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

[BB88]

Most guys don't go to the WC

But yeah it can be a ridiculous summer

Well we know Kakko went and ended up winning the gold, so the rest between WC and draft/nhl things is minimal.

 

[BIGBLUESHIRTSNYY]

Sounds as though Kappo really wants to be the #1 pick. And his coach stated that if NJ wants the best, they should pick him. These statements kinda irk me a little TBH. Why on earth would anyone desire to play in NJ over N.Y. just so they can be the 1st overall pick? Does it really matter that much?

NJ is taking Hughes.

Tom Fitzgerald was quoted giving the "BUT HUGHZ IS NOT PHYSICALLY DVLPD AND KAKKO IS A MONSTR" excuse in an article yesterday.

I am not so sure about this...…. We might end up with Hughes
https://www.tsn.ca/devils-agm-kaapo-kakko-has-physically-matured-jack-hughes-hasn-t-yet-1.1312840

 

[Savant]

All the pressure is on NJ to pick the right guy. Ranger fans should just be sitting back and enjoying things.

If you are going to be upset about taking Hughes, you are doing this fan thing wrong.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I am not so sure about this...…. We might end up with Hughes
https://www.tsn.ca/devils-agm-kaapo-kakko-has-physically-matured-jack-hughes-hasn-t-yet-1.1312840

Yeah stuff like that just makes me even more sure that the Devils are taking Hughes.

 

[romba]

I am not so sure about this...…. We might end up with Hughes
https://www.tsn.ca/devils-agm-kaapo-kakko-has-physically-matured-jack-hughes-hasn-t-yet-1.1312840

I didn't read the article but Hughes having a ton more of room to physically mature is seen as a positive by many, although I happen to disagree to an extent.

 

[BIGBLUESHIRTSNYY]

Yeah stuff like that just makes me even more sure that the Devils are taking Hughes.

I didn't read the article but Hughes having a ton more of room to physically mature is seen as a positive by many, although I happen to disagree to an extent.

I agree with both of you and I think we will know on draft night.either way we will be getting a great player which I think we can all agree upon!!!

 

[GameChanger]

I've seen posts where some NJ fans say it doesn't matter who's better during the next year or a few years, instead the main question is who's better in 7-10 years. I don't quite understand that as that would be a long time to wait and a lot of things can happen during that time. The player may be traded, his role may be changed due to lack of success, the player may start to loose confidence, he may request a change of scenery, injuries may start to bother... And in any case the teams need great players during the next years, too.

I'm not saying it'll take that long for Hughes, but I won't be waiting 10 years to judge if NJ made the right choice. For sure conclusions are usually drawn much earlier, already during the first few years.

I believe under usual circumstances Kakko would be picked at #1, but in this case they'll select Hughes as a safer choice since they would be blamed more if they picked Kakko and Hughes turned out to be a better prospect.

Like Hughes, Kakko could've collected much more points at the end of the WHC and a few more of them might've made it more difficult to pick Hughes instead. However, in this case it's better to be selected at #2, that'll also mean much less pressure.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Click over to the Devils board for a good laugh.

Most are 100% convinced Hughes will be a Devil (as they should be) but the nature our rivalry has them discounting Kakko in every which way. I think a lot of it has to do with them trying to make themselves feel better with the decision in fear of Kakko turning into a Devil killing monster.

I don't doubt for a second that Rangers fans would be in the same self-preservation mode had they landed first in the lottery.

But if we are honest here both teams are gonna get a hell of player. Debating who is better or who has the higher ceiling is really splitting hairs at this point. Devil and Rangers fans should be happy (overjoyed) to land one of the two.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I've seen posts where some NJ fans say it doesn't matter who's better during the next year or a few years, instead the main question is who's better in 7-10 years. I don't quite understand that as that would be a long time to wait and a lot of things can happen during that time. The player may be traded, his role may be changed due to lack of success, the player may start to loose confidence, he may request a change of scenery, injuries may start to bother... And in any case the teams need great players during the next years, too.

I'm not saying it'll take that long for Hughes, but I won't be waiting 10 years to judge if NJ made the right choice. For sure conclusions are usually drawn much earlier, already during the first few years.

I believe under usual circumstances Kakko would be picked at #1, but in this case they'll select Hughes as a safer choice since they would be blamed more if they picked Kakko and Hughes turned out to be a better prospect.

Like Hughes, Kakko could've collected much more points at the end of the WHC and a few more of them might've made it more difficult to pick Hughes instead. However, in this case it's better to be selected at #2, that'll also mean much less pressure.

I think another thing worth mentioning is the marketing aspect of drafting a USA born and bred golden boy who speaks perfect english compared to a Fin who needs a translator.

Not only is he a fantastic player but a relatable one who will help sell tickets. While that won't factor much into the decision, it's does matter for a franchise who is in the bottom half of NHL team values according to Forbes. Every bit helps!

 

[JCProdigy]

Most are 100% convinced Hughes will be a Devil (as they should be) but the nature our rivalry has them discounting Kakko in every which way. I think a lot of it has to do with them trying to make themselves feel better with the decision in fear of Kakko turning into a Devil killing monster.

I don't doubt for a second that Rangers fans would be in the same self-preservation mode had they landed first in the lottery.

I would argue that a good amount of Ranger fans are in the same self-preservation mode since they landed 2nd in the lottery, building up Kakko and finding issues with Hughes. Saying that the Rangers are really getting the more talented of the two and shrugging off the Devils taking him no 1 for "reasons" like Shero had the Hughes family over to Christmas dinner 5 years ago and gave Jack a Hess truck as a present.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

I would argue that a good amount of Ranger fans are in the same self-preservation mode since they landed 2nd in the lottery, building up Kakko and finding issues with Hughes. Saying that the Rangers are really getting the more talented of the two and shrugging off the Devils taking him no 1 for "reasons" like Shero had the Hughes family over to Christmas dinner 5 years ago and gave Jack a Hess truck as a present.

Eh I dunno about that...

Kakko has been getting harassed on social media by Devil fans. They've taken it to a different level.

I haven't seen anyone claim that Kakko is the more talented of the 2. I think most of us would say that Hughes is the more talented one, but also comes with more red flags. Even if its a dead heat or the NJD staff have determined that they like Kakko a bit more, they'll still take Hughes. The risk of them passing on the kid who has been ranked at the top forever only to watch him go across the river and possibly become a super stud is something they'd never live down.

Plus Shero's balls are the size of raisins.

 

[GameChanger]

I think another thing worth mentioning is the marketing aspect of drafting a USA born and bred golden boy who speaks perfect english compared to a Fin who needs a translator.

Not only is he a fantastic player but a relatable one who will help sell tickets. While that won't factor much into the decision, it's does matter for a franchise who is in the bottom half of NHL team values according to Forbes. Every bit helps!

That's true. I think this is a pretty unusual situation in many ways. Basically IMO Kakko should be ahead, but many issues play a part such as:

- the marketing and language aspects you mentioned
- the hype Hughes has got especially before this season
- all the ties Hughes and NJ have
- NJ stating who they'll probably pick so early
- scouts keeping Hughes at #1 maybe sometimes because they're confident NJ will choose him and they want to be right. I believe some would put Kakko at #1 if NJ had hinted they'll probably choose him.
- Hughes being a safer choice as Kakko failing at #1 would be a bigger issue than Hughes doing so
- NJ fans opinions being affected by seeing Hughes as their guy in any case

So all in all they'd need to feel Kakko is clearly better to reconsider their choice, that's how I see it.

 

[romba]

Click over to the Devils board for a good laugh.

Most are 100% convinced Hughes will be a Devil (as they should be) but the nature our rivalry has them discounting Kakko in every which way. I think a lot of it has to do with them trying to make themselves feel better with the decision in fear of Kakko turning into a Devil killing monster.

I don't doubt for a second that Rangers fans would be in the same self-preservation mode had they landed first in the lottery.

But if we are honest here both teams are gonna get a hell of player. Debating who is better or who has the higher ceiling is really splitting hairs at this point. Devil and Rangers fans should be happy (overjoyed) to land one of the two.

Cognitive Dissonance. If you buy a new car you'll tend to seek out positive reviews to confirm you made the right selection. The Devil fan is pretty much settled on Hughes so the other guy must suck now. For me, because Hughes is still a real possibility for us to draft, I have not gotten to that point yet. Once the Devils pick their guy I'll be fully on board the 'he sucks our guy is astronomically better how did the Devils pick the wrong guy so easily' hype train.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Cognitive Dissonance. If you buy a new car you'll tend to seek out positive reviews to confirm you made the right selection. The Devil fan is pretty much settled on Hughes so the other guy must suck now. For me, because Hughes is still a real possibility for us to draft, I have not gotten to that point yet. Once the Devils pick their guy I'll be fully on board the 'he sucks our guy is astronomically better how did the Devils pick the wrong guy so easily' hype train.

Hughes is the right pick for them even if Kakko ends up the better player.

 

[TheBloodyNine]

I would argue that a good amount of Ranger fans are in the same self-preservation mode since they landed 2nd in the lottery, building up Kakko and finding issues with Hughes. Saying that the Rangers are really getting the more talented of the two and shrugging off the Devils taking him no 1 for "reasons" like Shero had the Hughes family over to Christmas dinner 5 years ago and gave Jack a Hess truck as a present.

At the very least 99% of the people on here have been saying that Hughes will eventually be the better player, and have only pointed out actual, not made up, reasons for why that is the case, and it's nothing that hasn't already been said by most talking heads/scouts/execs/etc.

Also, 100% of us would be just as happy to draft Hughes. There are plenty of Devils posters who go into a trance when they hear the word Kakko.

 

[RangerBoy]

Kakko is an Octagon client. They retweet every Kakko bit of information.

Former NHL goaltender Mike Liut is the boss at Octagon. He was a guest on 31 Thoughts the podcast this season. He has Rantanen and Laine too.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I think another thing worth mentioning is the marketing aspect of drafting a USA born and bred golden boy who speaks perfect english compared to a Fin who needs a translator.

Not only is he a fantastic player but a relatable one who will help sell tickets. While that won't factor much into the decision, it's does matter for a franchise who is in the bottom half of NHL team values according to Forbes. Every bit helps!

Kakko speaks English

 

[Edge]

Hughes and Kakko are excellent prospects who should make any team happy.

Though I will admit that I still have yet to hear about any team that has Kakko ahead of Hughes.

Personally, I'm just thrilled that one of them will be pull a Rangers jersey over their head in less than a month.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Kaapo Kakko's gold medal could equal New York Rangers disappointment

Please... If having the consensus #1 pick in the draft fall to #2 after finally bottoming out and winning the draft lottery is disappointing, then you need to be a fan of another sport or something entirely different.

Rangers are in a win-win position no matter who they draft. The only disappointment would've been hitting the 2.1% chance of falling from 6th to 9th in the lottery.

 

[Edge]

Kaapo Kakko's gold medal could equal New York Rangers disappointment

Please... If having the consensus #1 pick in the draft fall to #2 after finally bottoming out and winning the draft lottery is disappointing, then you need to be a fan of another sport or something entirely different.

Look if someone prefers Kakko to Hughes, that's their prerogative. I don't agree with it, and probably 99 percent of the people who do this for a living don't either, but I can understand the reasoning.

But this shit narrative that some people are trying to push about Hughes being some kind of consolation prize is getting downright embarrassing at this point.

 

[Mildan]

Here is the youtube highlight video that I didn't manage to post when I was at work.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Yeah either we end up with Kakko or an angry and even more motivated Hughes.

We win either way.

 

[Levitate]

Look if someone prefers Kakko to Hughes, that's their prerogative. I don't agree with it, and probably 99 percent of the people who do this for a living don't either, but I can understand the reasoning.

But this **** narrative that some people are trying to push about Hughes being some kind of consolation prize is getting downright embarrassing at this point.

Lotta media people love hyping up these narratives. Gives them a lot to write about and to try to sound smart about during the dead times in the NHL news cycle.

 

[Edge]

Lotta media people love hyping up these narratives. Gives them a lot to write about and to try to sound smart about during the dead times in the NHL news cycle.

I'm also somewhat hesitant to call some of these writers "media people."

If we're being honest, some sites are essentially "blogs" that could be written by the average person on here for all we know.

 

[True Blue]

Yeah either we end up with Kakko or an angry and even more motivated Hughes.

We win either way.

Absolutely. If Shero does what no one believes he will do and second guess himself to a point that he takes Kakko first, I would be very happy to take a Hughes off his hands and let him develop behind ZBad who will continue to play top line minutes and go against the opposition's top lines. Which will enable Hughes not to feel pressure to be that player immediately. More than happy to take him off Shero's hands.