Nico Hischier vs Jack Hughes

[BowDownToVasilevskiy]

Both first overall picks for the New Jersey Devils. Who is the better player now and who will the better player in 3 years?

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[TheNeutralPresident]

Hischier has the major advantage atm of course but Hughes has the potential. Tough to say one will be better than the other since Jack is still an unknown but if I could vote I'd go Hughes in 3 years.

 

[LuckyBoeser]

Hischier is certainly the better player now and the safer option moving forward imo. Hughes has loads of skills but Hischier is more well rounded. They'll make a good center tandem as Hughes matures as a player and become more efficient at even strength.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Hischier now, Hischier in the future.

I wasn’t a big fan of either prior to them getting to the NHL. I think I had Hischier properly rated and the Devils didn’t, but he’s developing well in the NHL and probably will be better than I thought.

 

[Voight]

Hischier now, Hischier in the future.

I wasn’t a big fan of either prior to them getting to the NHL. I think I had Hischier properly rated and the Devils didn’t, but he’s developing well in the NHL and probably will be better than I thought.

He was the easy pick at #1 IMO.

In hindsight Heiskanen looks fantastic but at the time it was really between Hischier & Patrick, good for the Devils that did not pick the injury prone prospect.

 

[NJ DevLolz]

Hischier now, Hischier in the future.

I wasn’t a big fan of either prior to them getting to the NHL. I think I had Hischier properly rated and the Devils didn’t, but he’s developing well in the NHL and probably will be better than I thought.

You the man!

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He was the easy pick at #1 IMO.

In hindsight Heiskanen looks fantastic but at the time it was really between Hischier & Patrick, good for the Devils that did not pick the injury prone prospect.

Some had Pettersson 1OA, and some had Patrick 1OA. He wasn't an easy 1OA. He probably was actually the least easy 1OA in recent memory. In the past five drafts, that was the only draft I remember where the 1OA wasn't known or pretty clear who it would be entering draft week.

It's not a terrible outcome to get the 4th-5th best player a few years after the draft with the first pick, but I think when you are drafting 1OA, you should have a lot higher expectations that your pick ends up the best player than if you are drafting 2nd or 3rd. You control the outcome at 1. You don't control it afterwards, and often times at 1, there's a gap between 1OA and the rest. I don't agree with your stance that he was the easy 1OA, but if we take your stance at face value, shouldn't there be less leeway in accepting the 4th-5th best player if you got the easy pick for 1OA?

 

[Nabrules]

Pretty easily Jack Hughes in the Future. Hischier is better right now but he wasn't very good this year either.

 

[devils1119]

Nico now and Nico in 3 years, more of a testament to his game than a knock on Hughes’ progression. I think in ~5 years they’ll be considered 1A and 1B on the Devils depth chart as opposed to a clear cut 1 and 2, with Nico having solidified himself as one of the better two way centers in the game, while Jack really begins hitting his stride and starts living up to that 1,1 potential. Not to say he won’t progress between now and then, but I do think he’s a few more years away from being a true force in this league.

Will be interesting to see who the Devils walk away from this draft with...the possibility of slotting a finisher like Holtz on Jack’s wing is mouth watering...

 

[Rowlet]

Hisch now, but I like Jack's potential a little better, also having Quinn could expedite their growth.

 

[slapKing]

Voted for the 2nd option. Nico is the better player now, but I expect Hughes to be the better player in the future. His ceiling is higher.

 

[Hockeyholic]

Definitely a major drop in talent going from the 2015 (McDavid) & 2016 (Matthews) draft, to the 2017 (Nico) & 2019 (Hughes) draft. I guess I'll take Hughes. But both are unlikely to be top ten players in the league.

 

[mynamejeff420]

I was already saying Hischier over Hughes prior to this season because Nico had such a strong start to his career, and I don't think people realize just how good he is, but after Hughes' rough start to his career I don't think it's even a question anymore, Hischier 100% over Hughes at the moment, and likely going forward too, because Jack has a lot of catching up to do if he wants to reach Nico's level.

 

[ESH]

Some had Pettersson 1OA, and some had Patrick 1OA. He wasn't an easy 1OA. He probably was actually the least easy 1OA in recent memory. In the past five drafts, that was the only draft I remember where the 1OA wasn't known or pretty clear who it would be entering draft week.

It's not a terrible outcome to get the 4th-5th best player a few years after the draft with the first pick, but I think when you are drafting 1OA, you should have a lot higher expectations that your pick ends up the best player than if you are drafting 2nd or 3rd. You control the outcome at 1. You don't control it afterwards, and often times at 1, there's a gap between 1OA and the rest. I don't agree with your stance that he was the easy 1OA, but if we take your stance at face value, shouldn't there be less leeway in accepting the 4th-5th best player if you got the easy pick for 1OA?

I don’t remember anyone saying Pettersson should go 1st. He went even higher than he was ranked on most lists

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Obviously Hischier is better now that shouldn’t even be a part of the poll. In 3 years I’m gonna go Hughes but maybe Hischier will surprise

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

I don’t remember anyone saying Pettersson should go 1st. He went even higher than he was ranked on most lists

Go read the threads from back in his draft year. There was a vocal minority that listed him first.

 

[bobholly39]

Voted for the 2nd option. Nico is the better player now, but I expect Hughes to be the better player in the future. His ceiling is higher.

Same here. Heavily influenced by the hype around him though - we'll see if it pans out. I didn't get to see him much this year.

 

[LuckyBoeser]

I don’t remember anyone saying Pettersson should go 1st. He went even higher than he was ranked on most lists

There certainly was a minority that had Pettersson ranked 1st heading into the draft.

 

[Tutu to]

Prior to the start of the season I thought Hughes would struggle this year. That being said I think it’s crazy that some people are giving up on him so early.

 

[Stephen]

Pretty easily Jack Hughes in the Future. Hischier is better right now but he wasn't very good this year either.

Well, Hischier did outscore Hughes 52 to 21 as rookies. Extrapolate Hughes' numbers across 82 games that's still only 28 points.

I voted Hischier now, Hughes in the future, but wouldn't be surprised if Hischier just stayed on top.

 

[CanadienShark]

I prefer Hischier's game and he's shown better in the NHL as a rookie, and continued to perform after. I'll take Hischier. Hughes has huge offensive potential, but I think Hischier could become a highly skilled, dominant two way centre. Not Datsyuk good, but in that mould.

 

[CatchyTune]

Hischier now, Hughes in 3 years.

I think Hischier tops out as a 70ish point elite 2-way C, while Hughes will me more of an offensive player. Its too early to tell but I could see him being a 90+ point player, whether that be as a C or a winger.

I think they will both be 1st line quality very soon. But New Jersey does need to get them some offensive talent to play with. I dont think Miles Wood, Travis Zajac, and Joey Anderson are ideal top 6 forwards.

 

[Pitaya]

Definitely a major drop in talent going from the 2015 (McDavid) & 2016 (Matthews) draft, to the 2017 (Nico) & 2019 (Hughes) draft. I guess I'll take Hughes. But both are unlikely to be top ten players in the league.

Jack has Art Ross potential

The kid was a top-5 skater in the league for zone entries at 18 and had Wayne Simmonds and Miles Wood as his primary linemates.

He will explode in the next few years

 

[Nocashstyle]

Hughes' perceived offensive ceiling is through the roof (90+ points). He had a rough year for sure, but so did literally everyone on the Devils not named Blackwood or Gusev (save for the first 10/15 games or so). This extended offseason might be the best thing for Hughes as far as physical development. I'm hopeful he can comeback next season more experienced and with some added weight.

Nico is clearly the better player right now and not finished developing either. A realistic hope for Nico is to become a 65/70 point two way C that gets some Selke votes. I wouldn't be shocked if Nico hits a peak with a PPG season or two, but I'm not making that an expectation.

Nico now, Hughes in three years.