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

[Gardner McKay]

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

Absolutely agree. They will be able to use hype the shit out of Hughes in a way they really couldn't do with Hischier. $$$$

 

[Levitate]

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.

Kind of why I said "media people" rather than "reporters"

Blogs are a kind of media of sorts

 

[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.

Whoever goes second will feel they should've gone first.

And that's a very good thing for the Rangers.

 

[Fugazy]

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

Beast.

 

[we want cup]

Beast.

The more I see the more he looks Forsberg-esque.

 

[bl02]

Beast.

One of my favorite things about his game is when he is in the offensive zone with or withOUT the puck. He never stops moving his feet. Constantly looking for open space.

 

[JCProdigy]

Whoever goes second will feel they should've gone first.

And that's a very good thing for the Rangers.

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

We win either way.

In the end, I don't think it will matter. It's a nice thing to think about, the Rangers getting the spurned player, but in the end I think the talent and determination is already there for both guys and that, irregardless of draft position, will be the determining factor in how successful their careers are.

Still, in the end your takeaways' are right on. We win either way. We don't have to worry about looking back 10 years from now and second guessing the pick.

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.

I respectfully disagree with the claim that there hasn't been anybody that has said Kakko is the better of the two players. Also distinctly remember posts on disappointment if Kakko is taken first overall and one's where the poster intimated that if the Rangers had the 1st overall, that they should take Kakko over Hughes. Now I will say that some of that seemed to be from some hometown Finns who invaded this board during the WC and also that rhetoric seems to have calmed down a bit now. Still, I believe the sentiment was there.

Also, and you can call me naive as I don't mind, I just still believe that the Devils will take whoever they believe will be the better player in the NHL and the ancillary stuff (American Hughes, connections to Shero/ Hall, etc.) will just not be as much as a determining factor as we'd like to believe.

Maybe Shero is indeed different to most GMs but I'd think that he doesn't much care what the fans or media thinks and would trust his scouts. To turn it around, how would he and the Devils live with themselves if they went into this draft thinking that Kakko was going to be the better NHLer but chose Hughes because of the ancillary reasons and then Kakko becomes the better player in NYC.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Zibanejad is now following Kakko on IG and liked his photo of him carrying the WC Cup that he posted.....and so their relationship begins...

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

In the end, I don't think it will matter. It's a nice thing to think about, the Rangers getting the spurned player, but in the end I think the talent and determination is already there for both guys and that, irregardless of draft position, will be the determining factor in how successful their careers are.

Still, in the end your takeaways' are right on. We win either way. We don't have to worry about looking back 10 years from now and second guessing the pick.



I respectfully disagree with the claim that there hasn't been anybody that has said Kakko is the better of the two players. Also distinctly remember posts on disappointment if Kakko is taken first overall and one's where the poster intimated that if the Rangers had the 1st overall, that they should take Kakko over Hughes. Now I will say that some of that seemed to be from some hometown Finns who invaded this board during the WC and also that rhetoric seems to have calmed down a bit now. Still, I believe the sentiment was there.

Also, and you can call me naive as I don't mind, I just still believe that the Devils will take whoever they believe will be the better player in the NHL and the ancillary stuff (American Hughes, connections to Shero/ Hall, etc.) will just not be as much as a determining factor as we'd like to believe.

Maybe Shero is indeed different to most GMs but I'd think that he doesn't much care what the fans or media thinks and would trust his scouts. To turn it around, how would he and the Devils live with themselves if they went into this draft thinking that Kakko was going to be the better NHLer but chose Hughes because of the ancillary reasons and then Kakko becomes the better player in NYC.

Yeah there are people who have said this with reasonable arguments, but being a better player doesn't mean he's more talented.

Shero will take Hughes because he has no reason not to. We would be taking him had we been at #1 for the same reasons.

 

[JCProdigy]

Yeah there are people who have said this with reasonable arguments, but being a better player doesn't mean he's more talented.

Shero will take Hughes because he has no reason not to. We would be taking him had we been at #1 for the same reasons.

On that, I can agree.

 

[Polar Bear]

Great article from Carp.

No Kaapo Kakko, no problem for Rangers at NHL Draft combine

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

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.

Who ees thees Kählveen?

 

[JESSEWENEEDTOCOOK]

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

He is the best player in this draft

I can’t wait until we get him at 2

 

[offdacrossbar]

jack hughes is going to be a stud. no question. when he fills out and matures, hes going to be a true 1C for a long time.

however, kakko is special. hes got a chance to be the best player in the draft hands down.

the stuff kakko does was done by guys with names like jagr, forsberg and hossa. this kid has the goods to be a difference maker.

i expect our pick to be kakko and if so, hell get 20/20 next yr. this kid will play top 6 mins next yr.

 

[darko]

There's a reason why Hughes will go #1 and it has nothing to do with who is picking first. Hughes is an unreal talent.

 

[Ola]

I totally think Kakko made the right call to not go to the Combine. Actually meant to post just that before the news broke. All this travelling and camps and games across the globe during the summer is downright insane from a development POV.

I think individual sports (especially winter sports) get more attention here in Europe. The contrast of how they prepare compared to a young hockey player is very striking. They isolate themselves from the outside world to avoid getting infections/viruses and train extremely hard for several months during the off-season. An argument with an agent/promotor or whatever and their trainers about if the athleet in question should fly back and forth across the Atlantic the entire summer for different events would end up in a fist fight.

Kakko should send his agent to the draft with a picture of him planted on a sign, can walk up to the podium with that. Focus on preparing for the season. Preparing is about three things; training, rest and food. Its as simple as that. No stress, no travel, no new environments. No appartment searching, moving worries etc etc etc etc etc etc.

 

[Jaromir Jagr]

I totally think Kakko made the right call to not go to the Combine. Actually meant to post just that before the news broke. All this travelling and camps and games across the globe during the summer is downright insane from a development POV.

I think individual sports (especially winter sports) get more attention here in Europe. The contrast of how they prepare compared to a young hockey player is very striking. They isolate themselves from the outside world to avoid getting infections/viruses and train extremely hard for several months during the off-season. An argument with an agent/promotor or whatever and their trainers about if the athleet in question should fly back and forth across the Atlantic the entire summer for different events would end up in a fist fight.

Kakko should send his agent to the draft with a picture of him planted on a sign, can walk up to the podium with that. Focus on preparing for the season. Preparing is about three things; training, rest and food. Its as simple as that. No stress, no travel, no new environments. No appartment searching, moving worries etc etc etc etc etc etc.

Agree. It's kinda insane that hockey has become like soccer in that it's basically a year round sport for many of these guys now.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Agree. It's kinda insane that hockey has become like soccer in that it's basically a year round sport for many of these guys now.

In the last 12 months for Kakko has played 110 games across 7 different competitions, in 7 different countries and timezones 12 hours apart.

 

[darko]

In the last 12 months for Kakko has played 110 games across 7 different competitions, in 7 different countries and timezones 12 hours apart.

That's wrong.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

That's wrong.

It's correct

 

[darko]

It's correct

No as in that's wrong on Kakko. What is the benefit of that much hockey? That's a lot of games.

 

[SML2]

No as in that's wrong on Kakko. What is the benefit of that much hockey? That's a lot of games.

On the upside, I don't see him hitting that late January wall a lot of rookies hit because they aren't used to such a long schedule.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

On the upside, I don't see him hitting that late January wall a lot of rookies hit because they aren't used to such a long schedule.

If it doesn't happen, it will be because of the talent level and the type of prospect Kakko is, not because he played so much already. Kotkaniemi hit a wall halfway through the season and he said it was a lot tougher to play in the NHL and also the traveling. The difference between Kakko and Kotkaniemi is pretty significant though

 

[Ola]

On the upside, I don't see him hitting that late January wall a lot of rookies hit because they aren't used to such a long schedule.

Yeah, this is one of the old cliches that should be put to rest. For these kids a full NHL season and a run to the SCFs is nothing but a vacation.

Kakko has played 110 games this season. If he goes to the WJSS this summer, that is another 6, then Traverse for 4-5 more. Add in testing at the Combine. Rookie camp with game-like scrimmages. Lias went back to the SHL and had a preseason with Frölunda and preseason games with them too before our camp started. At the first day of camp Lias had played more than a game every third day on average for the last 12 months. Kakko would be in the same position. Add a lot of travelling to that.

Who ever in charge should be fired at the spot if we allow Kakko to go to the WJSS. These guys must get some rest and build up the body. Great decision by him to skip the combine.

 

[SML2]

Yeah, this is one of the old cliches that should be put to rest. For these kids a full NHL season and a run to the SCFs is nothing but a vacation.

Kakko has played 110 games this season. If he goes to the WJSS this summer, that is another 6, then Traverse for 4-5 more. Add in testing at the Combine. Rookie camp with game-like scrimmages. Lias went back to the SHL and had a preseason with Frölunda and preseason games with them too before our camp started. At the first day of camp Lias had played more than a game every third day on average for the last 12 months. Kakko would be in the same position. Add a lot of travelling to that.

Who ever in charge should be fired at the spot if we allow Kakko to go to the WJSS. These guys must get some rest and build up the body. Great decision by him to skip the combine.

Does the team that drafts him have any actual say on the matter? If he said he was going, can they veto that?