Now I only check stats and the occasional highlight video on youtube, but aren't you selling him short? I mean it is not like he barely has outscored Matthews/Eichel/Keller at this age, so far he has annihilated them. The kid is at a 2.09ppg. That seems pretty outlandish, especially given that he is not big in stature.
I get that points can be misleading, since Keller had a far better ppg than Eichel his first season. But we are still talking about 1.31, which is not really comparable to 2.09.
Hughes also tore the WHC 17 apart based on stats. Will be interesting to see how he will adapt to U18. Keller did fine thou and he is the same height.
Look, he's dynamic and extremely exciting, but what it basically comes down to, is the fact Matthews and Eichel are the prototypical #1 centers you dream about at the top of the draft. Eichel's 6'2, skates like the wind, has a great shot, is very strong, and good vision. Matthews was 6'2, stocky, extremely strong on the puck, played a 200 foot game at a high level for his age, with a great release.
Hughes, on the other hand, is sub-6 foot and has a slight build. Look around the league, and find me a single number one center who is sub-6 foot and slight. Previously, the only guy in recent years was Giroux. There are good smaller top 6 centers such as Brayden Point and Tyler Johnson, but most elite number one centers are 6'1 or taller with a strong build. I see you've brought up Clayton Keller, Clayton Keller played center at the USNTDP level, but was moved quickly to the wing at the NCAA level (atleast moved there and back) and appears to be a winger at the NHL level. Mitch Marner was another guy who was moved between center and wing at the junior level. I also think Patrick Kane was used as a center at points in junior (even temporarily tried at the NHL level). It is very hard for guys who play that type of game and are of that size to be successful NHL centers. Due to how #1 centers are viewed in the cap-world (viewed as probably the most valuable piece to a team), and how wingers are valued in comparison, I would say would be the difference if they were in the same draft. Its very rare a team that is bad enough to draft 1st overall would prefer the winger over the center if it is viewed as close. Also realize, Matthews, broke his leg two games into his u-17 year.