I really don't get the argument saying that Hischier is better than Barzal because he "drives possession"

Barzal has killed Hischier in both Corsi% and Fenwick% so far in their careers
- jimbo83

Yeah Barzal is better right now but they're both still developing so we'll see how it shakes out.

Yeah Barzal is better right now but they're both still developing so we'll see how it shakes out.
- willschulme

I mean, I don't even care that someone thinks Hischier is better than Barzal, but don't base your belief on "drives possession" when Barzal has proven to drive possession a lot better so far in their careers, it's silly

McDavid, Matthews, Eichel, Aho, Barzal.

Honorable to Petterson, Hischier, PLD and Strome (finally came around).

The separation between a lot of these guys isn't much at all and I'd be fine in the order changing a bit.
- lonnyBohonos

Has Strome really been that good? Genuinely asking

I really don't get the argument saying that Hischier is better than Barzal because he "drives possession"

Barzal has killed Hischier in both Corsi% and Fenwick% so far in their careers
- jimbo83

Hate to agree with you but... yeah right now I would.

Nico is younger (2017 vs. 2015 draft class) so in a couple years things could change. I think Nico is a great two way player and is arguably better defensively... Neither Corsi or Fenwick account for that.

Hate to agree with you but... yeah right now I would.

Nico is younger (2017 vs. 2015 draft class) so in a couple years things could change. I think Nico is a great two way player and is arguably better defensively... Neither Corsi or Fenwick account for that.
- Queenie_5_hole

Does an 85 and 62 point season count?

Cmon Tanner. Hughes at 3?

McDavid
Matthews
Petterson
Eichel
Barzal
Aho

I have Matthews and McDavid in the top tier as generational talents and the next four guys as franchise players.

Does an 85 and 62 point season count?
- ClaudeFather

Offensively.

They’re both on the list over Aho too. Unbelievable
- potvin05

yes - rather ridiculous actually

proven performers Barzal, Aho, etc...

dumb to suggest that a untest rookie is better...

Has Strome really been that good? Genuinely asking
- willschulme

Once he got to Chicago he put up 51 pts in 58 games playing with Debrincat. I'd say he's bottom of that list today but he's finally starting to live up to his draft position. Just needed some minutes on the ice, who would've figured.

I really don't get the argument saying that Hischier is better than Barzal because he "drives possession"

Barzal has killed Hischier in both Corsi% and Fenwick% so far in their careers
- jimbo83

The main thing he referenced was the 5v5 scoring but Im not sure what Barzal’s was relative to Hischier. Personally I’d think Barzal would be higher but I’ll admit I havent seen Hischier play a lot.

Does an 85 and 62 point season count?
- ClaudeFather

It's certainly more impressive right now, which is what should matter for this list.

I would like to point out though, that Barzal produced those numbers at 20 and 21 I think? He's 22 now. Hishier is only 20 now and already has two NHL seasons. His numbers are less spectacular, but he's only now at the age where Barzal had his 85 point season. So we'll see how Hishier does this year.

At least Hishier has played in the NHL already, unlike Tanner's pick lol. Although Barzal or Aho and maybe even a few others deserve a spot here before either Hishier or Hughes.

Personally, I think both writers purposesly chose controversial picks to be different from other generic lists like this and to create more discussion.
One guy gets mad their player was snubbed for one of the guys on the list, and then someone else defends their player being on there, and the conversation goes from there. It's a beautiful strategy if they don't mind some angry posts aimed at them lol.

Another interesting question perhap is of these young centres who will be the first to win a Stanley Cup. I'm guessing most will say Mathews.

No Barzal? Haha, ok, sure.
- potvin05

18 goals and 62 points last year. Meh

I mean, you're not wrong, and I agree that he should be #2 on the list, but how about some context for the bolded part?
- jmatchett383

Isn't that better context than "He only hit 70 points once".
Matthews' 5 on 5 numbers are by far the best in the NHL. He plays less than all his peers.

Cmon Tanner. Hughes at 3?

McDavid
Matthews
Petterson
Eichel
Barzal
Aho

I have Matthews and McDavid in the top tier as generational talents and the next four guys as franchise players.
- Itsjustarash

McDavid is the generational talent. The others aren't in the same category at this point, if at all.. .

Whoever puts Hughes and Hischier above Aho thinks far too highly of these two, especially given the fact that we have seen Hischier at the NHL level. Aho has been 100% better than him and there is no doubt about that. It is hard to argue for or against Hughes as he has no NHL experience, but Aho is an unbelievable talent.

I mean, I don't even care that someone thinks Hischier is better than Barzal, but don't base your belief on "drives possession" when Barzal has proven to drive possession a lot better so far in their careers, it's silly
- jimbo83

I don't know the numbers for each, but the point of making the distinction of "driving possession" would be qualifying it compared to the rest of his team. So, if Hischier out-possessed his opponents at a greater rate than his team without him and Barzal didn't, then that would be the distinction to make.

This isn't to say I believe this would make a valid point as linemate and usage contexts need to factor in to such an evaluation, but this is to explain why a raw Corsi or Fenwick comparison doesn't prove Barzal drives possession better.

Isn't that better context than "He only hit 70 points once".
Matthews' 5 on 5 numbers are by far the best in the NHL. He plays less than all his peers.
- RogerRoeper

And that's fine. But he's using 33-year-old AO as opposed to 22-year-old AO. It's (not really) like saying in 1999 that Paul Kariya has outscored all-time goal leader Wayne Gretzky.

Hughes??? what a macaroon Tanner is.

No Barzal? Haha, ok, sure.
- potvin05

It's certainly more impressive right now, which is what should matter for this list.

I would like to point out though, that Barzal produced those numbers at 20 and 21 I think? He's 22 now. Hishier is only 20 now and already has two NHL seasons. His numbers are less spectacular, but he's only now at the age where Barzal had his 85 point season. So we'll see how Hishier does this year.

At least Hishier has played in the NHL already, unlike Tanner's pick lol. Although Barzal or Aho and maybe even a few others deserve a spot here before either Hishier or Hughes.

Personally, I think both writers purposesly chose controversial picks to be different from other generic lists like this and to create more discussion.
One guy gets mad their player was snubbed for one of the guys on the list, and then someone else defends their player being on there, and the conversation goes from there. It's a beautiful strategy if they don't mind some angry posts aimed at them lol.
- Thecakeisalie

Hischier is being compared to players like Bergeron and Datsyuk! It’s not a stretch to include him on this list by any means.

Shockingly, every response reads as “I really think the center that wears the sweater of the team I root for should be on this list! Whaaaaa!!”

Hischier is being compared to players like Bergeron and Datsyuk! It’s not a stretch to include him on this list by any means.

Shockingly, every response reads as “I really think the center that wears the sweater of the team I root for should be on this list! Whaaaaa!!”
- ShoresideDevil

I think that Barzal is better than Hischier

look what team I root for

I have no dog in this fight

I really like Dubois. I think he’s going to be a force in the near future.

Petterson is good and was injured (concussion) and is a smaller center. Eichel has trended up for 3 years. Not sure about all the discussion about Hughes, article is about the best centers in the NHL, not college or juniors. The biggest error is not including Aho. He is a stud and plays both ways. Like Barzal but not in same discussion as Aho.

Another interesting question perhap is of these young centres who will be the first to win a Stanley Cup. I'm guessing most will say Mathews.
- HamiltonHawk

Did you hear about a trade?