Player Discussion Quinn Hughes, Pt. VII

[sting101]

Would be easier to accept if he wasn't so allergic to going to the inside
Needs to attack the net once in awhile

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Would be easier to accept if he wasn't so allergic to going to the inside

I think its pretty easy accept considering he point per game...

 

[sting101]

I think its pretty easy accept considering he point per game...

for 7.8 million i guess im expecting a bit more than a PP specialist that is a excellent passer and open ice skater. His defensive zone coverage has been poor as has his penalty killing and has played way to casual and perimeter. His hockey card stats are not much different than Tyson Barrie and his 5v5 numbers are no better than OEL.Has the worst XGA of any of our PKers

Hughes is a terrific talent and probably has a injury that is taking some zip off his shots and making him allergic to contact but he's not immune to criticism as nothing has been officially reported and lots of our players are playing banged up. When i watch smaller D like Spurgeon and Gryzcek they dont have issues getting stuck in and battling hard his size is not an excuse for lack of engagement

The last couple games he's looked better to me and hopefully he works through some of the issues he's having. Being more aggressive and disciplined in coverage and less predictable with his release on his shot would put him in the category i think most of us expect given his talents.

For the record i'm being a little antagonistic because i think he has more to offer and needs to set the tone now, he's young but not a rookie anymore it's year 4 and he's 23 and he openly discussed being a leader at the closing meetings to last years disappointing season. With almost 10% of our cap he has to be an impact player for most of his minutes

Him and Pettersson have the talents to change games. Petey is starting to do his part and we've seen how the complexion of this team instantly changes when he's playing at his best. Maybe it's just a matter of getting through an ailment....i hope so

 

[RutherPlan]

this entire play and skating is what Bobby Orr looked like in his prime.

 

[mathonwy]

for 7.8 million i guess im expecting a bit more than a PP specialist that is a excellent passer and open ice skater. His defensive zone coverage has been poor as has his penalty killing and has played way to casual and perimeter. His hockey card stats are not much different than Tyson Barrie and his 5v5 numbers are no better than OEL.Has the worst XGA of any of our PKers

Hughes is a terrific talent and probably has a injury that is taking some zip off his shots and making him allergic to contact but he's not immune to criticism as nothing has been officially reported and lots of our players are playing banged up. When i watch smaller D like Spurgeon and Gryzcek they dont have issues getting stuck in and battling hard his size is not an excuse for lack of engagement

The last couple games he's looked better to me and hopefully he works through some of the issues he's having. Being more aggressive and disciplined in coverage and less predictable with his release on his shot would put him in the category i think most of us expect given his talents.

For the record i'm being a little antagonistic because i think he has more to offer and needs to set the tone now, he's young but not a rookie anymore it's year 4 and he's 23 and he openly discussed being a leader at the closing meetings to last years disappointing season. With almost 10% of our cap he has to be an impact player for most of his minutes

Him and Pettersson have the talents to change games. Petey is starting to do his part and we've seen how the complexion of this team instantly changes when he's playing at his best. Maybe it's just a matter of getting through an ailment....i hope so

Yer not being antagonstic.

Yer calling a spade a spade.

QH43 has been very underwhelming this season.

Sloppy play. Doing barely enough. Just not fully engaged.

Which is symptomatic of a player that wants out and why there was a segment of posters that was ok with trading him.

He scored a goal last game. Yay. Lets see what happens next game.

 

[im gangster]

Yer not being antagonstic.

Yer calling a spade a spade.

QH43 has been very underwhelming this season.

Sloppy play. Doing barely enough. Just not fully engaged.

Which is symptomatic of a player that wants out and why there was a segment of posters that was ok with trading him.

He scored a goal last game. Yay. Lets see what happens next game.

I’m still ok with him moving on if it benefits us properly. I don’t believe in him being the best D on a Cup winner.

 

[CanucksSayEh]

Huggy starting to look like Huggy again.

If him and JT can get rolling... look out. It was around this time last year they really took off. Goalies need to just hang on for a bit, and Demko's gotta be at least average upon return.

Bear has been good. Real nice surprise, I wanted nothing to do with him. Dermott almost back, means no Stillman etc...

 

[PuckMunchkin]

Yer not being antagonstic.

Yer calling a spade a spade.

QH43 has been very underwhelming this season.

Sloppy play. Doing barely enough. Just not fully engaged.

Which is symptomatic of a player that wants out and why there was a segment of posters that was ok with trading him.

He scored a goal last game. Yay. Lets see what happens next game.

The goal I really dont care about.

Did you notice his skating tho?

He looks to have his skating back now.

 

[Raistlin]

Its been 5 games since his goal, Quinn is back to his pedestrian self. I gawked at management not including him as untouchable, but I can see why if he doesnt take the next step the way EP did this year. I can argue his performance is even more important than EP for this club, he should play around 25 mins a night given his talent, but his defensive IQ hasnt improved that much that justifies his 1D billing. He has more to give, that game against SJ has to happen every other game for him to be discussed in the same breath as 2022 EP, and against better competition.

Seeing Dahlin take the next step this year is a positive, if his defensive deficiencies are to continue, he has to be top 3-5 in scoring on D to compensate. Even then, he's still not keeping up with the Fox/Makar/Dahlin's tier. Expectations for him is high and justifiable given his contract (and bloodline).

How much of his C+ level evaluation can be attributed to the execution of his teammates this year? and how much of it is due to his own performance?

 

[nucksflailtogether]

Its been 5 games since his goal, Quinn is back to his pedestrian self. I gawked at management not including him as untouchable, but I can see why if he doesnt take the next step the way EP did this year. I can argue his performance is even more important than EP for this club, he should play around 25 mins a night given his talent, but his defensive IQ hasnt improved that much that justifies his 1D billing. He has more to give, that game against SJ has to happen every other game for him to be discussed in the same breath as 2022 EP, and against better competition.

Seeing Dahlin take the next step this year is a positive, if his defensive deficiencies are to continue, he has to be top 3-5 in scoring on D to compensate. Even then, he's still not keeping up with the Fox/Makar/Dahlin's tier. Expectations for him is high and justifiable given his contract (and bloodline).

How much of his C+ level evaluation can be attributed to the execution of his teammates this year? and how much of it is due to his own performance?

I think it's been his best stretch of the season. Goals would be nice but we know the issues with his shot. His game has been much better and he meshed well with Bear the last few games.

 

[Slapshot_11]

If management was smart theyd try to trade hughes while he still is young and viewed highly

You're not gonna go anywhere with this guy in the playoffs making 8m who needs someone to cover his ass in the d zone

 

[MS]

It's weird.

I don't think his play has really been any different than last year (and far, far better than 20-21) but people seem to be really angry about him this year.

I think it's more that hopes of unlimited Norris potential are disappearing as Hughes gets into his mid-20s and his ceiling is being cemented at basically what he is now as a smaller poor man's Erik Karlsson without much of a shot ... which is hardly bad.

 

[nucksflailtogether]

It's weird.

I don't think his play has really been any different than last year (and far, far better than 20-21) but people seem to be really angry about him this year.

I think it's more that hopes of unlimited Norris potential are disappearing as Hughes gets into his mid-20s and his ceiling is being cemented at basically what he is now as a smaller poor man's Erik Karlsson without much of a shot ... which is hardly bad.

I dunno man he looked terrible on that opening road trip and not that great in many games since. He seemed to have lost some confidence and ability and I highly suspect a lingering injury dating back to that first game in Edmonton, either that high stick or even maybe lingering illness that almost made him sit. These days, he looks pretty good minus the odd gaffe which he does need to reduce but also, he plays on a tire fire team and its going to stand out much more.

Lets also factor in how good and bad goaltending affects the team and the confidence they play with.

 

[LaVal]

I saw a post the other day that was condescendingly comparing him to Phil Housley, as if having the 4th highest scoring defensemen of all time would somehow be a bad thing.

 

[MS]

I dunno man he looked terrible on that opening road trip and not that great in many games since. He seemed to have lost some confidence and ability and I highly suspect a lingering injury dating back to that first game in Edmonton, either that high stick or even maybe lingering illness that almost made him sit. These days, he looks pretty good minus the odd gaffe which he does need to reduce but also, he plays on a tire fire team and its going to stand out much more.

Lets also factor in how good and bad goaltending affects the team and the confidence they play with.

He struggled on that initial road trip but I think he's been quite good since then. I've been commenting on all the stuff people are complaining about for years. I don't think any of it has changed but people just ignore it when the player is a Golden Boy in his first couple seasons.

If anything, I think his defensive play has actually improved this season, and this Hughes-Bear pairing is getting terrific results.

 

[strattonius]

I think most of you are trippin' hard on Hughes and I assume it's because of such a poor season from the Canucks that he's now getting caught in the crossfire of a mediocre season.

The guy skates around on an island and has no consistency in a defensive partner - his main partner is an average bottom pairing defenseman who he's basically propped up to look like a great add for a contender this trade deadline.

Easily the best defenseman on this team and I wouldn't regret saying the best defender too. He's a one man breakout. If he gets to a puck first he can usually skate it out..a truly incredible talent. But we're sitting here talking about his average shot and 1 goal, ignoring his 40 assists or whatever.

No player is immune to criticism but if you find yourself blaming Hughes for this team's struggles, you have truly lost the plot.

 

[nucksflailtogether]

I think most of you are trippin' hard on Hughes and I assume it's because of such a poor season from the Canucks that he's now getting caught in the crossfire of a mediocre season.

The guy skates around on an island and has no consistency in a defensive partner - his main partner is an average bottom pairing defenseman who he's basically propped up to look like a great add for a contender this trade deadline.

Easily the best defenseman on this team and I wouldn't regret saying the best defender too. He's a one man breakout. If he gets to a puck first he can usually skate it out..a truly incredible talent. But we're sitting here talking about his average shot and 1 goal, ignoring his 40 assists or whatever.

No player is immune to criticism but if you find yourself blaming Hughes for this team's struggles, you have truly lost the plot.

Agreed. He's not the real problem here. Players go through ups and downs. Its just too bad we can never get Petey, Hughes and Demko firing on all cylinders at the same time. That would've honestly made for a good season right there.

 

[Slapshot_11]

You'll never win in the playoffs with this guy as your #1

Had a glimpse of it during the bubble where he clearly couldn't take the increased physicality

 

[CanucksSayEh]

You'll never win in the playoffs with this guy as your #1

Had a glimpse of it during the bubble where he clearly couldn't take the increased physicality

He was ppg on a team playing rope a dope, and like 12 years old. The only time since 2011 the team has won in the playoffs is with him as the #1.

Hughes doesn't stop the team from getting other good Dmen, It's not like he gatekeeps the top pairing. Give him a good partner, and 2nd pairing, and for sure you can win with that.

 

[Shareefruck]

I recall Hughes taking a significant step forward defensively early last year, but reverting back to his usual self after that, and he hasn't gotten back to that since.

 

[rypper]

If our Defense wasn't so barren and unreliable we might not have to play him 40 minutes a night and I'm sure it would help his overall play.

@Slapshot_11 I gotta question if you even watched the bubble playoffs because Hughes was dynamite.

 

[MarkusNaslund19]

It's weird.

I don't think his play has really been any different than last year (and far, far better than 20-21) but people seem to be really angry about him this year.

I think it's more that hopes of unlimited Norris potential are disappearing as Hughes gets into his mid-20s and his ceiling is being cemented at basically what he is now as a smaller poor man's Erik Karlsson without much of a shot ... which is hardly bad.

Disagree. And I'm deadset against trading him unless it's a haul (like Nemec, Mercer, 1st +, which won't happen).
But he hasn't been himself most of the year. It's not that he's playing terribly and context of no protection and poor team D needs to be considered. But he's missing that audacity.

I think it's clear he's been hurt a lot of the year. He's picked it up, for the most part, since the Oilers' game around Christmas. But prior to that, he did smart things with the puck, but it didn't seem like he wanted the puck, and he wasn't challenging guys like he does when he's feeling like himself.

But people who are down on him and want to deal him will look as dumb as they did in 2021, and as dumb as they did last year calling for EP to be traded.

 

[F A N]

It's weird.

I don't think his play has really been any different than last year (and far, far better than 20-21) but people seem to be really angry about him this year.

I think it's more that hopes of unlimited Norris potential are disappearing as Hughes gets into his mid-20s and his ceiling is being cemented at basically what he is now as a smaller poor man's Erik Karlsson without much of a shot ... which is hardly bad.

Well he has been bad on the PK.

But ya I think Hughes is a difference maker worth what we're paying him to be. I've mentioned this before, we shouldn't just be looking to improve the defense. We should be looking to find the best partner for Hughes. Whether that is a stud Dman or a Malik/Lachance to the Jovo type.

 

[Javaman]

What are the odds that Hughes gets more points than Miller over the next 4 seasons?

 

[rypper]

What are the odds that Hughes gets more points than Miller over the next 4 seasons?

I think if they both stay healthy Miller will come out on top, but it'll be close. Like say 300-280. (just an estimate.)