New Jersey Devils: Should NJD draft Kakko instead of Hughes?
By Mike Marrano
It seemed Jack Hughes was the for sure pick for the New Jersey Devils with the top overall draft pick. Will a sudden outbreak by Kaapo Kakko convince GM Ray Shero to draft him instead?
In a previous article I wrote about the New Jersey Devils, I said one factor that could make them playoff contenders was to draft top prospect, Jack Hughes. His impact on the Devils would be huge. They are looking for someone to push the franchise forward, but after an impressive showing at the recent World Championships, that player might be Kaapo Kakko.
Hughes has the ability to play at a high-speed pace and is a great playmaker on the ice. His presence on the ice makes other players better. Hughes could help with the development of their other number one overall pick, Nico Hischier.
Hischier has been under pressure as of late, due to his high potential and status as a former number one overall draft pick. Having Hughes on the team will at least lighten the load for the Swiss superstar. The Devils are a fairly young group, and Hughes could help the growth of the entire team, due to his multifaceted game.
Hughes has had some highlights in his amateur career. At the 2018 IIHF World U-18, he broke the tournament points record with 32 in just 14 games. That record was previously held by Stanley Cup winner, Alex Ovechkin. The 18-year-old has also passed big-name players such as Auston Matthews and Phil Kessell in points in the process as well, which puts him in very good company.
His 112 points in 50 games with the U18’s and US National Development team during the 2018-19 season, Hughes is labeled as a generational talent. Overall, he had 228 points in his amateur career, passing the previous record holder by 39 points. With all of his success, why would the Devils want to pass up on Hughes?