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BUFFALO – Yes, the world championships made you think twice. Finland's Kaapo Kakko has allowed some people to doubt the Devils' stance with No. 1 overall and No. 2 Rangers.
But as the NHL Combine finishes here this weekend, there is still a consensus: New Jersey GM Ray Shero will continue to take Jack Hughes to the top spot on June 21 in Vancouver.
An anonymous survey by the Post of many people in the league and surrounding area concluded that Kakko's performance for his Finnish team, who won the gold medal at the men's international competition in Slovakia last week, raised his stock. This confirmed what Kakko himself said during the tournament, namely that Hughes and he were "nicely equal".
But the most common refrain towards Shero taking Hughes was their shared nationality. John Hynes, Shero and Devils coach, has very close ties to Hughes' US development program, and this seems to be the turning point.
"Well, American hockey family," is the NHL coach who insisted that Hughes play first.
Hughes, who just turned 18 on May 14, has long been considered the key to reaching the top of the overall standings. It's an offensive center with a terrifying talent that has so far softened its 5-foot-11, 170-pound silhouette. Her older brother, Quinn, was ranked 7th overall by the Canucks a year ago. Their father, Jim, had been captain in Providence, the Bruins' assistant coach, director of player development at the Maple Leafs – and had recently been hired to work for CAA, the most influential player agency that will represent Jack. Even their mother, Ellen, played in the women's hockey team winning the silver medal at the 1992 World Championships.
"It's hard to see them pass," said a League scout who spent the week here at the combine, interviewing players including Hughes but not Kakko, who decided to stay in Finland after a long trip. Kakko's absence from the combine was universally dismissed as unimportant for his breeder status, just as it was not very important for Hughes to be here to review the 20-minute summary interviews with each team .
One of the common phrases that hit the mark while Kakko played a leading role for his Finnish team at the Worlds, scoring six goals in 10 games, was that he was "ready for the NHL". He was 6 feet 2 inches tall and weighed 200 pounds. Kakko has spent the last 13 months winning three international tournaments for Finland: the under-18s, the under-20s, and then the men's world championships, only the seventh player in history to win all three.
"With this kind of impact at such a young age," said a prominent officer, "I would have trouble passing Kakko on."
Yet, as one front-office official pointed out, Hughes may have even more potential in the future. There was a moderate comparison with the Flames Johnny Gaudreau, who was also considered too small when he dropped until the fourth round in 2011 before excelling at Boston College and becoming one of the Most dynamic players in the league – despite its 5-foot-9 and 165 pounds.
"[Hughes] is more advanced than Johnny at this age, "says the scout before adding quickly," but who knows. "
Then there are resounding comments from one of the best American players of all time, Patrick Kane, who recently said, "I think [Hughes] do a lot of things better than me. This comment may have aroused some national pride, but nationality plays a role in the assessment of players.
It is highly unlikely that, with two of these highly touted prospects at the top of the project, the Devils or Rangers are considering trading their choices. The return should be monumental.
Chances are Hughes and Kakko will be taken to Mulberry Street and Broadway, and probably in that order. And in the words of another agent who accepted this scenario, "In either case, both teams get great players."
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