GDT: 2019 IIHF World Championships - Slovakia (Bratislava/Kosice) - May 10th to 26th

[The Crypto Guy]

But you'd be "overjoyed" to miss out on Hughes?

To get Kakko? Yes

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

He wasnt on Kakkos level. Kakko has been the entire Finnish team over the first 2 games. And I wont be "overjoyed" to miss out on Kakko.

So because he isn’t on Kakko’s level for two games you’re going to be upset if we get Hughes? If you couldn’t see how dynamic of a player Hughes will be at the NHL level when watching him yesterday than I don’t know what to tell you.

The mental gymnastics on this website are amazing to behold sometimes.

I don’t think you have anything to worry about, for the reasons that have been mentioned countless times. But in the off chance that we get Hughes, it’s hard to think of a much better consolation prize in the NHL.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

So because he isn’t on Kakko’s level for two games you’re going to be upset if we get Hughes? If you couldn’t see how dynamic of a player Hughes will be at the NHL level when watching him yesterday than I don’t know what to tell you.

The mental gymnastics on this website are amazing to behold sometimes.

I don’t think you have anything to worry about, for the reasons that have been mentioned countless times. But in the off chance that we get Hughes, it’s hard to think of a much better consolation prize in the NHL.

Yes i would be upset if we didnt get Kakko. Hughes is still a great 2nd place.

 

[Cag29]

Right now, Kakko is playing so well that he's keeping New Jersey on their toes. I still think it makes more sense for Hughes to go to NJ, though. They need center depth and Hughes has connections already with Taylor Hall and Ray Shero outside of hockey. It'll be a tough decision, but if NJ were to take Kakko that leaves a glaring hole in center depth long term without a big name coming in.

Despite it all, the Rangers are still in great territory. Selecting Hughes or Kakko. Whichever it is, NYR still wins the draft!!

Ok. Can you imagine us freaking out over possibly drafting Jack Hughes. Lol. I do want KK. It’s crazy. Hughes is going to be a superstar. He was dishing the puck like Gretzky. He has wicked hands. And great speed. Thank God we are picking #2!

 

[Levitate]

I don't think the Devils HAVE to take Hughes for marketing purposes. I think that's just the old "lol devils have no fans!" rivalry thing we like to pretend matters. If they think Kakko really is better they'll probably take him. I do think the center vs wing issue will play a role, though. They have a star right winger at the moment that they're going to throw $$$ at to re-sign and another star center I think solidifies their lineup better.

 

[Joey Bones]

He wasnt on Kakkos level. Kakko has been the entire Finnish team over the first 2 games. And I wont be "overjoyed" to miss out on Kakko.

Bit of a dramatization, IMO. Hughes and Kakko both have their strengths and are both playing against pros (AND CONTRIBUTING) with their teams. Kakko has been dominant and Hughes has looked solid in his 1st game with USA. Both are incredible players with franchise altering abilities. The Rangers should be celebrated by whomever NJ doesn't take.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

It might be illogical but it’s not surprising. This board’s opinion of Kakko and Hughes would probably be different if we had won the 1st OA, my own included. Consequently the concern over the Devils taking Kakko is larger in our heads than in reality. This tournament probably has no bearing on the Devil’s choice.

Yeah, the way I see it is that if this tournament ends up being the determining factor in Kakko going #1, it means he and Hughes were extremely close to begin with, so we’re getting an A++ prospect either way

 

[eco's bones]

To me the anxiety is all up to the Devils and their fans. Whichever of Hughes/Kakko they take--we will take the other and I'll be fine with either. If one turns out better and it doesn't happen to be the guy the Devils took they're the ones that f***ed up.

 

[Cag29]

I am currently on my way to the train station to head back to Vienna. But I am sure the interview will show up somewhere on IIHF.com

Safe Travels. Thank you for updating us. And sharing your information!
LGR!

 

[Fitzy]

Bit of a dramatization, IMO. Hughes and Kakko both have their strengths and are both playing against pros (AND CONTRIBUTING) with their teams. Kakko has been dominant and Hughes has looked solid in his 1st game with USA. Both are incredible players with franchise altering abilities. The Rangers should be celebrated by whomever NJ doesn't take.

The best part is we don't have to make the decision so we won't have to worry about "Should we have chosen the other" for the next 10 years.

 

[JT Kreider]

The way it works in the NHL is the consensus #1 overall is determined a year, sometimes two (in the case of MacKinnon 4 years) out and GMs rarely stray away from that. The only one in recent memory to fall off is Nolan Patrick and that was due to injuries but it still was enough to get him drafted undeservedly ahead of Pettersson.

 

[Cag29]

Bit of a dramatization, IMO. Hughes and Kakko both have their strengths and are both playing against pros (AND CONTRIBUTING) with their teams. Kakko has been dominant and Hughes has looked solid in his 1st game with USA. Both are incredible players with franchise altering abilities. The Rangers should be celebrated by whomever NJ doesn't take.

I think most of us have put getting Hughes out of our minds and have already bonded with KK. Hughes is the almost unanimous 1St overall prospect the past 2 years. It should be a no brained for NJD. But to see how awesome KK is going to be as well we are freaking out at the possibility of not getting him.

 

[Fitzy]

The way it works in the NHL is the consensus #1 overall is determined a year, sometimes two (in the case of MacKinnon 4 years) out and GMs rarely stray away from that. The only one in recent memory to fall off is Nolan Patrick and that was due to injuries but it still was enough to get him drafted undeservedly ahead of Pettersson.

The last time before Patrick I remember it being at all in question was between Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin.

I don't remember if Nugent-Hopkins was a consensus top pick. There were some rumors about Hedman going over Tavares due to skating and positional needs of the Islanders.

 

[Leetch3]

Any video of Chytil’s goal?

 

[Joey Bones]

I think most of us have put getting Hughes out of our minds and have already bonded with KK. Hughes is the almost unanimous 1St overall prospect the past 2 years. It should be a no brained for NJD. But to see how awesome KK is going to be as well we are freaking out at the possibility of not getting him.

Yeah, I'm really not worried. The only way I'll be worried is they don't pick any of the two and pick say Podkolzin, but I seriously doubt that happens.

 

[JT Kreider]

The last time before Patrick I remember it being at all in question was between Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin.

I don't remember if Nugent-Hopkins was a consensus top pick. There were some rumors about Hedman going over Tavares due to skating and positional needs of the Islanders.

True about RNH. Larsson was actually getting the most hype (L4L campaign) but Nuge blew him out of the water in that draft year. The top 4 of them two and Huberdeau and Landeskog was all very close even all the way up to draft night.

 

[Irishguy42]

I still don't think the WC is going to push Kakko to 1OA, but it's hard to not think it might do it.

Well...I think Button will do it

 

[Joey Bones]

The last time before Patrick I remember it being at all in question was between Taylor Hall and Tyler Seguin.

I don't remember if Nugent-Hopkins was a consensus top pick. There were some rumors about Hedman going over Tavares due to skating and positional needs of the Islanders.

The 2011 draft had like five guys that could've gone 1st overall; Nugent-Hopkins, Landeskog, Huberdeau, Adam Larsson and Ryan Strome. At the time, I remember Larsson was the consensus No. 1.

Crazy to think the one that truly came away with a great career from that class is Kucherov....

 

[Fitzy]

The 2011 draft had like five guys that could've gone 1st overall; Nugent-Hopkins, Landeskog, Huberdeau, Adam Larsson and Ryan Strome. At the time, I remember Larsson was the consensus No. 1.

Crazy to think the one that truly came away with a great career from that class is Kucherov....

A lot of busts and disappointments throughout, though ZIbanejad and Couturier have taken their games to a higher level more recently.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

The Devils are gonna troll us.

 

[ReggieDunlop68]

I feel like Kakko is Evgeni Malkin and Hughes is Kane.

Which would you rather have prime Kane or prime Malkin?

Nailed it!

and Malkin.

 

[Maximus]

It’s a hilarious twist after everyone spending the season wringing their hands over not getting Hughes, now people are wringing their hands over getting him.

It's the most bizarre thing I've seen a long time but it's the reality of the situation.

I'd bet if we did a poll of our fanbase on who we'd take if we had the #1 overall pick, I'd say it would be 65-35 in favor of Kakko over Hughes.

Now that I think about it, if we did have the #1 overall, do you think Gorton would take Kakko over Hughes? I'd have to believe he would...thoughts?

 

[LeetchisGod]

Honestly, we are in a win-win situation, we can't lose in either scenario. One way or another we are getting a player we haven't had in forever. We should all be ecstatic. The season was more than worth it with what we will be getting.

Oddly I haven't heard a peep out the "anything can happen in the playoffs" crowd.

 

[aufheben]

Disagree.

Seriously? It was pretty noticeable to me.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Seriously? It was pretty noticeable to me.

You’re actually the first person i heard say that. Everyone is basically calling him the story of the tournament so far. (Yes i know just 2 days in lol). TSN has been gushing over his play over the 2 games, aside from ray who said he wasnt skating hard enough than he scored 2 goals the next period.