A quick-thinking winger, Kakko never seems to be in a rush. He reads the game exceptionally well and finds himself a step ahead while the play is still developing. He is confident with the puck and capable of handling it in small spaces. With decent size for a player of his age, Kakko protects the puck well and uses his high hockey IQ to make smart offensive plays. He plays a mature game and is already strong enough to compete with men in the Finnish Liiga. Kakko excels offensively and beats opponents with smarts and skill both on and off the puck. — Matias Strozyk, Elite Prospects 

Finnish hockey has seen a great boom in top-end talent over the last decade. Star players like Sebastian Aho, Aleksander Barkov, Patrik Laine, Mikko Rantanen, among others, are being produced out of the newest hockey powerhouse. They have more coming in Anton Lundell, Aatu Raty, and Brad Lambert in future drafts.

But the next great Finn who is ready to set the world on fire is winger Kaapo Kakko. A player whose game resembles hockey hall of famer Peter Forsberg. Kakko’s dominance down-low with his strength is unsettling. This kid bullied men all year-long with how strong on the puck he is, and played like a superstar wherever he went. Be it league play, the World Juniors, or the Mens World Championships — Kakko thrived. His combination of high-end skill and incredible toughness makes him a one of a kind prospect — one who will bring an immediate impact to the NHL as soon as next season.

Kakko has the potential to become the best winger in the NHL one day. He is already so amazing, I can only imagine what he’ll be doing at age 26. No other player in this draft class has the talent and toughness that he does. He did everything in his power to push for first overall on my board and came up just short, but don’t be fooled — Kakko is a star talent, one deserving of going first overall in most other years. Players like this shouldn’t be going second overall.

In time, Kakko will soon become the face of Finnish hockey and a force to be reckoned with in the NHL. — Cam Kuom, Wings Nation

Turbo-charged center with blinding speed and fantastic vision who has dominated his peers at every level. Hughes’ skill is noticeable from the second he hits the ice, but his ability to make every single one of decisions seem calculated is what separates him from a very talented group of draft-eligible forwards. His sixth sense allows him to sniff out trouble before it’s within striking distance while simultaneously identifying weaknesses within the opponent’s scheme to stop him. It’s cliche to say he makes everyone around him better, but Hughes does so in more ways that one.

For starters, Hughes is an excellent playmaker with hawk-like vision who can perfectly time passes to linemates over long distances, especially off the rush. He uses a variety of head fakes, stutter steps and quick pivots to lure defenders away from a passing lane, and he can no-look pass better than any junior-aged player since Connor McDavid. But Hughes isn’t just a pass-first center, as he uses his blazing speed, agility and elite stickhandling to make inside moves towards the goal with regularity. Once he’s there, he’ll either wire a blistering wrister or use his ridiculously soft hands to roof shots from in close on either his forehand or backhand. These traits not only expand the ice for his teammates, but also seem to wear down defenders as they work feverishly towards trying to contain him. — Steve Kournianos, The Draft Analyst 

Hughes lands at the top of my board, not because of what he’s done, but what he can do. I think Hughes is just scratching the surface of how good he can be. He didn’t live up to the expectations I set for him at the start of the year, but I still think he can reach the potential he has, which is a superstar center in the NHL. He may need some time to realize that potential and that won’t sit right with some.

Kaapo Kakko is one hell of a player, but no one can pass on this kid and feel good about themselves. A close race, no doubt, but the upside that Hughes presents is ultimately why he deserves to be the first name off the board in Vancouver. — Cam Kuom, Wings Nation