.TSNBobMcKenzie's Draft Ranking: Hughes, Kakko in tight race for top spot:
Appearances can be deceiving.American Jack Hughes is the unanimous No. 1 pick. Ten out of 10 scouts surveyed by TSN this week — on the eve of next week’s NHL Draft Lottery — put Hughes in the No. 1 slot, just as they did in TSN’s preseason rankings in September and midseason rankings in late January.Unanimity doesn’t allow for how close the race for No.
Who is the smartest player in the draft? Who is the best stickhandler? Which player is the best skater and goal scorer? TSN Director of Scouting Craig Button hands out his honours for the 2019 NHL Draft class. Scouts will be eager to see if Hughes can dominate his peer group at the U-18. If Kakko plays well and produces against the men at the senior world championship, his stock could skyrocket. But the team picking first overall at this year’s draft won’t get the benefit of an apples-to-apples comparison at the U-18.While Hughes at No. 1 was unanimous, so was the sentiment that a very wide gap to start the season has been closed considerably – to the point where it’s extremely close now.
Some scouts give Hughes, a natural centre, a slight edge based on position. While there’s talk that Kakko, who plays mostly wing but has played some in the middle, could project as an NHL pivot, the consensus of scouts surveyed by TSN is that he’s going to be a winger. Eight of 10 scouts had Podkolzin at No. 3 and there appears to be some separation between the top three and the rest of the class. The only other two prospects who got any consideration as a top-three pick were Saskatoon Blades’ centre Kirby Dach and Lethbridge Hurricanes’ centre Dylan Cozens, each of whom got one vote at No. 3.
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