RW Kaapo Kakko - TPS, Liiga (2019 Draft) Part 2

[Blade Paradigm]

every.single.post

you microanalyze every single game he plays with useless analytics or stats like you're gonna convince people that he is inferior to Kakko. they both have great bodies of work, can't we just admit that and stop all the ****posting?

I primarily use my own visual observations of player's games in order to assess their play.

My observations from the single game he played in this tournament:

What? What were you watching?

He did very little all game, had a weak rush at the side of the net early in the game, had a weak backhand shot that was going wide anyway, lunged at the opposing player in his own zone and blew his team's coverage, leading to a near-goal for the Slovaks; he, Wahlstrom and Farabee were getting in each other's way all game; in the second period, he was contained one-on-one and then slid into the corner hard; on numerous rushes, he had the puck taken off of his stick by the opponent; he took a weak shot from point-blank that was snagged by the Slovak goaltender; he whiffed on a chance and then got smashed into the boards late in the game; he never really controlled the puck for any notable amount of time and had a couple of shifts where he skated around the perimeter.

Is that first-overall material to you?

I've watched many of his games from last season's USNTDP schedule, last year's U18 Worlds, this year's USNTDP schedule, the World Junior Summer Showcase, and now this year's World Juniors.

After every critique, I find people saying "don't judge by one game."

People have been saying this after numerous critiques. If people are expecting him to play any better, I think they'll be disappointed. I find it ridiculous that some can be so defensive of Hughes that they would discard any critique of his games in order to preserve this notion that he is infallible. His game is one-dimensional and full of holes.

You can find comments about his previous performances here: C Jack Hughes - USNTDP (2019 Draft) Part II

Additionally, reviews from his game against Team Czech Republic last week:

Jack Hughes - Jack Hughes overall had a disapointing game. While his skill level was evident with the way he skates and how incredibly agile he is when he is skating, I thought he through to many passes in pointless spots, and tried to do a bit to much himself. He was actually falling off as the game went on, and overall had a tough test. That being said, I am not worried what so ever, I think over time in the tourney he will figure it out and be a solid part of USA.
4/10

 

[Hansen]

That’s kind of harsh. There are born and raised Americans who can’t speak English.

Many of whom play in the NHL

 

[kroypuck]

I primarily use my own visual observations of player's games in order to assess their play.

My observations from the single game he played in this tournament:

I've watched many of his games from last season's USNTDP schedule, last year's U18 Worlds, this year's USNTDP schedule, the World Junior Summer Showcase, and now this year's World Juniors.

After every critique, I find people saying "don't judge by one game."

People have been saying this after numerous critiques. If people are expecting him to play any better, I think they'll be disappointed. I find it ridiculous that some can be so defensive of Hughes that they would discard any critique of his games in order to preserve this notion that he is infallible. His game is one-dimensional and full of holes.

You can find comments about his previous performances here: C Jack Hughes - USNTDP (2019 Draft) Part II

Additionally, reviews from his game against Team Czech Republic last week:

I don't disagree that there are glaring issues with his game, especially defensively. Every person who watches him play at all knows this. That's clearly not why teams would draft him.

If they want a complete player, draft Kakko. But no one in this draft see's the ice like Hughes does offensively and for that he is in a class of his own.

Your obsession with Hughes not succeeding is what is strange. Almost every post is a slight to him somehow. Honestly what is your agenda here?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I primarily use my own visual observations of player's games in order to assess their play.

My observations from the single game he played in this tournament:

I've watched many of his games from last season's USNTDP schedule, last year's U18 Worlds, this year's USNTDP schedule, the World Junior Summer Showcase, and now this year's World Juniors.

After every critique, I find people saying "don't judge by one game."

People have been saying this after numerous critiques. If people are expecting him to play any better, I think they'll be disappointed. I find it ridiculous that some can be so defensive of Hughes that they would discard any critique of his games in order to preserve this notion that he is infallible. His game is one-dimensional and full of holes.

You can find comments about his previous performances here: C Jack Hughes - USNTDP (2019 Draft) Part II

Additionally, reviews from his game against Team Czech Republic last week:

Now you’re citing HF Boards posters after an exhibition game?

 

[Rabid Ranger]

I don't disagree that there are glaring issues with his game, especially defensively. Every person who watches him play at all knows this. That's clearly not why teams would draft him.

If they want a complete player, draft Kakko. But no one in this draft see's the ice like Hughes does offensively and for that he is in a class of his own.

Your obsession with Hughes not succeeding is what is strange. Almost every post is a slight to him somehow. Honestly what is your agenda here?

The only agenda is stubbornness. You see it time and time again on this site. Someone has a contrarian view and goes all in.

 

[CLW]

The only agenda is stubbornness. You see it time and time all in this site. Someone has a contrarian view and goes all in.

At least they make valid and interesting points supporting their point of view. I like people who think for themselves thank you very much. Shouting down opposing views based on nothing but Appeal to Authority is a logically flawed argument and irrelevant.

In this case: Jack Hughes/Kakko/A.N.Other deserves to go first overall because he is the best prospect, not because the most number of scouts says he is the best prospect. There is a difference in those two arguments. This is why all good scouting teams have a thorough discussion on all prospects to make sure their individual bias is not clouding their judgement and to make sure some other views challenge or supplement their own perception. This is being open minded to avoid mistakes.

 

[LOFIN]

Has Kakko ever mentioned his own preference between C or W?

Before the tournament, he said he'd prefer wing at this point because it means he gets to do more offense instead of defensive duties that come with being a C.

 

[fr9dd9]

I don't disagree that there are glaring issues with his game, especially defensively. Every person who watches him play at all knows this. That's clearly not why teams would draft him.

If they want a complete player, draft Kakko. But no one in this draft see's the ice like Hughes does offensively and for that he is in a class of his own.

Your obsession with Hughes not succeeding is what is strange. Almost every post is a slight to him somehow. Honestly what is your agenda here?

I think the agenda is pretty clear, but I can tell you my agenda. Hughes is THE #1, he just is. NO matther how bad start of this season hes had? HUGHES THE #1. I see swedish jounalist putting Jack hughest as the #1 spot in hes top 10 players of the tournament where as kakko dont even made the top 10. The agenda to me is that media makes fkn jack hughest better then he is. I love people bashing on him every signle time there is a chanse. I might have a totaly different agenda but get him anyhow.

 

[Star Ocean]

Why is hughes so good anyway? His stats are good but not fantastic wow

 

[kings11]

Why is hughes so good anyway? His stats are good but not fantastic wow

He’s also played in over 200 games the last two seasons prior to this one so what’s he’s doing is pretty amazing considering the amount of fatigue he must be dealing with!

 

[TimeZone]

He’s also played in over 200 games the last two seasons prior to this one so what’s he’s doing is pretty amazing considering the amount of fatigue he must be dealing with!

He hasn't. EliteProspects doesn't list games properly.

 

[kings11]

He hasn't. EliteProspects doesn't list games properly.

He has guy, try using another website and you’ll be he played in different tourneys and it added up to 100 games per season the last two years

 

[fr9dd9]

He has guy, try using another website and you’ll be he played in different tourneys and it added up to 100 games per season the last two years

In that age I dont see that being such bad thing, Laine did the same in hes draftyear and he just got better and better as the season went on, maybe thats what kakko should do aswell.

 

[kings11]

In that age I dont see that being such bad thing, Laine did the same in hes draftyear and he just got better and better as the season went on, maybe thats what kakko should do aswell.

The obvious difference the size of Hughes whose likely 160lbs soaking wet! Alone, Kakko, Matthews even Eichel were man-childs for their draft years

 

[TimeZone]

He has guy, try using another website and you’ll be he played in different tourneys and it added up to 100 games per season the last two years

...you said 200.

 

[Plub]

Why is hughes so good anyway? His stats are good but not fantastic wow

Just watch him play. It's pretty clear he's the most dynamic player in the draft.

 

[ijuka]

Just watch him play. It's pretty clear he's the most dynamic player in the draft.

He's always looked good vs kids, though. I'd like to see him play against adults. WJC-20s doesn't really matter to me at all for him, his ability vs teenagers hasn't been in question.

If he participates at WHCs in the spring, that'll be far more interesting.

 

[kings11]

...you said 200.

100x2=200... geez buddy

 

[mphmiles]

He's always looked good vs kids, though. I'd like to see him play against adults. WJC-20s doesn't really matter to me at all for him, his ability vs teenagers hasn't been in question.

If he participates at WHCs in the spring, that'll be far more interesting.

He regularly plays against 20-24 yr olds vs. NCAA opponents.

 

[TimeZone]

100x2=200... geez buddy

I misread your post. Not that it really matters. EliteProspects lists separate categories for games that are one in the same, not sure which other source to use for the statistics from the wacky USHL.

Unless of course you're using his midget statistics as well, which would mean you're using statistics from over the course of three seasons. Lots of kids play a boatload of games in Midget here, so that's nothing absurd.

 

[kings11]

I misread your post. Not that it really matters. EliteProspects lists separate categories for games that are one in the same, not sure which other source to use for the statistics from the wacky USHL.

Unless of course you're using his midget statistics as well, which would mean you're using statistics from over the course of three seasons. Lots of kids play a boatload of games in Midget here, so that's nothing absurd.

Im pretty sure it wasn’t midget. I brought it up because another poster mentioned it and I though it was a mistake until I researched it and sure enough his two prior seasons he’s played in almost 210 games.. USDP U17 & U18 and other tourney play

 

[kelsier]

Ahokas for whatever reason doesn't trust him nor Lundell. No matter the fact they were able to produce the most offence in the first games and Kakko getting elected as the best player against USA despite being held off the score sheets. Along with this coaches' other weaknesses, age prejudicism doesn't seem to be excluded from this list. Should we exclude the OT, I think his TOI would look something like 14+ min vs CAN. That with the whopping 13:30 from the USA game is such a joke and people who wonder how the team is only able to combine 3 scored goals from the 2 past games, ha. The team's best forward suddenly in all quietness gets cast off to the sides as the tournament progresses. Doubt this has much to do with how the scouts view him since they are educated enough to count such aspects in. Nonetheless, can only imagine if Ahokas was holding the reigns in the 2016 with the Laine - Aho - Puljujärvi trio watching the crucial moments from the sidelines and having K. Kapanen play 20+ min a game.

Kakko might have some actual chance to play in the WHC just like Laine in the 2016 which would provide some serious entertainment. With the way Ahokas is running his line Kakko might have just been better staying home playing FEL, but well, there's nothing much you can do about that. At least he gets some valuable small ice experience if nothing else.

 

[TimeZone]

Im pretty sure it wasn’t midget. I brought it up because another poster mentioned it and I though it was a mistake until I researched it and sure enough his two prior seasons he’s played in almost 210 games.. USDP U17 & U18 and other tourney play

He played Minor Midget Hockey in the 2016-2017 Season with the Toronto Marlboros.

 

[Blade Paradigm]

Just watch him play. It's pretty clear he's the most dynamic player in the draft.

He is certainly dynamic, but power is necessary for any player to get to the inside of the ice. Jack has speed and good puck control in tight, but without power, he will lose some of his ability to find space. Unlike Johnny Gaudreau and Patrick Kane, he isn't the most shifty player from a standstill; rather, he uses his speed going up the ice to attack. He is already quite often impeded by defenders, and his rush game will be hampered further in the NHL. Even Connor McDavid, who could just split the opposing defense in the CHL with ease, can not do so with any regularity in the NHL.

Additionally, he is still far too risky with the puck. He gives it away as often as he does anything useful with it, and he isn't a threat to score with his shot. All of his offense comes from the outside, and he doesn't possess much of a cycle game.

He needs finishers on his line, unlike Connor McDavid. Connor can make things happen on his own; Jack can only get the puck past the blue line and hope that his teammates can put the puck in the net.

He has a very limited arsenal. In the NHL, his most likely role will be that of a puck-rushing, pure playmaker.

You also need to be careful with the word "dynamic." Sometimes, the dynamic player isn't the best player. This is not a direct comparison, but it serves as a warning about favoring dynamic, one-dimensional offensive players over everyone else.

 

[Jussi]

He's looked a little tired the past two games. The Canada game was his weakest in the tournament. Kupari-Heponiemi-Talvitie played much better and deserved their icetime.