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Forums :: Blog World :: Eklund: Kaapo Kakko Amazing All At Worlds. Is He the Best? Buzz@3
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Eklund
Commissioner
Joined: 09.15.2005

May 13 @ 11:58 AM ET
Eklund: Kaapo Kakko Amazing All At Worlds. Is He the Best? Buzz@3
jimbro83
New York Rangers
Location: Lets Go Rangers!, NY
Joined: 12.25.2009

May 13 @ 12:00 PM ET
I can't imagine watching Kakko right now and deciding to pass on him
Aetherial
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: Has anyone discussed the standings today?
Joined: 06.30.2006

May 13 @ 12:03 PM ET
I can't imagine watching Kakko right now and deciding to pass on him
- jimbro83


So Hughes - Kakko is this years' Matthews - Laine?

Pretty sure Matthews was the better choice. Do you think there is a chance Hughes is the better player?


BlackhawkMike
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: IL
Joined: 06.30.2011

May 13 @ 12:15 PM ET
I would pass on Kakko and let Chicago take their chances on him.
Slimtj100
New York Rangers
Location: Panarins NYC apt
Joined: 03.04.2013

May 13 @ 12:22 PM ET
I would pass on Kakko and let Chicago take their chances on him.
- BlackhawkMike

Haha

Who do the hawks take at 3?

Byram probably according to those in the know
gergeswillems
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Malkin wants to be The Man, ON
Joined: 02.01.2016

May 13 @ 12:23 PM ET
Why do you keep calling every top pick "Generational"?
Sandro
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: Toronto, ON
Joined: 07.10.2009

May 13 @ 12:25 PM ET
there is NO way Hughes is passed-up by New Jersey. Centremen always hold more value than Wingers. Not taking anything away from Kappo, but at the end of the day, Hughes is the consensus #1 pick. He makes players around him better and has great vision on the ice.
gergeswillems
Detroit Red Wings
Location: Malkin wants to be The Man, ON
Joined: 02.01.2016

May 13 @ 12:26 PM ET
there is NO way Hughes is passed-up by New Jersey. Centremen always hold more value than Wingers. Not taking anything away from Kappo, but at the end of the day, Hughes is the consensus #1 pick. He makes players around him better and has great vision on the ice.
- Sandro

Agreed. Ek's just trying to get clicks.
Sandro
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: Toronto, ON
Joined: 07.10.2009

May 13 @ 12:32 PM ET
Haha

Who do the hawks take at 3?

Byram probably according to those in the know

- Slimtj100


Chicago will take Centre Alex Turcotte with the number 3 pick.

Harambe
Columbus Blue Jackets
Location: Cincinatti Zoo - Gorilla Enclosure, OH
Joined: 07.28.2016

May 13 @ 12:35 PM ET
Chicago will take Centre Alex Turcotte with the number 3 pick.
- Sandro

Turcotte and Byram are separating themselves from the pack for the 3/4 picks with Zegras probably right on their tail

Biggest faller is going to be Podkolzin, nobody is going to want to touch him early with him under contract for two more years in Russia
Slimtj100
New York Rangers
Location: Panarins NYC apt
Joined: 03.04.2013

May 13 @ 12:41 PM ET
Turcotte and Byram are separating themselves from the pack for the 3/4 picks with Zegras probably right on their tail

Biggest faller is going to be Podkolzin, nobody is going to want to touch him early with him under contract for two more years in Russia

- Harambe

I want the Rangers to trade up for Zegras. Probably wishful thinking
Harambe
Columbus Blue Jackets
Location: Cincinatti Zoo - Gorilla Enclosure, OH
Joined: 07.28.2016

May 13 @ 12:43 PM ET
I want the Rangers to trade up for Zegras. Probably wishful thinking
- Slimtj100

Not happening

It would cost you guys so much more to trade up into the top-10 than you'd want to pay. Teams don't trade those picks too often these days, unless they think it's for something that fills a major need, like NJD trading the 7th overall to VAN for Schneider
MannySilvers
New Jersey Devils
Location: ROCK LAND, NY
Joined: 10.07.2010

May 13 @ 12:43 PM ET
Where Hughes' birthday falls is an interesting factor in looking at his stats and comparing him to other players. His late birthday (young for the draft) is the reason he still played for the USNTDP his draft year whereas players like Kane and Matthews didn't.

Take the Matthews comparison. Matthews was eight months older when he was drafted than Hughes will be. Maybe I'm wrong, but I feel like when discussing 16-18 year olds, an eight month age gap is pretty significant, and I'm sure there are many cases where an eight month gap or less is the difference in what year a player is draft eligible.

In Matthews D-1 year, he put up 1.95 PPG for the USNTDP, second highest PPG in the program's history. In Hughes' D-1 year, he was just behind Matthews at 1.93 PPG. That was Matthews age 17 season, whereas it was Hughes' age 16 season. Hughes' age 17 season? This past year where he put up 2.24 PPG, the highest in USNTDP history.

If Matthews was born two days earlier than he was, that 1.95 PPG age 17 season would have been his draft year. I wonder how different the hype would have been for him if that was his draft year and not D-1 (not to mention that if that were the case, he definitely would have gone after McDavid in 2015, not sure about Eichel).

I'm not at all saying Hughes > Matthews (and no reputable scout is either) but it does bring up an interesting question in evaluating players' long term projections based on draft year vs based on age. Hughes' numbers are very impressive when you look at it purely on draft year. If you look purely at age his numbers seem insane. The "truth" is probably somewhere in the middle.

Many scouts who have Hughes over Kakko concede that Kakko is more NHL ready and is likely to have a better rookie year than Hughes. That definitely shows so far in the WC tournament. Ultimately when you're drafting it's about "how good will this player be over their career" not "who is the better player right now."

As of a week ago seemingly ever single reputable draft/prospects expert has Hughes #1, I don't think a few games at a single tournament changes that. Ultimately I trust Shero and the Devils scouting staff to make the right call. Both players will likely be great.
Sandro
Toronto Maple Leafs
Location: Toronto, ON
Joined: 07.10.2009

May 13 @ 12:49 PM ET
Turcotte and Byram are separating themselves from the pack for the 3/4 picks with Zegras probably right on their tail

Biggest faller is going to be Podkolzin, nobody is going to want to touch him early with him under contract for two more years in Russia

- Harambe


Byram is a solid D-Man....Chicago will def Consider him at #3, but with the Blackhawks loading up on D-men in the last couple years of Drafting (Boqvist, Beaudin, Jokiharju, Mitchell) would be nice for them to have Alex Turcotte and Dylan Strome as their Future Centremen, since Toews is starting to get a bit long in the tooth.

I can See LA landing Bryam at #5, with Dylan Cozens (Centre) going #4 (Colorado)
Xizord
Montreal Canadiens
Location: I am Eklund, QC
Joined: 01.03.2007

May 13 @ 12:50 PM ET
So Hughes - Kakko is this years' Matthews - Laine?

Pretty sure Matthews was the better choice. Do you think there is a chance Hughes is the better player?

- Aetherial


I was thinking it Ovy / Malkin

Can't go wrong either way I think...

Question is : will we have a Cam barker at #3 ?
BlackhawkMike
Chicago Blackhawks
Location: IL
Joined: 06.30.2011

May 13 @ 12:51 PM ET
Haha

Who do the hawks take at 3?

Byram probably according to those in the know

- Slimtj100



I think they possibly take Cozens or trade down a couple of picks and look at Caufield.
youarewrong
Philadelphia Flyers
Location: Newark, DE
Joined: 07.07.2010

May 13 @ 12:53 PM ET
I said this back when I watched the WJC. Hughes has higher upside AND higher bust potential. Kakko is more of a safe pick and will be a top player. So it comes down to would you rather take a shot a Super potential and possible bust, or a sure franchise player.

If I'm Devils I take Kakko.

Hall-Hischer-Kakko..... yea...
Harambe
Columbus Blue Jackets
Location: Cincinatti Zoo - Gorilla Enclosure, OH
Joined: 07.28.2016

May 13 @ 1:04 PM ET
I said this back when I watched the WJC. Hughes has higher upside AND higher bust potential. Kakko is more of a safe pick and will be a top player. So it comes down to would you rather take a shot a Super potential and possible bust, or a sure franchise player.

If I'm Devils I take Kakko.

Hall-Hischer-Kakko..... yea...

- youarewrong

Can't really bank on Hall being around after next season just yet
Harambe
Columbus Blue Jackets
Location: Cincinatti Zoo - Gorilla Enclosure, OH
Joined: 07.28.2016

May 13 @ 1:05 PM ET
Byram is a solid D-Man....Chicago will def Consider him at #3, but with the Blackhawks loading up on D-men in the last couple years of Drafting (Boqvist, Beaudin, Jokiharju, Mitchell) would be nice for them to have Alex Turcotte and Dylan Strome as their Future Centremen, since Toews is starting to get a bit long in the tooth.

I can See LA landing Bryam at #5, with Dylan Cozens (Centre) going #4 (Colorado)

- Sandro

Yeah I think it's a safe bet that Colorado isn't drafting a defenseman. A lot is going to hinge on what Chicago does. I think Turcotte is the pick, but I'm a dead gorilla...what do I know?
Slimtj100
New York Rangers
Location: Panarins NYC apt
Joined: 03.04.2013

May 13 @ 1:20 PM ET
Not happening

It would cost you guys so much more to trade up into the top-10 than you'd want to pay. Teams don't trade those picks too often these days, unless they think it's for something that fills a major need, like NJD trading the 7th overall to VAN for Schneider

- Harambe

Well look at Edm and Buffalo. They have some serious pressure to start winning more games ASAP and make the playoffs. If you gave one of them 20, Kreider and one more piece (like Hajek, Lundkvist, Lias, maybe even Deangelo) I think you could get it done. Signing Kreider long term would be an important factor obviously

The gap between 8 and 20 isn’t that crazy according to pundits, especially to a team looking to make the playoffs. Either way you’d be waiting on a kid for 2 years. A few guys I heard said the top 20 in general is pretty loaded.
Harambe
Columbus Blue Jackets
Location: Cincinatti Zoo - Gorilla Enclosure, OH
Joined: 07.28.2016

May 13 @ 1:27 PM ET
Well look at Edm and Buffalo. They have some serious pressure to start winning more games ASAP and make the playoffs. If you gave one of them 20, Kreider and one more piece (like Hajek, Lundkvist, Lias, maybe even Deangelo) I think you could get it done. Signing Kreider long term would be an important factor obviously

The gap between 8 and 20 isn’t that crazy according to pundits, especially to a team looking to make the playoffs. Either way you’d be waiting on a kid for 2 years. A few guys I heard said the top 20 in general is pretty loaded.

- Slimtj100

I don't think Kreider has a ton of value to either of those teams with his contract only having a year remaining and I'm not sure that Edmonton can really afford to give a high-dollar contract to Kreider. Maybe Buffalo, if he agreed to an extension, but otherwise I don't think they'd have that kind of interest in a UFA-to-be.

Also, who said that the gap between 8 and 20 isn't that big? There is a massive gap in talent between those picks and anyone who says otherwise is wrong. You might get Caufield at 8, you're not getting him at 20.
mdw7413
New York Rangers
Location: I would rather see a dudes hairy balls than his hairy feet-Jimbro
Joined: 12.13.2013

May 13 @ 1:31 PM ET
Well look at Edm and Buffalo. They have some serious pressure to start winning more games ASAP and make the playoffs. If you gave one of them 20, Kreider and one more piece (like Hajek, Lundkvist, Lias, maybe even Deangelo) I think you could get it done. Signing Kreider long term would be an important factor obviously

The gap between 8 and 20 isn’t that crazy according to pundits, especially to a team looking to make the playoffs. Either way you’d be waiting on a kid for 2 years. A few guys I heard said the top 20 in general is pretty loaded.

- Slimtj100

Slimtj100
New York Rangers
Location: Panarins NYC apt
Joined: 03.04.2013

May 13 @ 1:38 PM ET
I don't think Kreider has a ton of value to either of those teams with his contract only having a year remaining and I'm not sure that Edmonton can really afford to give a high-dollar contract to Kreider. Maybe Buffalo, if he agreed to an extension, but otherwise I don't think they'd have that kind of interest in a UFA-to-be.

Also, who said that the gap between 8 and 20 isn't that big? There is a massive gap in talent between those picks and anyone who says otherwise is wrong. You might get Caufield at 8, you're not getting him at 20.

- Harambe


You never know with kids tho.

Kreider can get a first at the deadline but can’t move up 12 spots? You know he’d get a first at the deadline.

I can imagine McDavid and Kreider lighting it up for Edmonton
Slimtj100
New York Rangers
Location: Panarins NYC apt
Joined: 03.04.2013

May 13 @ 1:39 PM ET

- mdw7413

Whatever dude. Stop following me
JKSoule
Joined: 04.22.2015

May 13 @ 1:44 PM ET
Every year the next guy is “generational”.. that term is used WAY to loosely these days.. generational should be reserved for guys that come into the league and are immediately the best player in the world! McDavid, Crosby, Ovechkin, Lindros, Lemieux..

Matthews is not generational.. Neither was Mckinon.. both are stars and likely superstars but not generational!
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