To be honest the biggest reason I wanted him was hoping we could get all the variations of Lundqvist possible and Sam would retire.


Although he would just call everyone Zuccarello anyway
- mdw7413

I'm still salty they had to release Michael Lindqvist for this reason

I think Hughes will be in the Hischier/RNH tier of 1st overall picks. Good players but not superstars.

I look at it like OVI/Sid/McDavid
Then you have guys like Tavares/Mathews/McKinnon/Stamkos
Then Hischier/RNH
- nyrangers9479

I think Hughes will be every bit as good as Matthews and Kakko every bit as good as Barkov

I think Hughes will be in the Hischier/RNH tier of 1st overall picks. Good players but not superstars.

I look at it like OVI/Sid/McDavid
Then you have guys like Tavares/Mathews/McKinnon/Stamkos
Then Hischier/RNH
- nyrangers9479

I think you're pretty close in your assessment of those players. Though I feel some jump between tiers at times.

I would slot a guy like Malkin between the top two tiers in your example.

I think Hughes will be every bit as good as Matthews and Kakko every bit as good as Barkov
- jimbro83

Polite disagreement: I think that's a huge reach on both of those.

Polite disagreement: I think that's a huge reach on both of those.
- eichiefs9

I'll give you a reach

I'll give you a reach
- jimbro83

Around?

Around?
- eichiefs9

- jimbro83

compare their two draft years

which guy scored in the SM-liiga playoffs

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=145634

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=211199

I think you're pretty close in your assessment of those players. Though I feel some jump between tiers at times.

I would slot a guy like Malkin between the top two tiers in your example.
- JRR1285

I also think that Nuge a tweener, with the 2nd and 3rd tiers. Better than Hischier/Patrick but not on the Tavares/et al level.

I also think that Nuge a tweener, with the 2nd and 3rd tiers. Better than Hischier/Patrick but not on the Tavares/et al level.
- eichiefs9

I'm excited at the prospect of picking number 2 overall but a little upset that the talent available is claimed to be on the lower end of other drafts.

I'm excited at the prospect of picking number 2 overall but a little upset that the talent available is claimed to be on the lower end of other drafts.
- JRR1285

Thems the breaks. Doesn't mean Kakko won't still be awesome though.

I think you're pretty close in your assessment of those players. Though I feel some jump between tiers at times.

I would slot a guy like Malkin between the top two tiers in your example.
- JRR1285

I was just doing 1st overall but agree where you would put Malkin

compare their two draft years

which guy scored in the SM-liiga playoffs

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=145634

http://www.hockeydb.com/i...s/pdisplay.php?pid=211199
- jimbro83

I mean they had the same amount of playoff points. I just don't think it's as simple as comparing two guys that played in different years for different teams. Barkov just scored 96pts in the NHL and I'm not of the belief that Kakko is the kind of player will do the same. Hughes either.

Thems the breaks. Doesn't mean Kakko won't still be awesome though.
- eichiefs9

Yeah. I mean look at Kucherov. He is from the late second round and he is a force. Never know how this will shake out.

Maybe number one and two from this draft busts and Dach is the real deal here.

I was just doing 1st overall but agree where you would put Malkin
- nyrangers9479

Oh, I got you now.

Yeah. I mean look at Kucherov. He is from the late second round and he is a force. Never know how this will shake out.

Maybe number one and two from this draft busts and Dach is the real deal here.
- JRR1285

It's always a crap shoot, even though scouting and evaluation have gotten lightyears better in recent years.

I also think that Nuge a tweener, with the 2nd and 3rd tiers. Better than Hischier/Patrick but not on the Tavares/et al level.
- eichiefs9

I'd be worried with Hughes. He had that insane year last year, but couldn't even come close to backing it up this year. That's with a slew of 1st round picks flanking him. I think he will be better than RNH, but yeah I'm not buying the hype quite yet either.

As for Kakko, his comparables are really good. You can't lock him in as the next Laine or Barkov, but he's done nothing to dispel the comparisons either. I don't think Jersey picks him, but I wonder if 5 years from now hindsight will suggest it should have been a slam dunk, even as the numbers suggest now it should be.

Sam Bennett the early front-runner for best playoff facial hair

I'd be worried with Hughes. He had that insane year last year, but couldn't even come close to backing it up this year. That's with a slew of 1st round picks flanking him. I think he will be better than RNH, but yeah I'm not buying the hype quite yet either.

As for Kakko, his comparables are really good. You can't lock him in as the next Laine or Barkov, but he's done nothing to dispel the comparisons either. I don't think Jersey picks him, but I wonder if 5 years from now hindsight will suggest it should have been a slam dunk, even as the numbers suggest now it should be.
- 2sticks1puck

It's also slightly concerning that Hughes has only played against USHL talent. But his skating is so high-end that I think it should make up for a lot. It just seems like he struggles a bit to stay healthy and is built on the slight-side, which Elias Pettersson proved is possible to succeed in spite of. But I also think Pettersson could be a guy with loads of skill that is hurt often because of his frame.

But, as far as Kakko...I think if he were truly comparable to someone like Laine or Barkov then he'd be a sure-fire 1st overall. Hughes is not so talented that he can't be bumped from that spot, so if Kakko was really expected to be that good then GM's would be begging to get the 1st pick and take him.

I'm excited at the prospect of picking number 2 overall but a little upset that the talent available is claimed to be on the lower end of other drafts.
- JRR1285

Don't be like Tom...Kakko is going to be elite and break the Rangers all time goals record

I think Hughes will be in the Hischier/RNH tier of 1st overall picks. Good players but not superstars.

I look at it like OVI/Sid/McDavid
Then you have guys like Tavares/Mathews/McKinnon/Stamkos
Then Hischier/RNH
- nyrangers9479

So that means the rangers are gonna get a bust in Kakko. Wow.

Sam Bennett the early front-runner for best playoff facial hair
- eichiefs9

Thats straight up 70's porn

Thats straight up 70's porn
- mdw7413

Channeling Lanny McDonald

Don't be like Tom...Kakko is going to be elite and break the Rangers all time goals record
- TPC

I've already said Kakko could be on par with Aho and Laine. Shut your hole.