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

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Cag29 said:
Gretzky got hit plenty as a Ranger.
Suter of Calgary nearly crippled him with a wicked cross check.
There were plenty of big players back then as well. Plenty of hall of fame talent as well. I watched it.
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Gretzky was old as a Ranger.

Watch a game from the early 90s and watch one from present day, its like watching a different sport.
 
Greg02 said:
I was reading a mainboard thread on if the Devils are the most prepared team down the middle for the future. When people there were pushing back on the OP (who of course has the username Hischier and Hughes), a handful of people mentioned how it's uncertain whether Hughes will even end up a center. Since I haven't seen anything remotely indicating that before, I was wondering if there's actual questions where he ends up playing or if it's just HFBoards nonsense.
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lets just say i made that thread without really thinking how the wording of it was going to be interpreted. I should have realized some folks would be as literal as possible lmao; it was meant to be more of an insight as to the very extended future in terms of potential and age but folks took it as me saying the Devils have one of the best center duos in the league

As for the center issue Ive seen comments about his size and defensive ability being reasons he would play wing but everything he does offensively is what youd want from a center. I think its about a 95% chance he plays center with that 5% being... well idk what but I dont want to say 100% haha.

as for Kakko Im curious why he doesnt play center, its a bit intriguing to me because it seems hit playstyle and physique are perfect for the position
 
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The Crypto Guy said:
His size and if he can keep his head up in the NHL so he doesn't get destroyed in open ice.
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if there is one thing both Hughes and Kakko dont do (and its almost scary watching Jack do it at the speed he plays at as well as when Kakko runs the boards without even checking where the puck is) - its their heads sure as hell arent down lol. And thats due to their extreme IQ and vision
 
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Inferno said:
This. What @Kovalev27 is 100% right. .. this is a cant lose possibility for the nyr.. .there is no other choice. .and both choices are great
It's Taylor vs Tyler all over again...both players ended up being elite.
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as excited as I am for Kakko, a franchise center is something this club has been lacking for decades.
Panarin-Hughes-Kravtsov (or whatever combination you will) could be like instantly snapping a first line into existence which would be insane. I love Kakko but based on organizational weaknesses, Hughes fills a bigger need. we will be deep down the right with Kakko, Kravtsov, Buchnevich, Namestnikov... In the meantime, we really need one of Andersson, Chytil, or Howden to be able to step it up at center but I don't any of them become more than Derek Stepan 2.0 which is to say solid team assets but not the game breakers franchise centers can be.
 
Would be very surprised if Devils don't take Hughes. Having Hughes and Hischier down the middle is just too hard to pass up.
 
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n8 said:
as excited as I am for Kakko, a franchise center is something this club has been lacking for decades.
Panarin-Hughes-Kravtsov (or whatever combination you will) could be like instantly snapping a first line into existence which would be insane. I love Kakko but based on organizational weaknesses, Hughes fills a bigger need. we will be deep down the right with Kakko, Kravtsov, Buchnevich, Namestnikov... In the meantime, we really need one of Andersson, Chytil, or Howden to be able to step it up at center but I don't any of them become more than Derek Stepan 2.0 which is to say solid team assets but not the game breakers franchise centers can be.
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I’ve read on a few FB Ranger boards that Kakko has played center and has played it very well. Will the Rangers take a look at him at center?
 
Hischier and Hughes said:
if there is one thing both Hughes and Kakko dont do (and its almost scary watching Jack do it at the speed he plays at as well as when Kakko runs the boards without even checking where the puck is) - its their heads sure as hell arent down lol. And thats due to their extreme IQ and vision
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Hughes has a pretty bad habit of dropping his head btw.
 
Cag29 said:
I’ve read on a few FB Ranger boards that Kakko has played center and has played it very well. Will the Rangers take a look at him at center?
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I don't consider 4 games in a full season a large enough sample size to move someone to a different position. We need to play them at their best position. Enough with the constant push to move players to center


 
Amazing Kreiderman said:
I don't consider 4 games in a full season a large enough sample size to move someone to a different position. We need to play them at their best position. Enough with the constant push to move players to center


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Pretty impressive wherever he plays. Center more important position. He has the size and smarts.
 
And if we can't find a trade up partner, stay in the late teens and take a Rees, Tomasino, Robertson, Nikolaev,etc.

2nd round could be some solid players like Beecher, Farinacci, Spiridonov, Henriksson, Saarela,etc.
 
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Amazing Kreiderman said:
He is better on the wing at the moment. If he moves to center, it will be because he is better there, not because we have a need for a center
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Better there.... or "just as good"?

I'm fine with Kakko at wing because we have other center options. I want Kakko to be the best bang for the buck we can get out of him, so if he's clearly a better player at RW, by all means, leave him there. We have Zibanejad who id young enough to be here for our next run, Chytil is possibly a center, Anderrsson is possibly still a valuable 2C, Howden is a 3C, we will be ok at that position if our wingers are Kravtsov, Kakko, maybe Panarin, and other high end scorers. Plus we could trade into the top 10 this year and get a top-line center who slips, like Zegras, Turcottte, Cozens, or Dach, potentially, or draft one with a pick next year.

But if Kakko's a 90 point player at center too, well, that's also super appealing. If he can translate to center and be a superstar there, I wouldn't say no to it just because. I think you at least have to look into it.
 
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lets talk reality here. like next year reality.

you add kakko and put him with zibanejad NEXT YEAR and those 2 will be dynamic. thats something to drool over. you add kreider to that line and thats legit. kakko can play next year.

you add kakko and put him with any other centerman on this roster and im not as excited at all.

chytl belongs on the edge right now. hes not ready to play the 2C. not even close.

andersson. nope.

21. nope. not with kakko but he does have that 3c spot available to him not sure on his 2C upside right now.

you give me alex newhook and 2 years at BC and tell me hes gonna be our #2 centerman and im content but thats not right now today.

nor will zegras if hes there. 2 yrs away.
 
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offdacrossbar said:
lets talk reality here. like next year reality.

you add kakko and put him with zibanejad NEXT YEAR and those 2 will be dynamic. thats something to drool over. you add kreider to that line and thats legit. kakko can play next year.

you add kakko and put him with any other centerman on this roster and im not as excited at all.

chytl belongs on the edge right now. hes not ready to play the 2C. not even close.

andersson. nope.

21. nope. not with kakko but he does have that 3c spot available to him not sure on his 2C upside right now.

you give me alex newhook and 2 years at BC and tell me hes gonna be our #2 centerman and im content but thats not right now today.

nor will zegras if hes there. 2 yrs away.
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All of this is true.
 
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