Sportsnet’s Sam Cosentino has a new top prospect for the 2019 draft, as Kaapo Kakko has overtaken Jack Hughes in his latest ranking. The Finnish forward has found success this season everywhere he has played including the top league in his home country, and has plenty of upside as a franchise-changing talent at the top of the draft. Hughes still slots into the second spot, though Cosentino admits he is still unlikely to fall that far in the actual draft.
An interesting placement on this list is Philip Broberg, who is all the way down at 18. The Swedish defenseman has been considered a potential top ten pick by some scouts, but Cosentino questions the offensive upside in his game. Broberg did not make a huge impact at the World Juniors and has just nine points in 41 games for AIK in the Swedish second league.
- Looking even further into the future, USA Hockey has released their 52-man roster for the National Team Development Program evaluation camp today. The list includes quite a few familiar names, including Luke Hughes (younger brother of Jack and Quinn Hughes) and Luke Mittelstadt (younger brother of Casey Mittelstadt). This camp will provide the roster for the National U17 team this season and will be held at the end of March in Plymouth, Michigan.
- While the Ottawa Senators wait for the above players to become available, they have added another prospect of their own to the organization. The Belleville Senators have signed Miles Gendron to an AHL contract for 2019-20, while he’ll join the Brampton Beast on an ECHL deal for the rest of this season. Gendron played four seasons at the University of Connecticut, serving as captain this year.
Sam! Kakko over Hughes??? As Coach Like-Uh (B. Hartley) might say, “What game were YOU watching? Maybe you need another beer.” If, however, 31 GMs use your prospect list as a blueprint, rather than paper airplane material, you will be exonerated, big time.