Analysis: Roope Hintz Is More Elite Than You Think, But There’s A Catch

I’ll come clean. I didn’t see the emergence of Roope Hintz coming. Not when contrasted with the 2019-2020 season. Sure, I knew all the reasons why my amateur gut could be lying. There was the minimal ice time, being juggled around the lineup (a lot), and Rick Bowness’ more dump than chase system. But 23 is kind of old in prospect years. Over an 82-game season, Hintz was on pace for 45 points that year: excellent for a first(ish)-year player but that’s pretty meh if we’re talking Dallas’ future number one center. To go from 45 points to 85, over a full season, would require a Wallace-like glow up.