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

[thomast]

At the end of the day, all things being equal, I don't believe Devils ownership would let Shero pass on Hughes if he even wanted to.

You forget just how much Hughes will sell tickets for the Devils. The next great American born center. Passing on him to essentially give him to the Rangers would cause a major backlash lol

Winning sells most tickets and you do it by choosing better players at the draft or via trades. Yeah they might have family connections but at 2013 NHL entry draft Jones had family relations with Sakic because his father played basketball in same arena and little Jones used to hang out with Sakic family, he was ranked #1 at that time by clear majority of rankings, filled their biggest need because they already had Duchene and O’reilly at C position but weak defense.

This situation reminds me from it so much. Panthers fans started to bond with MacKinnon only to be seen their heart broken and newborn chosen son to be taken infront of their nose just because MacKinnon was destroying major junior hockey and Jones had excellent tournament too leading his team to memorial cup final.

Making decision already even if you have time is stupidity unless there is enormous gap. Always keep options open because this decision can make huge difference on their team future. I certainly hope Kakko goes #2 to Rangers. I also think that is most likely scenario because this tournament isn’t hurting draft status of either player. It is already plus if they are playing there.

Instead of downplaying other player people should cherish these both young hockey phenoms. You never know if this other player is ending up in your team. Don’t get too attached to one guy until final decision is made.

 

[Ori]

Kakko is better right now concerning physic and in NHL, but hard to guess 3-4 years into the future. But G. Clarke with #1st OA pick would more likely land on Kakko anyway,
But at the same time sad to say bye, bye to dynamic skills which is so seldom you see in players in the Hughes family, but it`s another chance and another Hughes in the 2021 draft.

 

[aufheben]

Winning sells most tickets and you do it by choosing better players at the draft or via trades. Yeah they might have family connections but at 2013 NHL entry draft Jones had family relations with Sakic because his father played basketball in same arena and little Jones used to hang out with Sakic family, he was ranked #1 at that time by clear majority of rankings, filled their biggest need because they already had Duchene and O’reilly at C position but weak defense.

This situation reminds me from it so much. Panthers fans started to bond with MacKinnon only to be seen their heart broken and newborn chosen son to be taken infront of their nose just because MacKinnon was destroying major junior hockey and Jones had excellent tournament too leading his team to memorial cup final.

Making decision already even if you have time is stupidity unless there is enormous gap. Always keep options open because this decision can make huge difference on their team future. I certainly hope Kakko goes #2 to Rangers. I also think that is most likely scenario because this tournament isn’t hurting draft status of either player. It is already plus if they are playing there.

Instead of downplaying other player people should cherish these both young hockey phenoms. You never know if this other player is ending up in your team. Don’t get too attached to one guy until final decision is made.

Not for every team.

 

[KTE]

For me the closest look-a-like player with Kakko would be Mats Sundin, the best ever Swedish forward beside Peter Forsberg.

 

[Zibanejbread]

Winning sells most tickets and you do it by choosing better players at the draft or via trades. Yeah they might have family connections but at 2013 NHL entry draft Jones had family relations with Sakic because his father played basketball in same arena and little Jones used to hang out with Sakic family, he was ranked #1 at that time by clear majority of rankings, filled their biggest need because they already had Duchene and O’reilly at C position but weak defense.

This situation reminds me from it so much. Panthers fans started to bond with MacKinnon only to be seen their heart broken and newborn chosen son to be taken infront of their nose just because MacKinnon was destroying major junior hockey and Jones had excellent tournament too leading his team to memorial cup final.

Making decision already even if you have time is stupidity unless there is enormous gap. Always keep options open because this decision can make huge difference on their team future. I certainly hope Kakko goes #2 to Rangers. I also think that is most likely scenario because this tournament isn’t hurting draft status of either player. It is already plus if they are playing there.

Instead of downplaying other player people should cherish these both young hockey phenoms. You never know if this other player is ending up in your team. Don’t get too attached to one guy until final decision is made.

I love KK, but if the NYR end up with Hughes, that's a massive win.

 

[hi]

What could possibly be more RONGOS than a prospect being the consensus #1 draft pick in his draft year for years, a Finnish man is the consensus #2 pick all year, the Devils winning the lottery for that #1 pick, the Rangers winning the lottery for the #2 pick, all signs pointing to the Devils selecting said consensus prospect #1 overall, the Rangers are quite pleased to have the #2 guy fall into their laps, a month before the draft Finnish man is making a case to be the #1 pick, Devils select Finnish man, Rangers draft previously consensus #1 pick for years at #2, he busts and Finnish man has a hall of fame career

 

[ijuka]

This WC Kakko love is not recency bias. He's been on fire since the start of the season. He had one little mini slump that lasted a week or so. The Kakko you're seeing in Slovakia is the Kakko you saw in October, November, February, April etc etc, and will be the Kakko you see in 2021, 2025, etc. This isn't Jesse Puljujarvi waiting four months to wake up (with Aho's help BTW) in 2016.

In a way, but Kakko did step up in a massive way towards the end of the season. After jr worlds, he was like a different player to end the season. It was diminished by the fact that TPS's play went down the dumpsters and they became the very worst team in Liiga from February on or so, that probably masked how good Kakko had become. But I can't really say the Kakko in October is the same as the Kakko now.

Hopefully Hughes starts doing something soon so that NJD doesn't have second thoughts.

 

[Blue Men Group]

Kakko’s beautiful second goal from yesterday was #5 on Sportscenter’s top 10 last night.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Kakko’s beautiful second goal from yesterday was #5 on Sportscenter’s top 10 last night.

Did they get his name right this time?

 

[Asmola]

There where only 2 point-per-game average players on FEL this season, second half of the season Kaapo played point-per-game average. Not bad.

 

[Blue Men Group]

Did they get his name right this time?

Yep - they said he’s going to make a franchise very happy when he’s drafted next month.

 

[ijuka]

Why do people think because Hughes is smaller now means he has more potential to grow?

Who knows? Ectomorphs would naturally be smaller, and will also have less room to grow than mesomorphs. I'd expect Kakko to have more room to grow than Hughes, seems to have quite a bit better genetics.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Yep - they said he’s going to make a franchise very happy when he’s drafted next month.

They called him Kappa Kakko yesterday haha

 

[egelband]

Got daaaaam!!!

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

Exactly the phrase that popped into my head.

 

[RangerBoy]

Hughes is a little tired. He played in the U18 in Sweden. The last game was on April 28. Flew back home for a few days. Hughes got on another international flight to Slovakia after having just returned from Sweden. The American team flew out of Newark together on May 3. That’s a tough travel schedule.

Lias Andersson mentioned a similar travel schedule in his draft year. He took 2 or 3 flights between North America and Sweden. He was on fumes.

 

[RangerBoy]

Winning sells most tickets and you do it by choosing better players at the draft or via trades. Yeah they might have family connections but at 2013 NHL entry draft Jones had family relations with Sakic because his father played basketball in same arena and little Jones used to hang out with Sakic family, he was ranked #1 at that time by clear majority of rankings, filled their biggest need because they already had Duchene and O’reilly at C position but weak defense.

This situation reminds me from it so much. Panthers fans started to bond with MacKinnon only to be seen their heart broken and newborn chosen son to be taken infront of their nose just because MacKinnon was destroying major junior hockey and Jones had excellent tournament too leading his team to memorial cup final.

Making decision already even if you have time is stupidity unless there is enormous gap. Always keep options open because this decision can make huge difference on their team future. I certainly hope Kakko goes #2 to Rangers. I also think that is most likely scenario because this tournament isn’t hurting draft status of either player. It is already plus if they are playing there.

Instead of downplaying other player people should cherish these both young hockey phenoms. You never know if this other player is ending up in your team. Don’t get too attached to one guy until final decision is made.

Jones played for the Nuggets and he asked a few Avs players about getting his kids into hockey. That’s it.

Shero has known the Hughes family for over 30 years.

Taylor Hall skates with Hughes in the summer and the Devils desperately want to keep Hall instead of having to trade him.

Hughes is the #1 player in the draft. Kakko has closed the gap. There was no clear consensus #1 pick in the 2013 draft.

 

[StiffSquid]

I think it was good for Kakko not to go to the U18's. Like RangerBoy said , Hughes looks tired.

That said , I really hope the Rangers get Kakko. I think it will be a whole lot better place for him to be , and that's way more important than going first overall.

 

[NernieBichols]

If you guys go to the devils board. They are certain Shero is picking Hughes and are mocking people who would come out and say oh you gotta take kakko after this tournament.

I just think there is the nueroticness of being a fan. We hit gold and this little fear inside that something’s gonna go wrong and it’s gonna bust

Kakko’s a ranger
Or
Hughes is a ranger
Awesome sauce either way

 

[Kovalev27]

Hughes is a little tired. He played in the U18 in Sweden. The last game was on April 28. Flew back home for a few days. Hughes got on another international flight to Slovakia after having just returned from Sweden. The American team flew out of Newark together on May 3. That’s a tough travel schedule.

Lias Andersson mentioned a similar travel schedule in his draft year. He took 2 or 3 flights between North America and Sweden. He was on fumes.

Lias is still tired from all that travel apparently.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

but thats because he was able to ride shotgun to tournament MVP Cole Caufield...

Yeeeeah, I think maybe you have that one backwards, kemosabe...

 

[kelsier]

I'm glad Shero went on the record straight away after winning the lottery. Was a terrible move from a GM who should never reveal his cards in the begin with. He practically promised the Devils fan base that they'd have Hughes come June. It would be quite embarrassing to go back on that and draft someone else. At that point when I was watching the interview I remember wondering to myself if he had ever even seen Kakko (probably just heard of him).

With the way Kakko has presented himself in the WHC, I think he's not only shown the hockey world that there wasn't any "gap" in the begin with, but also has looked a much dominant player. In fact he's been a force and quite literally carried Team Finland so far despite of getting little ice time - nevermind the line mates, ha. Now with that said and Hughes left scoreless yet again against France, I'm starting to feel a bit nervous. As cool as it would be to have the first ever first overall pick, I'd much rather see Kakko wear NYR jersey.

The team is really horrendous on the paper and I doubt they are getting far once the opponent starts containing Kakko. So instead of winning the gold medal there's a larger chance of not getting any medals at all. Then again if that happened and Kakko lead his team to yet another gold medal, how would one justify not taking him first? Gah, maybe it's better not to overthink this and just see how it plays out.

 

[ijuka]

I'm glad Shero went on the record straight away after winning the lottery. Was a terrible move from a GM who should never reveal his cards in the begin with. He practically promised the Devils fan base that they'd have Hughes come June. It would be quite embarrassing to go back on that and draft someone else. At that point when I was watching the interview I remember wondering to myself if he had ever even seen Kakko (probably just heard of him).

With the way Kakko has presented himself in the WHC, I think he's not only shown the hockey world that there wasn't any "gap" in the begin with, but also has looked a much dominant player. In fact he's been a force and quite literally carried Team Finland so far despite of getting little ice time - nevermind the line mates, ha. Now with that said and Hughes left scoreless yet again against France, I'm starting to feel a bit nervous. As cool as it would be to have the first ever first overall pick, I'd much rather see Kakko wear NYR jersey.

The team is really horrendous on the paper and I doubt they are getting far once the opponent starts containing Kakko. So instead of winning the gold medal there's a larger chance of not getting any medals at all. Then again if that happened and Kakko lead his team to yet another gold medal, how would one justify not taking him first? Gah, maybe it's better not to overthink this and just see how it plays out.

Also quite embarrassing to bring Jack Hughes on the show and interview him after the lottery if Kakko's picked first. Makes NHL look like bush league.

 

[Lindberg Cheese]

(i hope they both are)

No don’t, that would create 10 years of 2nd guessing on this board

 

[bl02]

Watching the empty netter closely against Slovakia...it's no average empty net goal
Jaros who is not a small guy and can't push Kaapo off his skates. Kakko basically cuts to the net on one skate. Kid has better balance on one skate than most do on two skates.

 

[Polar Bear]

If you guys go to the devils board. They are certain Shero is picking Hughes and are mocking people who would come out and say oh you gotta take kakko after this tournament.

I just think there is the nueroticness of being a fan. We hit gold and this little fear inside that something’s gonna go wrong and it’s gonna bust

Kakko’s a ranger
Or
Hughes is a ranger
Awesome sauce either way

And then you have the one troll on the genera forums claiming the Devils would take Byram over Kakko. Lol

It's really crazy to see how having the 1st pick in this draft has made some fans so uptight and illogical.