Kakko's QO this off-season is $2.4 million. That might have been a little rich for Verbeek.
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Speculation: 2024-25 - Free Agency/Trade Thread
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robbieboy3686
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TheDarkWingThatDucks
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They got back a 6’3” rhd, which they needed to address after Trouba. Adding another LHW probably wasn’t ideal w/ giving up assets to attain as well.
Edit : and I was pro trading for him
Common Beeker? You couldn’t match a UFA and mid rounder for a dice roll on Kaako? What a cheap Charlie…
mightyquack
eggplant and jade or bust
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robbieboy3686
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We could have sent them helleson(we have luneau ready next season to make the jump). Again, it’s possible that Trouba didn’t speak highly of kakko. We just don’t know. Or maybe they didn’t want helleson .
TheDarkWingThatDucks
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Yes he very well could have spoke poorly of him, but really RHD is probably our weakest spot organizationally, obviously the RHW a close second. Trading one of our few prospects for a LHW (who plays RW) isn’t probably the best asset management. And like I said I was definitely pro trading for him.
AngelDuck
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I just don’t get the infatuation with Kakko. He’s a borderline bust in my eyes at this point.
mightyquack
eggplant and jade or bust
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I don't think there's anything borderline about it, he's 100% a bust at this point.
Former 2nd overall pick, about to turn 24 years old and has had one season looking like a competent NHL forward (out of 5.5 seasons so far) despite playing on a very good NHL team for all but one of those seasons.
If he wasn't a former 2nd overall pick, he would pass through waivers.
Yeah I have no irritation that we didn't beat that deal whatsoever. If he was this mediocre on the Rangers, I can't see how he would possibly turn it around under this coach. But I knew the gripes were coming.
The Midnight Burrito
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Kakko plays like he’s already a Duck, disappointing and bitchy, so maybe we should have traded for him.
JabbaJabba
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Kakko has been a solid defensive forward for seasons and he has been producing well on ES while not getting any significant PP time (the 2nd unit on Rangers doesn't get any real time). Seems like you are just stat watching.
Was he worth the 2nd pick? No. Is he a bust? No.
mightyquack
eggplant and jade or bust
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I don't watch that many Rangers games, but I've seen enough to see he's a mediocre NHL forward and have never come away impressed watching him and the stats back that up over the years. Given there isn't enough time in the day to watch every single game Kakko plays along with having a functioning life, there is an element of stat watching in regard to every player that isn't playing on your team.
And for a guy who supposedly produces well at even strength....the ESP/60 isn't exactly stellar.
Kakko's ESP/60 since his career started:
19/20: 0.756 (414th)
20/21: 1.341 (313th)
21/22: 1.622 (263rd)
22/23: 1.937 (166th)
23/24: 1.458 (285th)
24/25: 1.952 (135th)
And for being a 'solid defensive forward' he's somehow lodged just 57 minutes of SH time since his career begun in 2019 (averaging 10 seconds per game).
Kakko is a dime a dozen player at the NHL level at this point. Nothing special. Maybe he turns it around out of nowhere in Seattle, guess we'll have to see.
2nd overall pick producing at that level is a bust for me.
WhatTheDuck
9 - 20 - 8
He's definitely a bust relative to a 2nd overall picks expectations. I kind of still find him an interesting player, and can still see him finding a bit of a breakout in a different situation. I wouldn't have been bothered if we beat that offer, but it's not one to get all worked up over either. If management only wants more established vets to play with the abundance of youth we already have, I get it.
In the case of Marchant, he didn't refuse to waive because he didn't want to go to Anaheim. Columbus just refused to tell him what team they had made a deal with if I recall correctly.
FiveTacos
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I think the problem is, there's young guys who don't put up big numbers but flash high end skills, and maybe have stretches of great play. McT would be an example. You figure he's "unlockable."
But Kakko is just vanilla all the time, no flashes, it doesn't look like there's anything to unlock. Sure he's pretty good defensively, but offensively he's just not dynamic in any way. I think the price reflects that a lot of GMs looked at his tape and have concluded he's likely a good 3rd liner at best, with a significant QO coming up as well as arbitration. You could end up with a very expensive bottom 6er.
If you are spending a 2nd overall for a guy and he performs like a 3rd or 4th round pick, hes a bust. He can still have a long career and be a good player but the draft position matters when determining if a guy was a bust or not.
I agree with the idea that, as a 2nd overall pick, Kakko is a bust, but he's in no way performing like a 3rd or 4th round pick. Those guys don't make the NHL unless they're outliers. Kakko is performing more like 20th OA than 2nd OA.
He seems like a litmus test for your forward depth. If he's on your second line or the best player on your third line, you're probably in trouble. If he's a contributor on the third line, you're probably ok, and it just depends on how elite your top-6 is. If he's contributing decent minutes on your 4th line and your PK, that's fantastic depth.
WhatTheDuck
9 - 20 - 8
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Could see rangers and Buffalo making moves before ….
I’d still love to add cozens I just don’t know that the pieces to make it work fit for us. But I think he’s be a nice compliment
Imo we don't need more young potential we need guys who can do it now and help show the young guys how.
robbieboy3686
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We need to do anything and everything we can for Brady tkachuk if he truly becomes available.
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I think cozens stylistically is a solid fit
Unfortunately the bringing in guys that can help/show isn’t really working out either
robbieboy3686
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Tall, good on forecheck, good in tight spaces…. Goes to dirty areas…. Not afraid to throw fist
