I repeat that Kakko is a brilliant prospect. I am also quite able to agree with Jack Hughes' consensus status as the #1 prospect in the 2019 draft without falsely putting down Kakko. I am also quite able to laud both Jack Hughes and Kappo Kakko without putting the fans down who prefer Kakko.
I did not "bring this to the Kappo topic", I was actually quoted by a writer on this thread. I felt the need to respond to this writer, who was very cool about the entire debate -- he steered away from the type of baseless vitriol I am dealing with currently. I respect his opinion and the opinion of all Kakko fans since, as a draft/prospect writer who appreciates great talent, I am also a Kakko fan. What I wish to stress is that Kappo Kakko has all the makings of an elite hockey player, and Jack Hughes has all the makings of an elite hockey player. Both will be stars. Their stardom will be fun to watch when they play head-to-head, much like Connor McDavid and Jack Eichel or Auston Matthews and Patrick Laine. Players drafted 1/2 always share that type of connection to each other in peoples' eyes.
In a sense, you disrespect Kakko with your constant baseless insulting of Hughes. If Hughes is so mediocre, then why have the dozens of scouts which compromise the ISS and McKeen's and Future Considerations all agreed on him as the consensus #1 over Kakko? Why have all the major draft writers (any of whom would garner thousands of hits simply by ranking Kakko #1 and creating a controversy where none had existed) ranked Kakko as #2 behind a small, flawed player with a "notoriously famous muffin of a shot"? Is Kakko so bad that dozens of experts cannot risk putting him ahead of such a flawed risk as Hughes?
In fact, it's the opposite. Both Hughes and Kakko stand atop a very strong top 10 in the 2019 draft. And the word fact is important here. The opposite of a fact would be, for instance, "top speed can be taught". While skating speed can be improved, there has simply never been a case of a player with average to pretty good speed on the day they were drafted evolve into an elite skater. Thus, this would not qualify as a fact.
You stated you "are not sure in which world all the reporters and scouts are living in" for ranking Hughes first overall. Well, as someone who lives in that world, I assure you that both Jack Hughes and Kappo Kakko are elite prospects worthy of our admiration and undeserving of baseless, fabricated insults. As someone who lives in that world, I assure you that a Ranger fan or Kappo Kakko fan who gushes over Kakko's elite talents will get nothing but emphatic agreement from us. And hopefully we can all learn to live in a world where someone with the prevailing, consensus opinion does not need to face vitriol and aggressive conjecture from someone holding a dissenting opinion simply because they disagree with us.
The most common thing people say around here when they are trying elevate one prospect over the other (who they favour for whatever reason) is praising the particular player in question, yet there's always the "but" that follows. Here you presented the perfect case example while over-applauding Hughes and his "over-the-moon" skills and slotting him to another tier entirely than Kakko, which is absurd all things and data considered. Which is why there's no reason for me to analyze the second paragraph, since of course you would say all these things now that Kakko has pulled some leverage thanks to his performance in the WHC and enforcing your initial argument of his inferiority would only put you into bad light. However it does not matter who brought you in, since he's not responsible for your analysis. You could have just fixed the misunderstanding and leave it to that after all.
Ha, you're now trying to turn the tables with some kind of agenda of making me a culprit for "insulting" Hughes? Now tell me, how again did I insult him? I've said he's a great player followed up by applauding his overall skill set - for being ~equal level with Kakko. Then I pointed out where his weaknesses are, which indeed do exist without me over exaggerating and I can point these out with good conscience. No one is perfect at this age. Not having size & strength that an average 1st overall has isn't his fault. Also I mentioned his shot and defensive play needing a lot of work moving forward - more so than Kakko's. Now if you call that insulting then all I can really say is maybe you are a little too sensitive. Nonetheless you did try to turn the tables here without any proper cause which was completely unnecessary and out of line. It wasn't Hughes I was after but your rather, lets just say unearthly projections along with the logic, which now looks like something drawn from alternative reality I was disputing - and still do.
Now as for the entire 1st and 2nd overall debate goes. Sportsnet actually had Kakko as #1 in March so it hasn't even been consensus from the very beginning up until today. Only after leaving out the U18s WHJC and Hughes having a great tournament (and Kakko not playing hockey at all) they reversed the order (afaik). I suppose many of those scouting agencies have already revealed their final lists, which is a pity because the WHC has much bigger impact than tournaments involving kids (everyone and their pets know these two can dominate against their age peers). At the end of the day we are looking right back at Bob's survey and the fact that these very same professionals called the gap razor thing which is exact opposite of what you're trying to declare yourself. Also lets not pretend that history nor nationality doesn't matter, nor the fact that most agencies probably wanting to have their lists go according to mock draft and we're all aware of the ties the Hughes family has to New Jersey Devils. Nevertheless, at the end of the day it boils down to this (couldn't have said it any better):
Hughes has been built up as The diamond of US hockey program for the last three or four years. It matters because the image of him being the next number one pick, and future superstar is imprinted on peoples minds. And because of this it is hard, if not impossible for Kakko to overtake him, no matter how well he plays in this tournament.
Still it's difficult to fathom that someone who should have some sort of an expertise at this area, has entirely different picture or should I say setup in his mind where Hughes stands alone at his throne without no one knowing on the door - which you initially suggested where one didn't even have to read between the lines. Yet he's being outplayed as we speak. Oh well, each to their own I suppose.
Erm, I never claimed Kakko would surpass Hughes in skating so again you misinterpreted or assumed something that wasn't there. Have you looked at Barkov lately for instance? He wasn't near as good of skater at the same age as Kakko is today, yet he's turned into great skater in just a few years. Kakko's top speed isn't even bad, it's actually quite good for someone his age/size. So why should we assume Kakko couldn't find anymore gear to his skates? If you look at his early season (which I'm not sure you have outside of the highlights) he wasn't even near as fast as he is today. He's taken a small leap forward already within just one season. Logically we can only assume that he will find more strides in the coming years and what comes to overall skating, it's definitely a strength rather than a weakness. Agility, edge-work, first steps, balance etc combined are more important than top end speed. So if that is his "weakness" along with apparent English skills, then whoever calls him at the podium are in for a treat. So like said, skating can be taught where as size cannot. However if don't feel that's important aspect in evaluation then by all means do so.
Forsberg was one of my all-time favourite players and I cannot but help to see some of the same shades whenever I watch Kakko. Hughes reminds me of Kane without the shooting arsenal. If Kakko hits his ceiling (with a realistic possibility of converting to center) he's going to be top 5 if not top 3 player in the league and for that reason I would pick him 10 out of 10 times.
Wait what? I asked one thing and one thing alone. That you would actually pay attention and read up closely to avoid misunderstandings. Now you're cutting phrases out of the context. Let me correct you, I said
"In the real life actions speak louder than words but then again, I'm not sure in which world all the reporters and writers live in.", where I specifically referred to their respective head to head match ups and actually delivering results (gold medals).
No where, absolutely no where did that statement had anything whatsoever to do with draft rankings. Geez. I seriously have no respect for people who try to fabricate statements. I hope this was another comprehension error but if it wasn't and you had to resort to something like this, then pity on you.
The consensus opinion according to McKenzie who probably has the best connections in the hockey world stated that the gap was razor thin between Kakko and Hughes. Your or mine opinions won't really make much difference. Whether that consensus will sway to one side or the other after these games are over and done with is certainly something to look forward to. Although I suspect we might forever live in a world where"Kakko has closed the gap, but..." no matter what he did and no matter what his rival didn't do.
Now seriously, if you don't bother to pay attention at least have some manners instead of cutting the context. I appreciate a fair debate but I have zero tolerance for manipulation and if someone cannot play by the rules I'll just consider the matter concluded.
