Pucks and Pitchforks
Fansided

New Jersey Devils: Taking Another Look at Kaapo Kakko

By Vincent Parise

VANCOUVER, BC - JANUARY 5: Kaapo Kakko #24 of Finland celebrates after scoring what proved to be the game winning goal against the United States in Gold Medal hockey action of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship on January, 5, 2019 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Ryan Poehling #11, goalie Cayden Primeau #30 and Mikey Anderson #26 of the United States are pictured in the background. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC - JANUARY 5: Kaapo Kakko #24 of Finland celebrates after scoring what proved to be the game winning goal against the United States in Gold Medal hockey action of the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship on January, 5, 2019 at Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. Ryan Poehling #11, goalie Cayden Primeau #30 and Mikey Anderson #26 of the United States are pictured in the background. (Photo by Rich Lam/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit

The New Jersey Devils could have their decision made up already, but it is smart to do your due diligence when making a decision this huge.

The New Jersey Devils won the NHL Draft Lottery, everybody knows that by now. The question for some is who will they choose first overall. Most people are going to agree that it is probably American center Jack Hughes. There is another very good prospect at the top of this draft, however, that makes it ignorant not to at least acknowledge him.

Kaapo Kakko is a Finnish right wing and he has made his way into the conversation for a top two pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. He did that by having a great World Juniors Tournament on top of a great season for his club team, TPS. TPS is a team in Liiga which is Finland’s top professional league. Playing for them in 2018-19 Kakko had 22 goals and 16 assists for 38 points in 45 games.

You also might remember that in the Gold Medal game of the World Juniors, Kakko scored the golden goal with about a minute left in regulation to defeat Hughes and the Americans for the Gold Medal. It was a heartbreaking moment for those rooting for the American boys to get it done, but in the draft season, we recognize it as a moment that propelled Kakko up the rankings. He has a great shot and uses it in multiple ways to generate scoring opportunities, and his defensive game also has a chance to grow as well.

There are scouts who believe that Kakko could play center once he reaches the NHL level. It all could depend on how he is utilized by the team that drafts him. If he were to be drafted by the Devils, he would almost certainly play wing. Kyle Palmieri and Jesper Bratt are both capable of playing heavy minutes on the right wing, but Kakko could develop into a game-breaking goal scorer.

Hughes is more of a center that can control the middle of the ice, so if the Devils do ultimately chose him he will probably stay at that positon. Kakko, on the other hand, will likely not be drafted by the Devils but it is important to know a little about him just in case he is. If the Devils were to shock the hockey world and take him, he would absolutely make the Devils a better team.

Next. Devils Fan Guide To IIHF World Championships. dark

There is another less fortunate reason to be curious about Kaapo Kakko. The team that won the second lottery is the New York Rangers. So if the Devils take Hughes, they will certainly take him.

He will be a major part of the biggest rival for at least a decade and a half. The Devils will be focused on how to stop him five times a season and potentially in the playoffs someday so it doesn’t hurt to scout him even now.

Kakko is going to be a really good player in the NHL and he could even turn out to be a top player just as much as Jack Hughes. They will certainly add fuel to the Hudson River Rivalry. You remember the Connor McDavid/Jack Eichel and Auston Matthews/Patrick Laine drafts, and hopefully, this one can go down as equally as memorable.

Home/Editorials