Prospect Info: The Second Overall Pick Thread: Part I (Kakko/Hughes Talk)

[Ori]

We need to post political so in a scenario Devils need a center and maybe we need to tone down all the Kakko talks - he is not a Canadian player so he need to learn the language, right.. And guys from Finland take a while to learn english normally - so it might be a language barrier. And while Jack Hughes fit right in into Devils lineup an elite center like a silk glove - which people all around the world have talked about for years now!

Well so we probably end up with Kaapo Kakko who need to learn english, but I`m so happy about it and take the risk!

 

[ijuka]

It might’ve been buried in the other thread so I’m not sure if anyone saw it

If anyone wants to see more of Kakko to get a feel for his game, a subscription to ProspectShifts.com is literally $5 a month. They have a ton of Kakko shift by shifts which is worth it in itself for $5. They post shift by shifts every day and I’m pretty sure they have at least one for 100+ eligible guys. No I am not being paid to say this lol

Yeah, a single $5 payment in the month leading up to the draft is a very good investment, allowing you to check all the videos of a prospect you'd like, though subscribing for the entire year seems very pointless to me.

There also are some free videos. For example, this shift-by-shift is a free sample that is quite recent, probably useful for taking a look at how he plays the game: Kaapo Kakko vs JYP | Feb 13 2019

 

[BB88]

Laine is a one dimensional player Kakko does it all imo.

For sure Kakko looks like the superior overall player.

Laine has the shot, but Kakko doesn't have a major weakness to his game.
He's going to be a nightmare to get off the puck, he can already bully men, what will be in few years?

 

[Bob Richards]

what a time
https://flic.kr/p/2fpsdGQ

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

what a time

​

GAHHH!

As for comparisons, I see a better Landeskog.

 

[Bluenote13]

http://www.mynhldraft.com/NHL-Mock-Draft/

I like their top ten already if you switch Dach and Byram.

LA heavily scouted Cozens, makes sense.

Don't care for the other two firsts they have us taking.​

 

[Edge]

Oh edge. Why you do this to our fan base. Lol.

For the record, I like Kakko better.

Better overall player, none of the personality concerns.

 

[Ghost of jas]

I think it's quite obvious that when the Rangers select Kakko, he will be the best forward prospect this team has ever drafted. (I know, not a high bar...)

 

[DutchShamrock]

Didn't Gorton have Svechnikov as the top forward last year with Kratsov after him at 2 or 3? Its not like Gorton has absurd rankings. He had Petterson #1. He wanted Keller. Its blown out of proportion when all Gorton is guilty of is taking Anderson over Mittlestadt and Kratsov over Wahlstrom. You will shave years off your life if you overthink this.

 

[AIexisLafreniereNYR]

I wasn’t expecting Kaako’s numbers to be so staggering in the Finnish league but holy shit his number are impressive. 22 goals in 45 games? 4 goals in 5 games in the playoffs? As a 17 year old. The Rangers has never drafted this caliber of player since Brian Leetch.

 

[Edge]

http://www.mynhldraft.com/NHL-Mock-Draft/

I like their top ten already if you switch Dach and Byram.

LA heavily scouted Cozens, makes sense.

Don't care for the other two firsts they have us taking.​

I know this sounds stupid, but there really is part of me that is going to miss discussions and the possibility of Cozens, Turcotte, Zegras or Byram.

Not that I would trade places, but those were the names we spent so much time with. There’s an attachment there.

 

[Edge]

I wasn’t expecting Kaako’s numbers to be so staggering in the Finnish league but holy **** his number are impressive. 22 goals in 45 games? 4 goals in 5 games in the playoffs? As a 17 year old. The Rangers has never drafted this caliber of player since Brian Leetch.

Here’s the sick part. Leetch was not seen as that caliber of player in 1986.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

For the record, I like Kakko better.

Better overall player, none of the personality concerns.

Oh, EFF. Now, we're drafting like Caufield #2OA.

 

[InTheShift]

What a time to be alive. I couldn’t imagine things breaking this way.

 

[Edge]

I think is quite obvious that when the rangers select Kakko, he will be the best forward prospect this team has ever drafted. (I know, not a high bar...)

You can make the argument he will be the most hyped and well regarded player the Rangers have ever drafted - period.

That’s not a comparison to the careers of all time greats, it’s looking at how players were viewed at the time of their drafting.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

Here’s the sick part. Leetch was not seen as that caliber of player in 1986.

Wait, what? I thought it all came down to uncertainty because he was a high school kid.

 

[Zibanejbread]

I know this sounds stupid, but there really is part of me that is going to miss discussions and the possibility of Cozens, Turcotte, Zegras or Byram.

Not that I would trade places, but those were the names we spent so much time with. There’s an attachment there.

Same. I was ready for Turcotte... I'll take Hughes/Kakko as a consolation though. Haha

 

[InTheShift]

I know this sounds stupid, but there really is part of me that is going to miss discussions and the possibility of Cozens, Turcotte, Zegras or Byram.

Not that I would trade places, but those were the names we spent so much time with. There’s an attachment there.

I was so on board the Zegras train because our luck couldn’t be this good. What do I do now? Oh that’s right, strut.

 

[Bluenote13]

I think is quite obvious that when the rangers select Kakko, he will be the best forward prospect this team has ever drafted. (I know, not a high bar...)

Crazy to think about, such unchartered waters for even the most seasoned blueblood.

 

[Gospel of Prospal]

I already have my new username picked out: Kappo Feel

I have dibs!

 

[Uncle Dru]

2019 NHL Draft prospect profile: Kaapo Kakko may be the best player available

Cool article about Kakko's season/playoffs and him playing very well at C

 

[Edge]

Wait, what? I thought it all came down to uncertainty because he was a high school kid.

It was a question of size, defense and competition too.

Forget what Leetch became, at that draft in 1986 he well-regarded, but not at this level heading into the draft.

 

[Ori]

For the record, I like Kakko better.

Better overall player, none of the personality concerns.

Still 2 months until draft and a GM usually value a center especially if he has elite skills like Jack Hughes.
But if it was up to me this evening - I would end up on Kaapo Kakko too - so I like kakko better as well @Edge
I talked about positivity and see what happened, we end up with an elite talent - a franchise player in 2019 draft - who had thought!

 

[Tawnos]

Crazy to think about, such unchartered waters for even the most seasoned blueblood.

Can I just say... I’ve seen this several times from a few different posters the last few days....

The proper phrase is uncharted waters, not unchartered.

This is very important to me, as someone who makes maps for a living.

 

[EEDAWGZ]

So, who from the Devils organization said they’re going Hughes?