While I thank you for this random hockey knowledge during our hockey drought. I must inform you, i meant this season, their first Rangers seasons. Take away their careers and ages and just focus on them during the game. No analytics.

I agree, Howden is projected to be more valuable than McKegg, fewer games, younger, ceiling, yada yada

But from what I've witnessed from watching live on tv or at msg, i can tell McKegg can skate well, good at puck handling, nothing crazy, but he's just a Tanner Glass type.

We gave shit up to get Howden, I'm not expecting the world his first season in from him, just something that'll draw attention to him. Hopefully positive.

If you want to look at players closer in age and nhl experience or time played, we can look at Chytil and Kakko. Yes the number 2 overall is expected to play better than Howden. Truth is though. Kakko is 3 years younger and I could already tell the type of talent he has and what he could turn into if things go good.

Chytil is only one year younger and has had more professional experience, he was even sent down, took it like a champ, came back and was immediately noticable. Fizzled out after his return a bit... but you can see the skills he has and you can see what they can become.

I can tell Kakko needs more speed and strength. Bulk up a bit. Needs to pick shooting opportunities better. He needs to realize hes more important to this team than Quinn and not worry about being benched. (Not a shot at Quinn, wasnt on the fire him or keep him trains either, just wanna see how things go). Kakko shows signs of what he can become. Chytil needs more consistency and confidence, you can tell when he isnt confident. Kakko isnt inconsistent but he needs more confidence and hockey IQ needs to adjust to NA.

Howden, I cant tell if he excels at one area better than another, or what hes even good at. Our faceoffs suck up and down, so I wont say that, I havent seen his speed often if at all, I think McKegg is more fast. His passing or puck handling (idk, I guess what youd expect from an NHLer, like the bare minimum skill that all these players have. Take the shittiest player in the NHL (goons for fighting only aside) and theyll probably run circles around you.

Tanner Glass can play hockey than the majority of us. Let that sink in lol.

So back to Howden, hes scored goals everytime I walked out of the room or couldnt watch the game. The replays are cool highlight stuff but missing it in action, its hard to see everything going on. Puck movement, body direction, eye movement. Shit like that.

I know certain players take a long time to reach their potential and others show signs right away. Howden (to me) hasn't shown much. Will he grow, what's he good at... cant answer these. Hopefully Howden can by his actions on the ice over the next few years.

Tl:DR- This season and only this season, Howden is a ghost compared to McKegg. Couldn't tell you Howdens strengths or weaknesses by watching him. Couldnt even tell you when hes on the ice until they're already talking about him getting off the ice.

Lol.