He’ll look good on the rangers
- shvingter88

no way man, we just signed Rykov to his ELC

no way man, we just signed Rykov to his ELC
- jimbro83

Who

Who
- shvingter88

The next Sergachev

I think I went one year without reading one of his posts just because of how much he wrote.
- shvingter88

Still not as unreadable as blizzard's wall of texts... he never hit enter ever...

Forsberg isn't even close to a "far back to remember category"

Doesn't even matter which they choose honestly..i prefer the center but will not be upset or anything if they pick kakko..he seems determined to be first finn to go first

Any time I sit down at look at some stats from the last couple years for both Hughes and Kakko, I end up being decently in the Hughes camp, but it's tough

Hughes compares very favorably to Matthews, Eichel, Kane, and others when you look at all his draft-1 year numbers (USHL, USNTDP, U18, WJC, etc) and was younger than all of those guys at the same point. Unfortunately you can't compare Hughes' USHL/USNTDP numbers this year with Matthews/Eichel/Kane being as those guys played in different leagues their draft year, and it's tough to compare WJC because Hughes was hurt for most of it.

Kakko compares decently favorable to Laine, Barkov, and Rantanen when looking at his draft year Liga stats, as well as this year and draft-1 year international numbers.

Overall I feel like Hughes comparisons ultimately make him look more impressive, partially because I think it's fair to say Matthews + Eichel + Kane > Barkov + Laine + Rantanen and Hughes numbers compared to the USA guys I think are slightly more impressive than Kakko's numbers compared to the Finnish guys.

And then you watch any game in this WC tournament and Kakko is insane...while Hughes is good if not spectacular.

To me, it really seems that Hughes is the slightly more high risk high reward pick of the two. If he "pans out" to what scouts think his potential is, he could be an elite scoring center. Kakko seems to me like the "safer" pick, I'm more confident he'll walk right into the league and be awesome, but I think the best-realistic-case-scenario for Hughes is better than Kakko.
- MannySilvers

Hughes first 2 games could've had several assists & a couple of goals. The 2 that stood out the most to me where 1: gorgeous pass to VanRiemsdyk where he would've had a wide open net. Great defensive play to tie up VanRiemsdyk's stick. How often does that happen to JVR?? I think he took Slovakia lightly or was shocked Hughes could make that pass. 2: he took an impossible angle shot & somehow almost put it in. It went off the crossbar where 2 guys whiffed at a half open net. Then later I forget what game it was but he got absolutely robbed by the goalie diving back & getting it with his glove.

So let's say Hughes has 2 goals & 3 assists in 5 games in his first time playing against men in a limited role. Kakko has 5 goals & 1 assist in 5 games in a prominent role with 2 empty netters. What would be more impressive?? Hughes has had bad puck luck where Kakko hasn't. I'm extremely impressed by the poise of Hughes. Even with Kakko having a great tournament Hughes doesn't seem phased in the least bit. He's not trying to go out & do to much which leads to mistakes. He's settled into his role, he's letting the game come to him & he's been solid with or without the puck. Sometimes us fans get 2 hung up on points. Palmieri had at least 2 goals in what the first 5 games of this season. That doesn't & didn't make him the next Kucherov. You've got to take at least the full last 2yrs of both of them into consideration & not this 1 two week tournament. Does it add in? Absolutely. If coming into this tournament u were 50/50 I could see this being the difference. Scouts take the whole game into account & not just the point totals. I think both are gonna be Superstars in different styles of playing the game. Time will ultimately tell. I'm for Hughes but would be thrilled with either. The debate about the 2 is really fun.

your text books were things of beauty.
- Pomegrant

awe, that means a lot coming from you

awe, that means a lot coming from you
- MartysBetter88

i didn't read any of them though

i didn't read any of them though
- Pomegrant

lol