Hughes, Kakko top-ranked players in NHL Central Scouting’s rankings

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Top NHL draft prospect Jack Hughes. (Carlos Osorio/AP)

NEW YORK – Centre Jack Hughes and right-winger Kaapo Kakko are the top-ranked players on the NHL Central Scouting Bureau’s mid-season rankings released on Monday.

Hughes, from Orlando, Fla., is on the United States’ development program’s under-18 team is ranked No. 1 among North American skaters.

Kakko, from Turku, Finland, plays for Turun Palloseura in Finland’s elite hockey league and was listed as the top international skater in NHL Central Scouting’s rankings.

Hughes is averaging 1.96 points per game while leading the American under-18 team with 12 goals and 41 assists in 27 games this season.

Kakko scored Finland’s gold medal-winning goal on Jan. 6 at the world junior championship after also winning gold with Finland at the 2018 under-18 world championship.

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