Todd Cordell: Defending Jack Hughes

Thanks Todd

Not saying it's a direct comparison, but it's like comparing Crosby and Ovechkin, or McDavid and Laine (I know, they weren't the same class, but a 1-year separation).

All 4 are legit elite stars. The former in both cases is the smaller, yet craftier player, and the latter in both cases is the player who can dominate based on talent coupled with superior physical strength. Crosby, McDavid, and Hughes have been consensus #1 picks since they were 15 years old, and nothing done in one tournament, let alone 3 games, should change that. I'm sure that both Hughes and Kakko will be good players, but Hughes should still go #1.

Doesn't matter. DET getting the Russian kid at 6 and will win the draft.

I'm hoping the US coaching staff gives Hughes significantly more minutes (including some PP time) over the next three games (Great Britain, Denmark, Germany) being as those are weaker teams.

Another thing that I saw somebody point out on Twitter (forget who) is that Kakko has been practicing with essentially this exact Team Finland for weeks and played a bunch of pre-tournament games with them, and he actually didn't produce very much at all in those early games. Not to mention what we all know about Kakko playing in a men's league all year, it's not remotely surprising that he's significantly more adjusted and comfortable playing in a tournament like this than Hughes is.

Not saying it's a direct comparison, but it's like comparing Crosby and Ovechkin, or McDavid and Laine (I know, they weren't the same class, but a 1-year separation).

All 4 are legit elite stars. The former in both cases is the smaller, yet craftier player, and the latter in both cases is the player who can dominate based on talent coupled with superior physical strength. Crosby, McDavid, and Hughes have been consensus #1 picks since they were 15 years old, and nothing done in one tournament, let alone 3 games, should change that. I'm sure that both Hughes and Kakko will be good players, but Hughes should still go #1.
- jmatchett383

Also a Hughes/Hischier/Zacha/Zajac down the middle would be tremendous for New Jersey

Doesn't matter. DET getting the Russian kid at 6 and will win the draft.
- Feds91Stammer

they're taking Spencer Knight

Todd Cordell: Defending Jack Hughes
- Todd.Cordell

Great blog

Also a Hughes/Hischier/Zacha/Zajac down the middle would be tremendous for New Jersey
- Streit2ThePoint

All busts

they're taking Spencer Knight
- jimbro83

I’ll fight you.

I’ll fight you.
- RafiDRW

I'd be shocked if NJ picks Kakko over Hughes even with how the current tournament is playing out.

Center is always valued more than wing. This is kind of like Matthews vs. Laine. Laine had a good showing at the WC and people started talking that he was going to surpass Matthews. Didn't happen. And after watching Laine for the last 3 Years, it was the right decision.

I wonder if Kakko went to the U18 tournament and then showed up at this one, if he would be playing at the same level. Hughes dominated that tournament and then traveled straight over for this one. I'd assumed the US coaching staff wasn't going to run him into the ground, and with the roster thy have, he doesn't have to be leaned on at all.

In the end, him just practicing and playing against men (for the first time, unlike Kakko) will benefit the team that drafts him. Kakko will be good, but Hughes has a higher ceiling.

All busts
- shvingter88

allah willing

they're taking Spencer Knight
- jimbro83

Yeah with one of their 2nds

It doesn't matter what's been going on and how much people are losing their poop about Hughes vs. Kakko. Just like it didn't matter with Nico vs. Nolan. What matters is that Ray Shero gets good insight from our scouting department and makes the best choice. I'm not going to pretend I really know who that is but in my head it's Hughes.

That said, I have to admire Kakko playing so well on a team without any real NHL quality players (other then him, apparently). It's impressive and if I was the Rangers I'd be pretty excited as (frank) because they have no pressure in making the pick and are going to get a great player; regardless of which way the Devils go on this.

Yeah with one of their 2nds
- Feds91Stammer

there isn't anything more boring than taking a goalie with a high pick

there isn't anything more boring than taking a goalie with a high pick
- jimbro83

The Red Wings will pick some unknown Russian or Swedish player in the 6th round and he'll go on to be a HHOFer. They're due.

All busts
- shvingter88

Trade them for J-Bo.

The Red Wings will pick some unknown Russian or Swedish player in the 6th round and he'll go on to be a HHOFer. They're due.
- jmatchett383

Agreed. Yzerman will take a guy in the 3rd that doesn't even have a hockeydb page.

Agreed. Yzerman will take a guy in the 3rd that doesn't even have a hockeydb page.
- Feds91Stammer

Great blog Todd!! Threw some punches in there lol

Recency bias. It's Hughes and the only people saying otherwise are people who are contrarians, need clicks or views or are Rangers fans. It's Hughes

Recency bias. It's Hughes and the only people saying otherwise are people who are contrarians, need clicks or views or are Rangers fans. It's Hughes-Takemedrunkimhome

No it's the size brigade , there on here every year i.e people who are just obsessed with how tall a player is and will use it as a reasoning to draft someone or as an excuse for why the team will be going through a bad patch.
it was there reason for wanting zacha over barzel, Nolan over hischer. They will also give bigger guys ability's that they haven't earned, like the magical power forward quote, every god dam year some idiot on this board will justify picking the bigger guy because he's going to be this amazing power forward smashing people up, even if that person doesn't play like that AT ALL, as if this is the 1995 NHL but if there 6ft2 and above there getting that power forward analogy, moreso who ever the smaller guy is the people who want the bigger guy will use the (I saw said player get pushed of the puck) every god dam player in the NHL gets pushed of the puck, but they need there excuse for not picking the smaller guy or adding more bigger guys to the team especially if the smaller guys stats are better, oh and least I forget the classic, "with him being bigger he will get injured less" can't forget that one.

No it's the size brigade , there on here every year i.e people who are just obsessed with how tall a player is and will use it as a reasoning to draft someone or as an excuse for why the team will be going through a bad patch.
it was there reason for wanting zacha over barzel, Nolan over hischer. They will also give bigger guys ability's that they haven't earned, like the magical power forward quote, every god dam year some idiot on this board will justify picking the bigger guy because he's going to be this amazing power forward smashing people up, even if that person doesn't play like that AT ALL, as if this is the 1995 NHL but if there 6ft2 and above there getting that power forward analogy, moreso who ever the smaller guy is the people who want the bigger guy will use the (I saw said player get pushed of the puck) every god dam player in the NHL gets pushed of the puck, but they need there excuse for not picking the smaller guy or adding more bigger guys to the team especially if the smaller guys stats are better, oh and least I forget the classic, "with him being bigger he will get injured less" can't forget that one.
- cu45161

i like it when people type really long posts and use almost no punctuation so i cant see where one thought ends and the other begins it makes it really confusing to read what you write and try to make sense of but i guess its okay since if i say this im part of the grammar police so i wont.

That said, "size" should be one of the last metrics used to judge an 18-year-old.

iThat said, "size" should be one of the last metrics used to judge an 18-year-old.
- jmatchett383

That's what she said.



or probably not.