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

You are going to curse him and this franchise forever.

I've already said Kakko could be on par with Aho and Laine. Shut your hole.
- tomburton99

You said could

I said IS

fight me Tom

I've already said Kakko could be on par with Aho and Laine. Shut your hole.
- tomburton99

You said could

I said IS

fight me Tom
- TPC

You are going to curse him and this franchise forever.
- JRR1285

I am all in on hype. Rangers will never pick this high again, this is it. We are all in. Future stud, future franchise changer. Future All time best Ranger

- JRR1285

I love that show

You said could

I said IS

fight me Tom
- TPC

Sorry I'm not ready to delcaire Kakko better than a 40 goal guy or and 80 point guy.

the only flaw I see with Hughes is that he could be soft, the talent is ridiculous though

him being hurt during the WJC hurt him a bit and Kakko having good tourney and scoring the championship goal is partly was caused the gap to shrink between the two players

Sorry I'm not ready to delcaire Kakko better than a 40 goal guy or and 80 point guy.
- tomburton99

You will get there

the only flaw I see with Hughes is that he could be soft, the talent is ridiculous though

him being hurt during the WJC hurt him a bit and Kakko having good tourney and scoring the championship goal is partly was caused the gap to shrink between the two players
- jimbro83

That and Kakko playing against men. Whilehaving a better draft year than Laine in the same situation.

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.
- eichiefs9

I think it's a bit like in the NFL big strong armed QBs. No doubt that Hughes has a boatload of talent that deserves a high pick. However, I think it's alot of raw talent that GMs hope comes together.

Kakko is already playing and scoring consistently in a men's league. Again, I think 5 years from now we will look at Kakko and go duh, of course he should have gone #1. I'm also tempering my expectations. Honestly, if he was just a 65-70 pt a year guy that's a player you can build around. Putting an expectation of coming close to 40-50 goals or 100 pts on anyone just seems unfair unless it was one of those generational type players coming out.

the only flaw I see with Hughes is that he could be soft, the talent is ridiculous though

him being hurt during the WJC hurt him a bit and Kakko having good tourney and scoring the championship goal is partly was caused the gap to shrink between the two players
- jimbro83

I love shrinking tight gaps

That and Kakko playing against men. Whilehaving a better draft year than Laine in the sam situation.
- tomburton99

I am not saying Hughes isn't better or equivalent talent wise but that is why I want Kakko.

I am not saying Hughes isn't better or equivalent talent wise but that is why I want Kakko.
- JRR1285

It's going to be funny when we are all so hyped on Kakko and the Devils take him

It's going to be funny when we are all so hyped on Kakko and the Devils take him
- TPC

I can transition into being hyped about Hughes very quickly on the fly

I can transition into being hyped about Hughes very quickly on the fly
- jimbro83

Agreed

It's the only reason i am waiting to buy my Kakko jersey though

I am not saying Hughes isn't better or equivalent talent wise but that is why I want Kakko.
- JRR1285

The con on Kakko is that he's doing this on international ice surface size, while Hughes is doing it on a smarll ice surface like the NHL. Doesn't matter. Both are gonig to be really good.

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.
- eichiefs9

Hughes played on the US18 team, and that team played some top-tier college programs. I am not going to pull up their schedule right now, but I know off the top of my head, I know that they played and beat Michigan.

I am with Jimbo on this, I think Hughes is going to be a total stud, and I don't think that being as good as Matthews is out of the question. The kid is an absurdly good player.

As for the Barkov/Kakko comparisons, it took Barkov several years to put up the point totals he put up this year. For his first 3 years in the league, I believe he was a 50-60 point guy. That's not a bad thing. It's just a cautionary tale that sometimes a guy might not light the league on fire right away.

I think it's a bit like in the NFL big strong armed QBs. No doubt that Hughes has a boatload of talent that deserves a high pick. However, I think it's alot of raw talent that GMs hope comes together.

Kakko is already playing and scoring consistently in a men's league. Again, I think 5 years from now we will look at Kakko and go duh, of course he should have gone #1. I'm also tempering my expectations. Honestly, if he was just a 65-70 pt a year guy that's a player you can build around. Putting an expectation of coming close to 40-50 goals or 100 pts on anyone just seems unfair unless it was one of those generational type players coming out.
- 2sticks1puck

I honestly think Kakko is a much safer pick, given his success against men, but I think Hughes has a higher ceiling. Kakko's skating isn't even in the same universe as Hughes'.

I think it's a bit like in the NFL big strong armed QBs. No doubt that Hughes has a boatload of talent that deserves a high pick. However, I think it's alot of raw talent that GMs hope comes together.

Kakko is already playing and scoring consistently in a men's league. Again, I think 5 years from now we will look at Kakko and go duh, of course he should have gone #1. I'm also tempering my expectations. Honestly, if he was just a 65-70 pt a year guy that's a player you can build around. Putting an expectation of coming close to 40-50 goals or 100 pts on anyone just seems unfair unless it was one of those generational type players coming out.
- 2sticks1puck

If Kakko goes first, this blog should be fun....

The con on Kakko is that he's doing this on international ice surface size, while Hughes is doing it on a smarll ice surface like the NHL. Doesn't matter. Both are gonig to be really good.
- tomburton99

It'd be nice if they could switch to that big surface. I like it.

I honestly think Kakko is a much safer pick, given his success against men, but I think Hughes has a higher ceiling. Kakko's skating isn't even in the same universe as Hughes'.
- eichiefs9

JRR knows all about that type of success

I think it's a bit like in the NFL big strong armed QBs. No doubt that Hughes has a boatload of talent that deserves a high pick. However, I think it's alot of raw talent that GMs hope comes together.

Kakko is already playing and scoring consistently in a men's league. Again, I think 5 years from now we will look at Kakko and go duh, of course he should have gone #1. I'm also tempering my expectations. Honestly, if he was just a 65-70 pt a year guy that's a player you can build around. Putting an expectation of coming close to 40-50 goals or 100 pts on anyone just seems unfair unless it was one of those generational type players coming out.
- 2sticks1puck

I am and he will do it for the Rangers

All in

I can transition into being hyped about Hughes very quickly on the fly
- jimbro83

Hughes would deserve the hype too. He is just going to take a lil while to mold. What would concern me is we aren't exactly known for having the best developmental coaching. Hughes is going to need some coaching, although he can do alot on talent alone. Kakko can just step on the ice and be a pro almost right away.

JRR knows all about that type of success
- TPC

I think it's the other way around, men usually have success with me.