Prospect Info: The Second Overall Pick Thread: Part I (Kakko/Hughes Talk)

[GoAwayPanarin]

I could definitely see Kakko winning rookie of the year, but Hughes having the better NHL career.

Kakko is more physically developed than Hughes, and several months older; plus he's already played in a men's league. Hughes needs another growth spurt and some gym time.

Disagree with this completely.

3 months is not a big difference plus Hughes doesn't have to adjust to a new culture, rink size and deal with a language barrier. If anything, I could see him stepping in and doing very well right off the bat and the gap closing significantly in 2-3 years time.

Hughes is good enough that the NJD crappy player development shouldn't get in the way.

 

[Inferno]

id take Hughes over kakko 10 times out of 10...with that said he’s certainly got more than size...

Shot, Puck protection, durability, experience playing in the pros...these are all in favor of k.k.

Speed, agility, vision, premium position, hands...all those are in Hughes favor.

I’d take Hughes every day of the week...but there’s a reason I’m going to Vancouver in June....kakko is a special player.

 

[romba]

Great release (8), top notch ability to shoot off the pass(8.5+), great accuracy(8), with what sounds like good to average velocity(6.5). 7.75 overall shot CONFIRMED. And that’s one of his weaker areas, sweet.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

id take Hughes over kakko 10 times out of 10...with that said he’s certainly got more than size...

Shot, Puck protection, durability, experience playing in the pros...these are all in favor of k.k.

Speed, agility, vision, premium position, hands...all those are in Hughes favor.

I’d take Hughes every day of the week...but there’s a reason I’m going to Vancouver in June....kakko is a special player.

Dunno about this.

Kakko's hands are really filthy.

 

[Mikos87]

Hughes has the same issue his brother has. They can’t shoot the puck at all. Either one of them. Needs to be worked on. Having said that. I would die to get jack Hughes. But I feel the same way about Kakko. We can’t lose here either one brings something we don’t have. Elite talent

I don't know about that. I think they will both develop laser beams of shots. I've seen Jack with a bunch of top shelf goals. He's going to break defenses down and score on a bunch of tight goals in and around the net.

 

[monkaS]

Disagree with this completely.

3 months is not a big difference plus Hughes doesn't have to adjust to a new culture, rink size and deal with a language barrier. If anything, I could see him stepping in and doing very well right off the bat and the gap closing significantly in 2-3 years time.

Hughes is good enough that the NJD crappy player development shouldn't get in the way.

this did not stop players like Laine, Pettersson, Aho, Landeskog, Dahlin etc. a top end prospect will acclimate fast.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

this did not stop players like Laine, Pettersson, Aho, Landeskog, Dahlin etc. a top end prospect will acclimate fast.

Landeskog played Canadian juniors and Swedes speak better english than most Americans.

Of course, Kakko may step in a beast out right away, I'm just saying that there are more adjustments to be made for him.

 

[monkaS]

Landeskog played Canadian juniors and Swedes speak better english than most Americans.

Of course, Kakko may step in a beast out right away, I'm just saying that there are more adjustments to be made for him.

there are adjustments but in the end he's there to play hockey not speak english. a lot of great russians have had no trouble even though they didn't know any english. i think that with these top prospects the effects of change of scenery are often exaggerated.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

there are adjustments but in the end he's there to play hockey not speak english. a lot of great russians have had no trouble even though they didn't know any english. i think that with these top prospects the effects of change of scenery are often exaggerated.

This is true.

Hope you're right.

 

[Beacon]

Here’s something totally crazy to think about. In 25 years, there’s a legitimate chance that we’ll be retiring the number of the guy we take on June 21st.

...not to put any pressure on a kid who is definitely reading this...

 

[glenwo2]

And if your GM passes on Kakko and Hughes, he should be fired.

Lucky for us, he won't pass on either (but is only able to choose one. #FirstWorldProblems).

 

[Inferno]

this did not stop players like Laine, Pettersson, Aho, Landeskog, Dahlin etc. a top end prospect will acclimate fast.

I gotta be honest...I hate Laine. I've hated him for a long time. Except for his shot I'm not even sure I'd even consider him a 3rd liner. I basically never notice him if he's not rifling shots top corner.

Yes he has a once in a generation type of a shot ...yes scoring goals is hugely important...but I still hate Laine. ... Most overrated player in the NHL today.

 

[monkaS]

I gotta be honest...I hate Laine. I've hated him for a long time. Except for his shot I'm not even sure I'd even consider him a 3rd liner. I basically never notice him if he's not rifling shots top corner.

Yes he has a once in a generation type of a shot ...yes scoring goals is hugely important...but I still hate Laine. ... Most overrated player in the NHL today.

20 year old who's nearly 0.5 gpg in his career can't be overrated. besides the kid is hated, not overrated. everyone shits on him. i think hockey world is naive to not see what he'll likely become. and a lot of people will be eating crows. he has an insane ability around which is very easy to build a successful goal scoring machine. it'll take a few years for him to get there.

right this moment he's outplaying the other two young Jets wingers in the playoffs. just like he did last year.

also not sure why you'd hate someone who's not even on ur team or even on ur rival team. he's just a kid.

 

[BenedictGomez]

I think they will both develop laser beams of shots. I've seen Jack with a bunch of top shelf goals. He's going to break defenses down and score on a bunch of tight goals in and around the net.

Hughes already has a laser beam wrist shot, and Kakko already has a laser beam slap shot. I doubt either will ever become as good as the other in reverse.

Hughes has the ability, while skating at speed, to wire a shot anywhere he wants.

Kakko's slap shot is Ovechkin accurate from set pieces (stationary on the Powerplay).

Totally different skills.

 

[Inferno]

20 year old who's nearly 0.5 gpg in his career can't be overrated. besides the kid is hated, not overrated. everyone ****s on him. i think hockey world is naive to not see what he'll likely become. and a lot of people will be eating crows.

right this moment he's outplaying the other two young Jets wingers in the playoffs. just like he did last year.

also not sure why you'd hate someone who's not even on ur team or even on ur rival team. he's just a kid.

Sure he can be overrated...people talk about him like he's a generational player. He's not. If you look at his game objectively what is there to like besides his shot.

How's his skating? How's his compete level? How's his willingness to go to the dirty areas? How's his board play? How's his cycle game? How's his vision? How's his hockey sense?

He's basically a 1 trick pony. .. a shot that is basically unstoppable.. .and not a whole lot else.

This is just me and my opinion. I get I'm all alone here...but hes just one of those guys who irks me. He's to shooting as Rico fata was to skating... Except shooting the puck is a whole lot more important when it comes to scoring goals.

 

[Irishguy42]

Regardless of who takes who, I am glad that our teams will get the rivalry reignited a little bit by this 1-2 drafting punch.

 

[monkaS]

Sure he can be overrated...people talk about him like he's a generational player. He's not. If you look at his game objectively what is there to like besides his shot.

How's his skating? How's his compete level? How's his willingness to go to the dirty areas? How's his board play? How's his cycle game? How's his vision? How's his hockey sense?

He's basically a 1 trick pony. .. a shot that is basically unstoppable.. .and not a whole lot else.

This is just me and my opinion. I get I'm all alone here...but hes just one of those guys who irks me. He's to shooting as Rico fata was to skating... Except shooting the puck is a whole lot more important when it comes to scoring goals.

no, most people shit on him. you're being very naive and extremely shortsighted. i'm done talking about this with you because neither of us are changing their minds.

 

[Kovalev27]

Hughes has a laser beam wrist shot????

Since when this morning?

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Hughes already has a laser beam wrist shot, and Kakko already has a laser beam slap shot. I doubt either will ever become as good as the other in reverse.

Hughes has the ability, while skating at speed, to wire a shot anywhere he wants.

Kakko's slap shot is Ovechkin accurate from set pieces (stationary on the Powerplay).

Totally different skills.

Hughes' shot is not good. Hes shooting sub 10% this year lol.

He's got terrific hands in tight, which is where most of his goals will come from.

Kakko has a better clapper and wrister.

 

[Inferno]

Hughes might be the prospect in the draft I’ve seen more than all the rest combined...Hughes shot is average at best.

 

[Rangerfans]

Did I seriously read a Ranger fan saying they would trade the #2 pick if the Devils took Kakko?

I find it extremely amusing how now that we are most likely getting Kakko, Hughes is apparently a bust.
This is the only fan base that has Hughes as a resounding #2.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Did I seriously read a Ranger fan saying they would trade the #2 pick if the Devils took Kakko?

I find it extremely amusing how now that we are most likely getting Kakko, Hughes is apparently a bust.
This is the only fan base that has Hughes as a resounding #2.

Who said that?

 

[BenedictGomez]

Regardless of who takes who, I am glad that our teams will get the rivalry reignited a little bit by this 1-2 drafting punch.

Be careful what you wish for.

I am absolutely sick & tired already of how every Devils vs. Flyers game automatically (by the media) has become this silly Nico versus Nolan thing, even though through two seasons Nico clearly has the major upper-hand.

It's not even close, so I should be happy, right?

NO. Enough already. Who cares. Trust me, you'll feel the same way 2 years from now, it gets obnoxious. The Hughes/Kakko think will be the same as Nico/Nolan.

 

[BenedictGomez]

Did I seriously read a Ranger fan saying they would trade the #2 pick if the Devils took Kakko?

I find it extremely amusing how now that we are most likely getting Kakko, Hughes is apparently a bust.
This is the only fan base that has Hughes as a resounding #2.

Thank god you said it and not me.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Did I seriously read a Ranger fan saying they would trade the #2 pick if the Devils took Kakko?

I find it extremely amusing how now that we are most likely getting Kakko, Hughes is apparently a bust.
This is the only fan base that has Hughes as a resounding #2.

The fan base doesn’t have Hughes as a resounding #2, most of us think Hughes is better