Makar v Hughes

[10YearsHaveGotBehind]

Not sure why Bouch is being brought up in a Hughes v Makar thread. But Bouchard has been an outstanding player in the postseason.

thx to McDrai on the PP lmao. Anybody without oilers goggles knows Bouchard isn’t shit without those two.

Bouchard had 18 ESP last year in the playoffs (3rd best all time).

 

[Anthem]

I think a lot of the defensive metrics are skewed because of a lot of time playing in front of Thatcher Demko while Makar has spent seasons in front of 4giev. I am assuming you're talking about stuff like xCF, xGF, GF/60, and GA/60. All of these are fairly close and often skew a bit in the favor of Hughes. But again, any defensive metric that one can make an argument for Hughes in can be taken with a grain of salt due to Demko, in the same way that people have talked about Makar and his better skater teammates. I think it's closer than others might think. I am biased of course. But there is also something gamebreaking about Makar that no other defender currently has in the league.

Demko doesn't help with any of those metrics GA/60, and Demko hasn't played a minute this year.

The fact that you need to refer to "something gamebreaking" as this mystical quality Makar posesses makes me think you really just like him better and want it to be justified rather than just an opinion.

 

[Anthem]

Avs fans have never had anyone like Makar before, so they are happy
I imagine Canuck fans have never had anyone like Hughes before? So they are happy

Both are great, the league is better with them in it. I will always pick Makar (but I know I am bias on that), but just enjoy the show both of these gentlemen put on and I imagine they will be the front runners for the Norris for the next while at least

Except avs fans get the entire league and media constantly pumping up their guy as the "new orr" and Canucks fans get told Hughes isn't good.

It gets tiring when you listen to a podcast and the person talking has to preemptively qualify their praise of Hughes with "Obviously I think Cale Makar is the best defenseman in the NHL"

It's too bad Hughes and Makar weren't both playing for team Canada. That would be fun to watch.

Actually Imagine a PP of Makar - Hughes - Fox - Werenski - Josi

Or something like that.

Nah, better for Hughes that he gets to be the best player in a golden era for USA hockey.

That really is my prediction. Not just him, but him and his bros and Matthews and probably a few others. Quinn might be the best player on that roster. Top 2 if Matthews goes on a scoring tear.

 

[Erik Alfredsson]

Makar has not once shown he can do it without MacKinnon. Just saying. He's a great player no doubt, but it definitely helps sharing the ice with a top 2 player in the league.

 

[logan5]

Not sure why Bouch is being brought up in a Hughes v Makar thread. But Bouchard has been an outstanding player in the postseason.


Bouchard had 18 ESP last year in the playoffs (3rd best all time).

Hardly any of those points were with McDavid as well.

 

[Tralfamadore]

Except avs fans get the entire league and media constantly pumping up their guy as the "new orr" and Canucks fans get told Hughes isn't good.

It gets tiring when you listen to a podcast and the person talking has to preemptively qualify their praise of Hughes with "Obviously I think Cale Makar is the best defenseman in the NHL"


Nah, better for Hughes that he gets to be the best player in a golden era for USA hockey.

That really is my prediction. Not just him, but him and his bros and Matthews and probably a few others. Quinn might be the best player on that roster. Top 2 if Matthews goes on a scoring tear.

Omg you poor things.

 

[NOTENOUGHRYJOTHINGS]

Not sure why Bouch is being brought up in a Hughes v Makar thread. But Bouchard has been an outstanding player in the postseason.


Bouchard had 18 ESP last year in the playoffs (3rd best all time).

Taking into account era, even strength production, and advanced stats, Bouchard had arguably the best post season by a defender since Bobby Orr.

 

[McFlash97]

Except avs fans get the entire league and media constantly pumping up their guy as the "new orr" and Canucks fans get told Hughes isn't good.

It gets tiring when you listen to a podcast and the person talking has to preemptively qualify their praise of Hughes with "Obviously I think Cale Makar is the best defenseman in the NHL"


Nah, better for Hughes that he gets to be the best player in a golden era for USA hockey.

That really is my prediction. Not just him, but him and his bros and Matthews and probably a few others. Quinn might be the best player on that roster. Top 2 if Matthews goes on a scoring tear.

Ill go as far as to say Hughes is the best American born player in hockey in my opinion. Just a stud. However Makar still takes the cake for me. Hughes has to carry his team to the finals at least once to even stand a chance of winning a poll against Cale man

 

[SillyRabbit]

Taking into account era, even strength production, and advanced stats, Bouchard had arguably the best post season by a defender since Bobby Orr.

Weird thing to say in a thread about Cale Makar, who quite literally had a better post season just a few years ago.

 

[TruePowerSlave]

Both are the best two Dmen in the league. That being said I don't see the argument for Hughes, yet at least.

Makar has more hardware, more award nominations, more elite seasons and he has shown that his production does not dip in the playoffs. Hughes has not yet took over a playoff series while Makar has completely bossed three series so far (2022 Nashville, 2022 Edmonton and 2024 Winnipeg).

 

[John Mandalorian]

Demko doesn't help with any of those metrics GA/60, and Demko hasn't played a minute this year.

The fact that you need to refer to "something gamebreaking" as this mystical quality Makar posesses makes me think you really just like him better and want it to be justified rather than just an opinion.

Nevermind Demko. Georgiev has been the worst starter this year by far. He was one of the worst last year. Also, over the last three years, Makar has spent far more time on PK than Hughes.

 

[nowhereman]

Taking into account era, even strength production, and advanced stats, Bouchard had arguably the best post season by a defender since Bobby Orr.

What?! No... just no.

 

[logan5]

Ill go as far as to say Hughes is the best American born player in hockey in my opinion. Just a stud. However Makar still takes the cake for me. Hughes has to carry his team to the finals at least once to even stand a chance of winning a poll against Cale man

Yeah, that's why Bouchard should be considered better than Hughes.

 

[Chairman Maouth]

Ill go as far as to say Hughes is the best American born player in hockey in my opinion. Just a stud. However Makar still takes the cake for me. Hughes has to carry his team to the finals at least once to even stand a chance of winning a poll against Cale man

In Hughes's Calder-eligible year, he was a point per game in the playoffs. In 2024 Hughes was injured early in round one and still picked up 10 points in 13 games.

The Canucks never disclosed the injury but it was almost certainly cracked or bruised ribs. You can pinpoint the play where it happened. Afterwards, he lost a lot of the mobility he's so famous for.

 

[HeadLiceHatty]

I’d take Hughes off durability and I think he’s better defensively. Makar has the hardware but he wouldn’t have done the same thing if he was in Vancouver imo, Hughes is doing what he does with less. Both are great though and the top dogs.

 

[Spilot23]

I’d take Hughes off durability and I think he’s better defensively. Makar has the hardware but he wouldn’t have done the same thing if he was in Vancouver imo, Hughes is doing what he does with less. Both are great though and the top dogs.

How do we know? It's always the "what if" excuses when someone gets hardwares or accomplishments like if it was easy to do so as a dman getting Norris, Conn Smythe and Stanley Cup the same year. Hell I will say that if Matheson was playing in Colorado he would've already won a Norris I guess.

 

[Tralfamadore]

Head to head matchup tonight. Hughes can't hang with this guy.

 

[Spilot23]

Head to head matchup tonight. Hughes can't hang with this guy.

Yup close this poll we have our answer !