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

[Dr. Ogrodnick]

Kappo, slow it down it bit.....

 

[JT Kreider]

I hope Kakko sprains a finger or something and has to sit out the rest of the tournament. He's doing too well.

I guess I can understand how we have all attached ourselves to Kakko for the last month.

Jets fans did the same thing leading up to last year's draft, forcing themselves to fall in love with Allen and Rosen since we are all so sure Baker and Darnold were going 1,2 and not even giving Sam a second of thought.

Hughes being our Darnold in this comparison.

 

[bl02]

Just got home and noticed he scored more goals. Not gonna lie now getting a bit worried.

 

[LemurFromTheId]

He's not the best at carrying the puck up the ice and entering the zone cleanly, as I recall people saying (haven't been able to watch how he's done in these games). But having other guys who can do that and defensemen like DeAngelo and Fox who can utilize a stretch pass to help gain the zone will mak ethat not as big an issue.

Maybe not "the best" but did it quite well before his second goal:

 

[Levitate]

Maybe not "the best" but did it quite well before his second goal:

Just repeating what others who have watched him play in Finland said. Even on that clip you can see he's not really explosive through the neutral zone and he had some space to work with there, he didn't have to navigate through a defensive strategy setup in the neutral zone to make it difficult, eh got hte benefit of a turnover at the blueline

 

[ijuka]

He's not the best at carrying the puck up the ice and entering the zone cleanly, as I recall people saying (haven't been able to watch how he's done in these games). But having other guys who can do that and defensemen like DeAngelo and Fox who can utilize a stretch pass to help gain the zone will mak ethat not as big an issue.

He's quite good at carrying the puck into the zone with his stickhandling, actually. Another false narrative generated by the ignorant, nothing to see here.

 

[gravey9]

What's kinda odd is that over the course of the next 6 weeks, both Rangers fans and Devils fans are falling in love with an elite player that will end up playing for and leading their hated rivals. These are truly unprecedented times.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Kaapo Kakko is Tearing It Up at IIHF World Championship

MSG Networks reporting on Kakko's great start to the tournament

 

[Ola]

Sooo early on I remember some posters saying the following:

1) He has a weak shot - Proved false
2) His skating is ok, but nothing special - Proved false
3) There is a 3rd but i forgot it for some reason

Thing is, he is skating so much better now than he did 5 months ago. Not that he didn't skate well in the WJCs, But it wasn't on this level. He is a young kid that is still growing into his body. Others have seen more of him, but I almost watched all bigger games in the U18s last season, I saw him a lot in the U20s, and now. WJSS in there too. What we are seeing right now -- that is a real good ol' fashion break-through. How he blows past guys, goes around them, like these aren't some juniors or Liiga players, its either NHLers or top European players.

What is even better, there is nothing better than getting a kid that is getting better in a hurry, because there is no reason to expect it to stop.

Hehe, sure its an exaggeration, recency bias, overreaction, but plug me to a lie-detector and ask if I am starting to reach a point where I am disappointed if I do NOT get Kakko but Hughes instead, I wouldn't know what the outcome will be. Holy Christ what a show he is putting on.

 

[AIexisLafreniereNYR]

We need Hughes to have a nice game. Can’t let the Devils brass get on Kaapo

 

[EdJovanovski]

His shot is considered weak because he does not have a hard shot. Velocity matters. But the accuracy is probably the best I've seen from an 18-year old.

Skating, his top speed isn't great but his first step is amazing.

I honestly don’t see it at all, Kakkos shot looks harder than pretty much any 18 year old I’ve ever seen. Kravtsov is the one who’s shot looks weak in terms of velocity to me

 

[EdJovanovski]

If he does go to NJD, it would probably be easier for me to swallow than most, being a Ranger fan from Vancouver. It would be awesome to have a sort of rivalry of the Hughes brothers and getting to bug all my Canucks fan friends & family

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I f***ing hate the Devils so much. This whole Kakko thing is reinforcing it even more. Gtf off our player

 

[Alluckks]

I'm almost getting upset at the idea of the Devils taking him. I already gave him my heart, I can't go through this heartbreak. Even if we got Hughes out of it, it is like getting a great one on the rebound but it just isn't the same.

 

[nyrage]

Once again I had to go out and watch the game on tape. Holy cow. Aside from the goals, he has made several nice passes which unfortunately his teammates weren't able to convert.

I love when he's got the puck in the 0-zone. He's a wizard with the puck. They can't take it away from him. The most pleasant surprise is how good he has been defensively. There was one play where he flew into the zone and stripped Sekera of the puck behind the net. Definitely a smart player and seems aware defensively.

He loves playing behind the net. He won't have as much room in NHL rinks, but he'll adjust. As others have pointed out, he doesn't have the greatest velocity on his shots. Some of them look like floaters, but he has a knack for scoring and setting up plays.

I'm just going to admit that I think I'm in love.

 

[bl02]

Honestly even with Hischier the Devils need another center. Zajac, Zacha or whoever else they throw at 2c is not very impressive. I think Hischier is pretty darn good but not at the level of a Hughes most likely. For that reason I still think they take Hughes. I like Kakko because of the size/skill combo he has but if Hughes "falls" to us having Zibby/Hughes 1/2 is pretty f***ing good.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Hughes has a lot of connections with the devils. His father going back years. I mentioned it several times.

The natural choice for the devils would be to take him at 1. But us Rangers fans know all too well how easily our hearts can be broken over the years, especially at the hands of the Devils. And vice versa.

With the way both of these kids are performing it’s becoming a pretty amazing debate. With the way Kakko has started out at Worlds, being second isn’t as great as it seemed at after the lottery results.

Of all the teams that has to be in front of us it’s gotta be the goddamn Devils. And for them it has to be the goddamn Rangers at 2. Even when we have good fortune there has to be some kind of negative associated with it. Seems to be the long running theme with the franchise. So we take Hughes at 2.

We need to start thinking it could be either of the two to save ourselves from being upset about taking possibly the best player in the draft. It’s a good problem to have

 

[BroadwayStorm]

I guess I can understand how we have all attached ourselves to Kakko for the last month.

Jets fans did the same thing leading up to last year's draft, forcing themselves to fall in love with Allen and Rosen since we are all so sure Baker and Darnold were going 1,2 and not even giving Sam a second of thought.

Hughes being our Darnold in this comparison.

Hughes is a much much much more talented Hockey player than Darnold was a talented football player coming out. Not even close. So I f***ing hope not.

 

[Ola]

Hughes has a lot of connections with the devils. His father going back years. I mentioned it several times.

The natural choice for the devils would be to take him at 1. But us Rangers fans know all too well how easily our hearts can be broken over the years, especially at the hands of the Devils. And vice versa.

With the way both of these kids are performing it’s becoming a pretty amazing debate. With the way Kakko has started out at Worlds, being second isn’t as great as it seemed at after the lottery results.

Of all the teams that has to be in front of us it’s gotta be the goddamn Devils. And for them it has to be the goddamn Rangers at 2. Even when we have good fortune there has to be some kind of negative associated with it. Seems to be the long running theme with the franchise. So we take Hughes at 2.

We need to start thinking it could be either of the two to save ourselves from being upset about taking possibly the best player in the draft. It’s a good problem to have

I feel more like the big brother with bullying ability on this one. Let them take Hughes, the pressure is on him and I like our chances with Kakko. OTOH if they take Kakko, I’ll sign up on Hughes any day.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

We either get Kakko (99% chance of happening) or we get angry and motivated Hughes.

We're going to be fine either way.

 

[Harbour Dog]

I don't care if it rings of recency bias, I want Kakko more than Hughes; and the way Kakko is playing in this tournament is scaring me.

Not that Hughes is a 'consolation' pick by any means... but I want Kakko.

 

[Irishguy42]

It's a win-win.

Gorton & Co should just show up at the podium at the last minute in June after chilling in the hotel all day, check who was picked first, announce the other, then go to their table.

Pajamas and everything.

 

[Polar Bear]

You know life is good when getting Jack Hughes at 2 is considered the nightmare scenario.

 

[pld459666]

Got daaaaam!!!

That's sic . Two nights, one better than the other and BOTH were siick.

 

[Fugazy]

You know life is good when getting Jack Hughes at 2 is considered the nightmare scenario.

Quite the amazing problem to have.