Jack Hughes on pace to have worst rookie season by a 1st overall forward since Patrik Stefan in 1999

[Motte and Bailey]

Worst rookie season*

I have to admit I was shocked to find out he’s doing so poorly, he’s only on pace for 35 points even though he seems to be getting offensive zone starts, PP time, and top 6 line mates and lots of ice time. Did the Devils rush him? Is his development stunted? Will he be regarded as one of the worst 1st overall picks in the current era? The worst?

I get that he’s not a big kid but if you go down the list there were lots of guys who went 1st overall and weren’t big kids either yet still did a lot better than Jack is doing right now. Should he be sent down to the AHL?

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[DJB]

Total bust!



Is he not the smallest 1st overall pick in almost forever? Kid will be fine once he gets bigger and stronger.

 

[TrufleShufle]

I have to admit I was shocked to find out he’s doing so poorly, he’s only on pace for 35 points even though he seems to be getting offensive zone starts, PP time, and top 6 line mates and lots of ice time. Did the Devils rush him? Is his development stunted? Will he be regarded as one of the worst 1st overall picks in the current era? The worst?

I get that he’s not a big kid but if you go down the list there were lots of guys who went 1st overall and weren’t big kids either yet still did a lot better than Jack is doing right now. Should he be sent down to the AHL?

Yes easily the worst of all time. Makes Yak look like Gretzky. Now if we win the draft lottery again this year we all good? Everyone will understand last year didn't count and not give Devils crap about it?

 

[harmonica]

Yes easily the worst of all time. Makes Yak look like Gretzky. Now if we win the draft lottery again this year we all good? Everyone will understand last year didn't count and not give Devils crap about it?

It's literally and figuratively impossible to make Yak look like The Great One.

 

[Cheddabombs]

aww man

 

[trick9]

He shouldn't be in the NHL yet. Especially in a team like that.

 

[Motte and Bailey]

Total bust!



Is he not the smallest 1st overall pick in almost forever? Kid will be fine once he gets bigger and stronger.

Well Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Nico Hischier didn’t need that excuse, they were all about the same size and weight that Jack Hughes is at now and they dominated the NHL in their rookie years or at least doubled Jack Hughes’ production

 

[Nocashstyle]

This is incredibly over dramatic. “Will he be regarded as one of the worst 1st overall picks in the current era? The worst?” My God.

He’s the first player to ever jump directly from the US NTDP to the NHL. Of course there’s going to be a learning curve. The Devils are also competing with Detroit for being the worst team in the entire league game in game out. Literally no one looks good. The team looks beyond “bad,” they look incompetent. The environment he’s playing in is not exactly conducive to consistent production. If you’d actually watch some of his games you’d see he has shifts where he dominates and clearly has superstar potential. It’s all about gaining more experience and putting it together consistently.

 

[ijuka]

Well, at least we know his NHL-readiness was greatly exaggerated. Hopefully he at least scores more than Ekblad or Dahlin, otherwise it'd be a little embarrassing.

 

[mr figgles]

In his 2 games against the Flyers, he was the only Devil that stood out. He’ll be fine.

I guess you stopped at 99, because Lecavalier and Thornton were in 98 and 97. They didn’t get off to hot starts.

 

[Seanaconda]

Well Patrick Kane, Sidney Crosby, Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, and Nico Hischier didn’t need that excuse, they were all about the same size and weight that Jack Hughes is at now and they dominated the NHL in their rookie years or at least doubled Jack Hughes’ production

i feel like all those guys hit the nhl at 180 but where considerered small isnt hughes like 160

 

[Motte and Bailey]

Also, isn’t this the New Era of the NHL where size and weight doesn’t matter as much? Look at what 160 pound Pettersson did to the NHL last year, he was at a point per game in his rookie year! So no I don’t buy the excuse from fans that say he’s struggling because of his size, that’s total crap IMO

 

[blankall]

If you're going to compare him to overall seasons, an "on pace" comparison isn't really fair. You should look at the first 30 games of all 1st overalls. You probably want to limit that further by only looking at 1st overall selections that went immediately to the NHL. There's obviously some adjustment period of going straight from juniors to the NHL.

 

[Motte and Bailey]

i feel like all those guys hit the nhl at 180 but where considerered small isnt hughes like 160

Jack Hughes isn’t 160 he’s 170. That’s super close to what those other guys were entering the league.

Pat Kane was 162 pounds at his draft. He didn’t need that excuse so I don’t see why Jack Hughes needs it either.

 

[ijuka]

Total bust!



Is he not the smallest 1st overall pick in almost forever? Kid will be fine once he gets bigger and stronger.

Kane didn't have such issues... Even RNH who makes Hughes look like a bodybuilder did better.

 

[Seanaconda]

Jack Hughes isn’t 160 he’s 170. That’s super close to what those other guys were entering the league.

actually I googled and rnh was only 164 when he entered the league so it is weird he is playing so poorly

 

[WhiskeyYerTheDevils]

He's got a terrible on ice sh%. That will rebound and his numbers will accordingly.

 

[Mighty Makar]

He’ll be fine!

 

[TrufleShufle]

It's literally and figuratively impossible to make Yak look like The Great One.

Took me like two seconds, don't tell me something is not possible.

 

[Nemesis Prime]

Yes easily the worst of all time. Makes Yak look like Gretzky. Now if we win the draft lottery again this year we all good? Everyone will understand last year didn't count and not give Devils crap about it?

No

You're somehow doing worse than the Oilers lottery dynasty with actual NHL players.

 

[RoyIsALegend]

Imagine if his nightmare didn’t become a reality and if the Avs didn’t get screwed in the lottery again.

Hughes next to MacKinnon/Rantanen or Kadri/Landeskog.

Poor kid.

 

[VoidCreature]

These posts are always so hyperbolic. He’s off to a slow start, same as guys like Stamkos, Lecavalier, Thornton, and Tavares. Let’s see how he does in the second half of the season.

 

[KlefDown]

Kakko szn

 

[Tanknation]

Brahhh, Maybe it was Caufield that carried that line and NJ took the wrong pick. Sucks on NJ :p

 

[Motte and Bailey]

Took me like two seconds, don't tell me something is not possible.

View attachment 287407

I hate to be the one to tell you this but he still looks like Yakupov