Around the NHL 2024-25 regular season

[BostonDevil]

Kakko finally gets to play with men again

 

[Patrik26]

I'd say go after the Rangers guys if he does anything slimy but they all suck so we're in a dilemma here

It's simple. Run Shesterkin.

 

[Peter Sidorkiewicz]

Kakko excuses keep coming.

In the Atheltic article recapping the trade, a blame was put that he struggled because there was no Finnish players on the team until Niko Mikkola came to team in 2023 trade deadline. His first two seasons was interrupted by Covid pandemic and he had 3 head coaches in his Rangers tenure that all of those 3 coaches healthy scratched him.

 

[Goptor]

Kakko actually looked good under Galant. He didn't look like he'd ever be a high production player, but certainly a complementary top6 guy.

He fell apart when Lavi came on board.

 

[MasterofGrond]

Was there anything the team could have done to make him into Jack Hughes? No.

But could they have helped him become a more valuable player than he is? Yeah pretty much guaranteed.

Hope he finds himself in seattle and I’m glad I can root for him now

 

[jkrdevil]

It's simple. Run Shesterkin.

Yep. That’s the only guy on the team they would care about losing.

 

[Saugus]

What I want to know is, what does this guy think of the Kakko trade?:

 

[jkrdevil]

Kakko excuses keep coming.

In the Atheltic article recapping the trade, a blame was put that he struggled because there was no Finnish players on the team until Niko Mikkola came to team in 2023 trade deadline. His first two seasons was interrupted by Covid pandemic and he had 3 head coaches in his Rangers tenure that all of those 3 coaches healthy scratched him.

I do think the Covid stuff is legit. It delayed Jack breaking out by about a year. That entire draft class after Jack has had problems.

Of course for him he got over hyped because of the team that landed #2, exacerbated by the team that landed #1. He isn’t going to be a star, but go to a team where he maybe can get some power play time and increased minutes may help.

 

[Hisch13r]

Kakko actually looked good under Galant. He didn't look like he'd ever be a high production player, but certainly a complementary top6 guy.

He fell apart when Lavi came on board.

Last year his production fell off but this year he's been producing better than he did under Gallant.

 

[Capt Nico Poo]

Im happy for this. Always felt awkward not to want the best for him for being a #2oa Finn. Go set the west afire and cu in SCF

Loving the Rangers melt-down. Something aint right in their organization. Drury's last push to make something happen?

 

[Emperoreddy]

Obviously the Kakko situation has been a disaster for the Rangers from the PR point of view and the morale of the team.

The draft picks he returns are inconsequential.

But the intriguing question is what we think of Borgen? Similar to Kakko it looks like he was in the doghouse a bit in Seattle. But if he’s mobile and big and can play, might he help their blue line?

The Rangers have been so slow and lacking in mobility back there. Look at how we skated rings around and behind them. I can’t stand that team and would hope this move (that we are scorning) doesn’t end up helping their defense.

His underlying numbers are putrid.

 

[Devils731]

Reading the trade board where there was serious discussion about a Nemec for Kakko trade made me chuckle after the actual return.

 

[Triumph]

Kakko excuses keep coming.

In the Atheltic article recapping the trade, a blame was put that he struggled because there was no Finnish players on the team until Niko Mikkola came to team in 2023 trade deadline. His first two seasons was interrupted by Covid pandemic and he had 3 head coaches in his Rangers tenure that all of those 3 coaches healthy scratched him.

Everyone gets mad when I bring up the Devils acquiring Mirco Mueller for this reason but I do think it matters. It's hard to be 18 years old, living in a new country, and not having a countryman around. It would've been one of the first things I would've done as GM after drafting him.

Reading the trade board where there was serious discussion about a Nemec for Kakko trade made me chuckle after the actual return.

It's very funny to think that he had any value. Somehow playing 6 unremarkable years in the league doesn't return a whole lot.

 

[ZachaFlockaFlame]

It's simple. Run Shesterkin.

At this point, in a lost season, it won't even matter lol

Everyone gets mad when I bring up the Devils acquiring Mirco Mueller for this reason but I do think it matters. It's hard to be 18 years old, living in a new country, and not having a countryman around. It would've been one of the first things I would've done as GM after drafting him.

Mentioned this to @Hisch13r about Nico too (lol irony with the username), that's why I thought Dallas was a very good spot for Kakko if a trade was made. Only Finn I can think of on Seattle is Tolvanen though, right?

Yep. That’s the only guy on the team they would care about losing.

Their fanbase probably wants to make a run towards Martone and Hagens, they won't care lol

 

[Alex NJD]

Over a 15 year period the Rags have drafted and developed 8 NHL forwards (10 if you count Duclair and Morgan Barron who were traded very early into their careers)

Krieder (19th overall) and Cuylle (2nd rounder) are both great if Cuylle continues to play well
Chytil (21st overall) and Jesper Fast (6th rounder) were solid picks for their draft positions
Buchnevich (3rd rounder) solid pick but they traded him right as he put it all together 227 points in 247 games with amazing underlying stats since the trade
JT Miller (15th overall) Decent pick but disappointing when you consider he was a .5 PPG player in 300 games for them and has been PPG in nearly 500 games since being traded
Laf (1st overall) Probably a top 6-7 prospect of the last decade+. Hyped as a franchise superstar. 57 points with a 120 point player on his line last year and on pace for 55 points this year.
Kakko (2nd overall) Another guy hyped as a franchise cornerstone, turned out to be a 3rd line checking winger. Massive disappointment.

Not listed are top 10 busts Andersson and Kravstov. Maybe their draft picks break the trend but this is laughably bad scouting and development at forward. They probably had 8 "hits" at forward between 2004-2008 alone. Not familiar with their organization but would have to imagine its a pretty deep rooted issue to stretch on under multiple GMs coaches etc

 

[Oneiro]

I've never been a Sam Rosen fan so I'm enjoying the fact that this is how it ends.

 

[britdevil]

 

[Guadana]

I would have beaten that

Kakko was good defensive forward. And we have Haula to give him his country man partner.
Yeah. I would trade Kakko back for better package if Seattle is ready. But I think they will try to make Kakko great again.

 

[Satans Hockey]

This is the first thing I thought of too, full video...



This one too, skip to 4 mins lol...

 

[Brooklyndevil]

I’m glad he got traded out west too. If he blows up and turns into a star after escaping the Rangers’ suckage, it won’t burn us as much.

He’s not turning into a star. He is what he is, a third liner with hands of stone. And from watching him play, he’s definitely not some defensive dynamo. We’re fortunate we did trade for him.

 

[TheBeerNerd]

There it is! Guess we’ll be seeing Mac in the lineup Monday against the Rangers

Welp. I'm not laughing anymore.

 

[The Wumpus]

2019 is turning into a pretty disappointing first round outside Hughes, Seider, Boldy, Caufield, McMichael, and maybe Harley

 

[NJDevs26]

It's simple. Run Shesterkin.

Eh leave him be, I don’t want to do anything stupid to unite these pricks

 

[Saugus]

It's very funny to think that he had any value. Somehow playing 6 unremarkable years in the league doesn't return a whole lot.

Honestly, this makes me feel a bit better about the return we got for Zacha, who was also traded after some unremarkable years in the league.

At least we got a serviceable player back, who we re-signed, rather than the Voltron made of spare parts that the Rangers just got for a more highly regarded prospect.

 

[devilsblood]

Everyone gets mad when I bring up the Devils acquiring Mirco Mueller for this reason but I do think it matters. It's hard to be 18 years old, living in a new country, and not having a countryman around. It would've been one of the first things I would've done as GM after drafting him.

And then Sieg's later on.

But I do think Nico's friendship with a couple other young euro's helped ease the process.

Also, and I know this is different, but also somewhat similar, drafting Luke.