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

[GoAwayPanarin]

Kakko was probably their best player against Canada (Rajala maybe)

No doubt about it today. He was pretty dominant throughout

 

[Tawnos]

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

Quick: name those posters.

 

[EpicDing]

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

This a really weird thing to bring up in a year where the playoffs have played out the way they have to this point.

 

[aufheben]

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.

I’m not the only one who noticed it:

Kakko's feeling it

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I’m not the only one who noticed it:

This was meant to be a positive remark.

That was after a shift where he had a strong rush up ice and then proceeded to dominate along the walls.

 

[aufheben]

This was meant to be a positive remark.

That was after a shift where he had a strong rush up ice and then proceeded to dominate along the walls.

Why wouldn’t it be positive? All I said was he hasn’t dominated until the 2nd period today and was relatively quiet yesterday.

 

[LeetchisGod]

This a really weird thing to bring up in a year where the playoffs have played out the way they have to this point.

It's the perfect thing to bring up in a year when we finally have a chance to draft an elite player. The Cinderella teams will fall by the wayside soon enough.

 

[Levitate]

Pretty good play to win a puck battle, get the puck deep and go to the net and get the tip

 

[aufheben]

I agree he was Finland’s best player yesterday and obviously today. But dominating for this kid is when he’s straight up toying with the competition.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Someone said it yesterday and they're right. The Devils don't have the stones to take Kakko.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Someone said it yesterday and they're right. The Devils don't have the stones to take Kakko.

That was me.

I've said it like 30 times in the last week though.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

That was me.

I've said it like 30 times in the last week though.

“Shero doesn’t have the stones to take Kakko” is your “This is the best offseason ever”

 

[JT Kreider]

Someone said it yesterday and they're right. The Devils don't have the stones to take Kakko.

-American superstar to market around
-1/2 punch of Hischier and Hughes down the middle is too important to pass up
-Hughes' previous connection to Shero and Hall. This was enough to get Daniel Jones drafted 6th overall when he would have otherwise been a day two pick.

-Orrrrrr they think there's a good chance they'll lose be losing Hall next July and boom they have an immediate replacement in Kakko.

They also have a ton of cap space and this is a very important offseason for the Devils to show Hall they're for realsises so they will be going big-game hunting.

It definitely bears watching what happens with Panarin and Duchene. If Panarin signs an extension or (more likely) has his rights traded to Florida and signs with them, then that takes the biggest chance to fill a hole on the wing through UFA off the table and increases Kakko's value to NJ.

If Duchene signs with CBJ, then vice versa. The best available center is off the table and Hughes becomes a must for them.

All this ignoring the fact that the consensus #1 OA is determined a year+ out and it is very rare for GM's to go against that. The only times in recent memory the consensus top pick fell off was Nolan Patrick due to injuries and Adam Larsson due to RNH's historic draft year. And that was still enough to get Patrick undeservedly drafted ahead of Pettersson.

 

[and 99 others]

Someone said it yesterday and they're right. The Devils don't have the stones to take Kakko.

i'm all for ribbing the devils whenever possible but they took Hischier when Patrick was the consensus #1 overall

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

i'm all for ribbing the devils whenever possible but they took Hischier when Patrick was the consensus #1 overall

Wasn't consensus.

There was a pretty even split, if not slightly slanted towards Nico.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Kakko could step into the NHL right away and be a difference maker. He’s no McDavid obviously, but he’s just an excellent player.

I really think there’s an argument to be made he’d already be the second best forward on the roster as constructed today behind Mika.

 

[2Leetch_94]

That was me.

I've said it like 30 times in the last week though.

 

[Rongomania]

I still can’t believe it, I just feel like the day before the draft I’m going to get stuck in a Groundhog Day scenario.

 

[FinPanda]

Jalonen is such a good coach with young guys. Remember 2016 WJC? The whole country is lucky to have Jalonen as our coach, he just makes everyone a bit better than they really are. In 2011 WHC same happened with Mikael Granlund who scored a lacrosse goal in the semifinal lol.

It's not a huge surprise Kakko is carrying this team. It is a little surprise though.

 

[ganiseri]

Jalonen is such a good coach with young guys. Remember 2016 WJC? The whole country is lucky to have Jalonen as our coach, he just makes everyone a bit better than they really are. In 2011 WHC same happened with Mikael Granlund who scored a lacrosse goal in the semifinal lol.

It's not a huge surprise Kakko is carrying this team. It is a little surprise though.

I really hope he gets to coach NHL team someday. We never have the best team, but always end up in top 6.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

 

[zukeisgone]

Kreider playing with Eichel .....maybe a get to know you moment?

 

[Fugazy]

Kreider playing with Eichel .....maybe a get to know you moment?

I was thinking the same. Nice little trial run for them.

 

[Vitto79]

I was thinking the same. Nice little trial run for them.

Buffalo also has 2 firsts . Was 3 but dealt one for Montaur at the deadline

They have shown a willingness to deals 1sts ....gave one for Lehner a few years ago too

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Apparently Hughes has been invisible vs France today...yikes