure, piss-poor defensive coaching, and have been playing with Luke Schenn as your partner for the past 2 years (and, yes, he is actually probably the best RHD the Canucks have had since Tanev left).
I would say his only obvious weakness is his shot, but he facilitates so much and creates so many goals that it really doesn't matter that much? The PP has been the least of the Canucks problems.
I would say his only obvious weakness is his shot, but he facilitates so much and creates so many goals that it really doesn't matter that much? The PP has been the least of the Canucks problems.
Add to the fact that the only possibly comparisons one has to critique Hughes against happen to be the best defensemen of all time.
Has more to do with his inability to defend than anything else. Absolutely elite offensively, phenomenal skater, one of the worst d-men in his own zone
Tralfamadore
Don't Panic.
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Having seen Ray Bourque's entire career yes Quinn Hughes is under whelming in comparison.
Compared to anyone else Quinn Hughes is very good. He came into a much worse situation than Makar and at every age has been BETTER than Makar. Hughes is a year younger and in a much worse development situation.
But much like when Martin Skoula was better to start his career than the Sedins we will see who comes out on top after an entire career.
Compared to anyone else Quinn Hughes is very good. He came into a much worse situation than Makar and at every age has been BETTER than Makar. Hughes is a year younger and in a much worse development situation.
But much like when Martin Skoula was better to start his career than the Sedins we will see who comes out on top after an entire career.
Don’t really think it’s fair to compare quinn to makar who might go down as better than bobby orr
