Todd Cordell: The Jack Hughes Blog

Sounds like his game resembles McJesus

So what would you say he needs to work/improve on? He will be very good but what would you say his weakness is?

We can have a team full of playmakers we just need a few finishers

So what would you say he needs to work/improve on? He will be very good but what would you say his weakness is?

We can have a team full of playmakers we just need a few finishers
- dmarsden2988

He himself noted he'd like to get better at faceoffs and finishing from distance

Sounds like the man for us.
Does he have any serious injury history we should know about?

Lets just hope, we can pick up another piece or two in the UFA market, and show enough improvement to get Hall onboard with resigning. It is gonna be bittersweet if i have to watch this legit #1C dishing pucks to the likes of Drew Stafford.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7l8J3dhiK0

This guy is positive kakko is better and faster.

any truth to this?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7l8J3dhiK0

This guy is positive kakko is better and faster.

any truth to this?
- Leniwm1

I like the idea of taking a center. It slides Nico into a 2nd line role, which is where he truly belongs. It pushes Zajac into a third line role, and Zacha into a 4th line center role. We're short on right wings as well, but beings stacked at center ice is more important, in my opinion. As terrible as NJ is at drafting, whichever player we take will likely be outshown by some kid taken 23rd overall. Just our luck. We haven't hit a homerun since Parise. (Not discounting Nico, but too small of a sample size to make a declaration either way.)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T7l8J3dhiK0

This guy is positive kakko is better and faster.

any truth to this?
- Leniwm1

I started laughing when he said Kakko is faster, Kakko is nowhere near Hughes in terms of speed or just skating in general. Just ranger bias trying to hype up their guy that they know they're getting, if they won 1st overall pick they'd be the ones hyping up Hughes right now lol

Very unique player..the way Hughes skates is just different than anybody else. And he's not just a playmaker he loves to shoot the puck as well and has a sneaky good shot. He does remind me of 97 a lil the way he goes 1 on 1 or 1 on 2 and jus slips by defenders

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4h4 hours ago

Button - Jack Hughes is the superior player to everyone in the draft. He's electrifying. Why not take the superior player? I think it's a more closer gap between Kakko and Podkolzin. #NHLDraft

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4h4 hours ago

Button - Jack Hughes is the superior player to everyone in the draft. He's electrifying. Why not take the superior player? I think it's a more closer gap between Kakko and Podkolzin. #NHLDraft
- vlongo4419

That's a hot take. I think Kakko has to be better, not even considering the fact that Podkolzin might play in Russia next year. I actually think Chicago might pick up Byram. They seem thin on defense.

I'll bet a lot it's going to be Hughes-Kakko.

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4h4 hours ago

Button - Jack Hughes is the superior player to everyone in the draft. He's electrifying. Why not take the superior player? I think it's a more closer gap between Kakko and Podkolzin. #NHLDraft
- vlongo4419

I agree with the first part but that second take is a huge reach. Podkolzin isn’t even a lock to go top 5 lol

That's a hot take. I think Kakko has to be better, not even considering the fact that Podkolzin might play in Russia next year. I actually think Chicago might pick up Byram. They seem thin on defense.

I'll bet a lot it's going to be Hughes-Kakko.
- willschulme

I dont even think its that much of a debate tbh, they'll try to make it seem like a debate to increase outside interest and "up the views" imo. Sure Kakko may have closed the gap but i agree with Button that Hughes is the best player in the draft, its still the Jack Hughes draft, and we still won the Jack Hughes sweepstakes. I'd put it at like 95% chance that he's the pick, just because nothing is 100% until its actually done. All of this "coin-flip" talk yet Jack is still heavily the consensus #1 pick and nobody outside of some fans and rando's on the internet or some Ranger-biased reporting is putting Kakko over him lol

I agree with the first part but that second take is a huge reach. Podkolzin isn’t even a lock to go top 5 lol
- Nucker101

Well he's not a lock for top 5 because it may be multiple years before he comes over, which might scare someone off of him, although he may have an opt out of his current contract with SKA. Skill-wise he seems to the consensus 3rd best player in the draft and the BPA at 3. He could be an absolute steal for someone if he falls far enough. Luckily we're not the team that's in the position to take that "risk" or not at 3 or 4

Well he's not a lock for top 5 because it may be multiple years before he comes over, which might scare someone off of him, although he may have an opt out of his current contract with SKA. Skill-wise he seems to the consensus 3rd best player in the draft and the BPA at 3
- vlongo4419

Sometimes players like him get overhyped by the media though. They have the tools but not the hockey sense. I’m not saying he’ll bust but I do believe Hughes and Kakko possess better hockey sense

Todd, we know Shero is a magician with trades, and those 2nd rounders are certainly in play. Do you think this lotto luck puts Zacha on the block or someone else like McLoud? Maybe leverage back into the first round if someone falls?

Sometimes players like him get overhyped by the media though. They have the tools but not the hockey sense. I’m not saying he’ll bust but I do believe Hughes and Kakko possess better hockey sense
- Nucker101

Oh yeah for sure, i think Hughes and Kakko are clearly a tier above everybody else, including Pod. I just agree with Button that Hughes is the best player in the draft, including Kakko, and dont think its much of a debate who the #1 pick will be when Shero walks up to the podium

I keep having an nightmare where we take Kakko and Rangers end up with Jack Hughes and New York completely loses their poop for the next 15 years over it.
It would be one of the worst disasters in NJ Devil's, nay Kansas City Scouts history to date.

Oh yeah for sure, i think Hughes and Kakko are clearly a tier above everybody else, including Pod. I just agree with Button that Hughes is the best player in the draft, including Kakko, and dont think its much of a debate who the #1 pick will be when Shero walks up to the podium
- vlongo4419

You can't lose with Hughes. Passo on Kakko.

You can't lose with Hughes. Passo on Kakko.
- Queenie_5_hole

This.

Even if you think they’re close, you take the Center

I keep having an nightmare where we take Kakko and Rangers end up with Jack Hughes and New York completely loses their poop for the next 15 years over it.
It would be one of the worst disasters in NJ Devil's, nay Kansas City Scouts history to date.
- Queenie_5_hole

The night of the lottery, I had a dream the Devils went off the board and picked someone ranked late first round.

Another question, how much say do they let Hall have about the draft? If Hall walked in (I don't think he would do this, he skates with Hughes in offseason) and said Kakko or I am outo.

I imagine Nico slides down, we saw that he doesn't need to ride Hall to be good. Let him carry 2nd line and Hall break Hughes into the bigs. Also, Palmi who would watch over Hughes for sure.

Another question, how much say do they let Hall have about the draft? If Hall walked in (I don't think he would do this, he skates with Hughes in offseason) and said Kakko or I am outo.

I imagine Nico slides down, we saw that he doesn't need to ride Hall to be good. Let him carry 2nd line and Hall break Hughes into the bigs. Also, Palmi who would watch over Hughes for sure.
- drew18

If anything, Im sure Hall is telling Shero how good hughes is and that he'd be a difference maker.

Also, no sense on putting hughes on top playing agaist the best of the best. Nico is better defensivley to handle that and it'll free up the wizard to do his magic.

Add in a UFA or trade, and we could have so many line possibilities. Should be fun!

So can we all agree that 10 years and 3 Stanley cups later Jack will go to the Canucks to play with his brother 😏