Todd Cordell: Kaapo Kakko's strong start at the Worlds doesn't change anything

What about Hughes maturity level overall? Have you seen any of his interviews they are cringey.

Todd what are youre thoughts on the other prospects in the later rounds

This is the blog I needed to read. I am grounded again.

What about Hughes maturity level overall? Have you seen any of his interviews they are cringey.
- zipfel

He's 17.

Still, I think he's doing fine enough in the ones I've seen

What about Hughes maturity level overall? Have you seen any of his interviews they are cringey.

These guys live, eat, sleep, and breathe hockey for their whole adolescent years. They don't have a whole lot of time to themselves for character development. He'll have a lot more personality when he's 23. I have no complaints that a player is well-adjusted.

Ty Smith shows about as much personality. So did Connor McDavid when drafted, etc.

And my opinion isn't changed. Laine also stole the show from Matthews a few years ago; Matthews still ended up being the right pick.

I would certainly like to see Hughes get on the score sheet, but he isn't exactly getting much playing time. I don't think he saw a shift for nearly 10 minutes in the second period of the Slovakia game. When he was getting a quasi-regular shift they were all over the Slovaks. When he is on the ice, i'm amazed at how fast this kid is. He is literally a child among men, and his speed is still noticeable. Factor in that he is moving at those speeds while controlling the puck and you can see why he is predicted to go #1.

Kakko is pretty damn impressive too, but the thought of having Nico and Hughes centering our top two lines for years to comes, is to hard to pass up. I will predict that Kakko outscores Hughes two-to-one in the coming year, but Hughes will close the points gap in assists.

Kaako has been amazing so far in this tournament, but you have to take Finland’s lack of depth into consideration as well as USAs deep team.

Jack has played a lot more hockey recently and when he was breaking records in the U18s everyone was sure he was #1. Now it’s Kaako having a strong start in Worlds and now people are saying he should be #1. Recency bias is swaying a lot of people right now and it’s frustrating. This would be a lot easier if Kaako was just having a bad tournament lol.

Also, Todd what have you thought about Bratt so far in the tournament? His skating and puck handling has looked exceptional thus far.

It’s always has and will be Hughes at 1. Kakko is a great player but you always take the elite center over the winger

What about Hughes maturity level overall? Have you seen any of his interviews they are cringey.
- zipfel

He's 17...

Just a thought. If nj has strong doubts (just if not implying they do) that Hall will resign and if they like kappo a ton could they go with him over Hughes and try for their 2nd line center in a Hall deal?

Just a thought. If nj has strong doubts (just if not implying they do) that Hall will resign and if they like kappo a ton could they go with him over Hughes and try for their 2nd line center in a Hall deal?
- ChrisMS

I can't imagine that anyone would give up a good enough center to make it worth it. Centers are much harder to find. From what I've heard from Shero, it seems like he is confident he will get a deal done. It would be interesting to see what we would be able to get though.

Doesn’t matter who they draft. They won’t win a cup with either 😂

Doesn’t matter who they draft. They won’t win a cup with either 😂
- KINGS67

Aw, somebody’s a lil upset they didn’t get a lottery pick 🙁

Nico with the game winner late in the Swiss/Lavtia game

Todd Cordell: Kaapo Kakko's strong start at the Worlds doesn't change anything
- Todd.Cordell

Huge bust

I can't imagine that anyone would give up a good enough center to make it worth it. Centers are much harder to find. From what I've heard from Shero, it seems like he is confident he will get a deal done. It would be interesting to see what we would be able to get though.
- Devils4ever

Shero gonna trade hall for malkin

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 imagine 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.

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.

And for anyone curious, Kane was six months older than Hughes will be come draft day. His D-1 PPG for the USNTDP was 1.76 - and I do recognize that Hughes played on a more talented USNTDP team than either Matthews or Kane did.

Aw, somebody’s a lil upset they didn’t get a lottery pick 🙁
- dcetlin

I’m going to go ahead and say kings will be better than NJ in 2 years. They’re still going to get a great player at 5 and combined that if vilardi ever plays LA>NJ hands down in a couple years. I also think Kings have better prospects.

(frank) yeah I’m mad I’ve already admitted that. Like I said NJ is the new oilers. What have they done recently? With multiple #1 and top 10 picks, I’ll remind you nothing. LOL.

LA will be better than NJ. SCREEN SHOT THIS. Then come back to me in a couple years. I’ll be here.

PS
2012 was a great year 😎😘

I’m going to go ahead and say kings will be better than NJ in 2 years. They’re still going to get a great player at 5 and combined that if vilardi ever plays LA>NJ hands down in a couple years. I also think Kings have better prospects.

(frank) yeah I’m mad I’ve already admitted that. Like I said NJ is the new oilers. What have they done recently? With multiple #1 and top 10 picks, I’ll remind you nothing. LOL.

LA will be better than NJ. SCREEN SHOT THIS. Then come back to me in a couple years. I’ll be here.

PS
2012 was a great year 😎😘
- KINGS67

Multiple number one picks? This the teams second ever and the kid hasn’t even played yet. And the first overall pick is going into his third season after have two really good years.

They picked 17th last year
1st in 2017
12th in 2016
6th in 2015
30th in 2014
No first in 2013
29th in 2012
4th in 2011
No first in 2010
20th in 2009
24th in 2008

How far back should we go until you realize that they haven’t had many top 10 picks?

Multiple number one picks? This the teams second ever and the kid hasn’t even played yet. And the first overall pick is going into his third season after have two really good years.

They picked 17th last year
1st in 2017
12th in 2016
6th in 2015
30th in 2014
No first in 2013
29th in 2012
4th in 2011
No first in 2010
20th in 2009
24th in 2008

How far back should we go until you realize that they haven’t had many top 10 picks?
- shvingter88

Want to know how many #1 picks the kings have? ONE back in 1967. Doesn’t count

2 lottery wins in 3 years is good enough to prove my point. 3 top 6 in the last 5. 4 top 6 picks in the last 9 years (basically 50% in almost 10 years

The last top pick for the kings. Goes back 10 years to schenn at 5 (2009) and Doughty year prior. Kings don’t need #1 picks to win. Teams like NJ and EDM sure do in the cap era. LOL

Either way LA>NJ in 2 years. Book it.

I’m going to go ahead and say kings will be better than NJ in 2 years. They’re still going to get a great player at 5 and combined that if vilardi ever plays LA>NJ hands down in a couple years. I also think Kings have better prospects.

(frank) yeah I’m mad I’ve already admitted that. Like I said NJ is the new oilers. What have they done recently? With multiple #1 and top 10 picks, I’ll remind you nothing. LOL.
LA will be better than NJ. SCREEN SHOT THIS. Then come back to me in a couple years. I’ll be here.

PS
2012 was a great year 😎😘
- KINGS67

You're paying Kovalchuk and Phaneuf 11.5 combined for 3 more years. You're paying Brown 6 million for 4. You're paying a 33 year old Quick 6 million for 5 more years.

But yeah, I'm sure Kupari and Vilardi will just vault you guys to the top.

You're paying Kovalchuk and Phaneuf 11.5 combined for 3 more years. You're paying Brown 6 million for 4. You're paying a 33 year old Quick 6 million for 5 more years.

But yeah, I'm sure Kupari and Vilardi will just vault you guys to the top.
- willschulme

Quick > Schneider about the same contract left. Quick is more effective if in the playoffs.

Kovalchuck can still score. Brown was very effective this year on a bad team. A buyout will come for phaneuf either this year or next. Not worried.

In 2020 money is not an issue for either team so it’s pretty irrelevant, but I do feel LA has the better team come 2020. Like I said. Screen shot. I’ll be here.

Edit. Also very good chance Quick is traded and begins the Cal Petersson era. Who showed so promise this year

I’m going to go ahead and say kings will be better than NJ in 2 years. They’re still going to get a great player at 5 and combined that if vilardi ever plays LA>NJ hands down in a couple years. I also think Kings have better prospects.

(frank) yeah I’m mad I’ve already admitted that. Like I said NJ is the new oilers. What have they done recently? With multiple #1 and top 10 picks, I’ll remind you nothing. LOL.

LA will be better than NJ. SCREEN SHOT THIS. Then come back to me in a couple years. I’ll be here.

PS
2012 was a great year 😎😘
- KINGS67

Bro its called a rebuild. Every team in a rebuild wants as many top picks as possible. I'll chalk it up to you having nothing to do on a sunny sunday.

Want to know how many #1 picks the kings have? ONE back in 1967. Doesn’t count

2 lottery wins in 3 years is good enough to prove my point. 3 top 6 in the last 5. 4 top 6 picks in the last 9 years (basically 50% in almost 10 years

The last top pick for the kings. Goes back 10 years to schenn at 5 (2009) and Doughty year prior. Kings don’t need #1 picks to win. Teams like NJ and EDM sure do in the cap era. LOL

Either way LA>NJ in 2 years. Book it.
- KINGS67

You’re right, their 2019 pick hasn’t put up one point yet. Might go down as one of the worst picks. Luckily the Kings 2019 pick has scored so much for them already.