They're both like 20 years old Both teams are lucky to have their guy

I said he could turn into that kind of player. Kakko is 20 lol If you watched them all you'd see what he is capable of. Once he starts finishing the league is in trouble

Im pretty sure unbiased Ranger fans like @Kravtsov_Stan and @mhroblak would rather have Hughes over Kaako. Kaako is better defensively but not by much. Hughes is significantly better than Kaako offensively. I've watched Rangers games this year. Kaako was invisible. You can't possibly say you rather have Kaako than Hughes. Hughes has more potential, more positional value, and is more proven

No

Rangers fans have kinda shown that they’re getting into leafs territory of young player worship.

I have. But I’m not a rangers fan so i see him for what he’s looked like. A defensively solid third liner thats going to produce average at best third line offensively. Sorry dude, it’s just what he’s been.

You can just blindly say anyone that’s young “could develop,” it doesn’t make it realistic enough to even bother discussing.

Devils would never consider.
Hughes has been fantastic on crappy offensive team. On both ends of ice really.
He just needs to add some size and experience.

Kakko's struggles are related to speed.
Foot speed and processing speed.
Harder to gain ground there (vs adding bulk).
I'm sure he will adapt, but I think there is a massive gap between the two.

That's what always happens when a big-market team owns a glut of young players, lol

Not to this level. I’ve seen multiple rangers fans compare kakko to mark stone just because he doesn’t crap his pants defensively. Kakko had 40 points through his first 114 NHL games. 19 goals. Through stones first 103 games he had 30 goals and like 72 points or something. It’s just kind of absurd.

Okay yeah those people are just ignorant of Mark Stone’s career. He’s just almost always the first Selke winger casuals think of, Rangers fans or not.

He's 20. Neither team has even made the playoffs yet. I ride with Kakko

He is 20. Thats like saying Hughes isn't good enough to will the Devils into the playoffs so he is a bust. Labeling Kakko a "3rd liner at best" when he is 20 is an awful take

You do realize that hockey is a team sport

Hughes>Kaako

You can ask any non biased hockey fan and they'll say Hughes

When did i label him a third liner at best? I think you should re-read my post.

I am not convinced Hughes will have a better career than Kakko. They're 20

"A defensively solid third liner thats going to produce average at best third line offensively"

We can argue about semantics or we can talk about how you said a dumb thing. He's 20. Not all NHL players hit their ceiling at 20, I know you know that

Kaako was expected to be NHL ready. Hughes wasn't.

Hughes is already better than Kaako

What does that show about Kaako?

Never made a comment on what he will be, just what he has been.

"Going to produce average at best" is quite literally a comment on what he will be lol. And it is a freakishly bad take. Because he's 20

Nothing they're both 20. Hughes had like 15 more points and Kakko is better defensively, like congrats lol. Yes he's had a better start. But they're young and their careers have just started. Both have not hit their ceilings and so its impossible to know for sure that Hughes will turn out to be the better player

At 20 he produces like an average at best third liner. That’s all I’m saying. If we want to get into how i think he projects I’d be happy to. Spoiler, it’s not good.

Kaako is better than Hughes defensively but the difference isn't that much
The gap between Hughes and Kaako offensively is not even close. Hughes is miles better than Kaako offensively
Hughes also has more potential
So saying that you rather have Kaako over Hughes right now or in the future is a dumb statement

He had like 12 more points than Kakko this year. Congrats. They're 20

Color me shocked that your own personal projections are flawed

He's produced 3rd line numbers on the third line most of the year. You cracked the code Galaxy-Brain. He isn't a bust, he'll be a great 2 way player in a few years

Difference is Hughes generates the Devils offense. Kaako gets carried by his linemates. Points isn't everything.