Hughes is playing better hockey at 20 the Barrie has ever played and is one pace for more points than Barrie has ever scored in a season. He's 4th in the league in scoring among defensemen and straight-up dominating games -- again, as a 20-year-old rookie. Barrie doesn't come close to replacing him.Pettersson.
It's easier to find a Tyson Barrie to cover most of what Hughes does than to find a point-per-game #1 center.
2017 2018 2019
Since Pettersson's draft there has been 3 other dmen on Hughes' level or tier. Surprisingly the generational dmen has performed the least
Meanwhile there has not been 0 centerman on Pettersson's level
Hughes is playing better hockey at 20 the Barrie has ever played and is one pace for more points than Barrie has ever scored in a season. He's 4th in the league in scoring among defensemen and straight-up dominating games -- again, as a 20-year-old rookie. Barrie doesn't come close to replacing him.
I understand this point and kind of agree with your points. But the Sedin's fed off soft minutes too.He's also generating a negative goal differential at ES from soft minutes with our top skill players.
He's been great offensively but is still a work in progress defensively. And yes, his 22 points on the PP are easier to replace at a cheaper price than a #1 center.
This is not criticizing Hughes. At all. Again, to me your #1 center is the most important building block on your team. And as we've seen from Boeser and Pettersson ... sometimes the gleam does come off a bit in years 2-3.
A while back we had a shit ton of elite centermen go in the draft. Recently we've had Dahlin/Makar/Hughes. But a while back we had all these guys go one after another.
2013 - MacKinnon (lock for Hart finalist this year)
2013 - Barkov (IMO Selke finalist)
2014 - Draisaitl (lock Art Ross finalist)
2014 - Point
2015 - McDavid (Hart + 2x Art Ross + 2x Ted Lindsay)
2015 - Jack Eichel
2016 - Matthews (Potential Richard winner)
In fact, Pettersson has been riding Miller's coattails for much of this year, it's Miller who drives possession on that line, he wins battles in his zone, he carries the puck through the neutral zone with speed, he creates turnovers on the forecheck, he protects the puck and makes plays under pressure. Pettersson can make plays and he can finish, but he struggles to drive possession.
I understand different opinions on projections for the future, but anyone who thinks it's Pettersson this year is blind or delusional.
You don't believe point belongs? Point did score 41 last year and put up 92 points and the year before he had a killer playoffs. I do believe he is the weakest out of those listed.Point does not belong
Jones, Werenski, McAvoy, Chabot, Hamilton, Rielly
You don't believe point belongs? Point did score 41 last year and put up 92 points and the year before he had a killer playoffs. I do believe he is the weakest out of those listed.
As for Jones/Werenksi/McAvoy/Hamilton/Rielly/Chabot.
I wouldn't take any one of those over MacKinnon/McDavid/Eichel/Matthews/Barkov/Draisaitl. I wouldn't even blink. That center group is much better than that defense pool.
Hey look! We have both! Sweet
He’s completely right and preferring a #1 center over a #1 defender is not controversial at all. Neither are that Hughes being sheltered and a large part of his contribution comes on the PP.
MS understands more about hockey than the vast majority of people in this board. Hell, you’re a great example why I rarely bother to post here.
As for the actual thread, no idea yet. Young players tend to have mountains and valleys at the beginning of their careers. I prefer legit #1 defensemen since they are incredibly rare. Hughes will have a difficult time developing his defensive game due to size limitations. If he can learn pick stripping skills from Tanev then he can take another step. As it is, he isn’t an actual #1 guy and I have a very hard time believing he will be.
Pettersson.
Anyone voting Hughes will look as dumb as declaring Boeser a franchise elite perennial 40 goal scorer in his rookie season
I took Hughes for reasons I stated above.Hamilton statistically was having the best season for dmen in the entire league
If you take those centermen easily, then Pettersson is also an easy vote