Can Kakko be our second line center

[maris]

or is he destined to play RW?

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[LiveLongandProspal]

I'd prefer if he started out at the wing. I mean the guy hasn't played any games yet. Let's not heap a ton of responsibility on him just yet.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Can we not shoehorn players into a Center role just for the sake of it? His game is tailor made for wing.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Short answer: No
Long answer: Nope

Enough with this BS obsession of moving players to center. It didn't work for Chytil, it will not work for Kakko, Kravtsov or any other winger we draft

 

[NYRFANMANI]

I agree with Steve, but didn't we draft Chytil as a center and we didn't even really try him out there.

Anyhow, this could have easily been regurgitated in the Roster Building thread.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I agree with Steve, but didn't we draft Chytil as a center and we didn't even really try him out there.

Anyhow, this could have easily been regurgitated in the Roster Building thread.

Chytil played wing almost entirely before he was drafted. He may one day grow into a center, but he may as well end up like JT Miller. Chytil played center in the AHL, and then for the Czech National team a few games at the WC. But the large majority of games he was used on the wing since he was drafted

 

[FIRE DRURY]

We already have our 2nd line Center in Zbad, and our 1C In Boo.

/Thread

 

[AntNYR]

Enough with this BS obsession of moving players to center. It didn't work for Chytil, it will not work for Kakko, Kravtsov or any other winger we draft

Never say never. If I remember right Sebastian Aho played mostly wing in Finland and started his NHL career as a winger, before making the jump to center this past season. Obviously he had some previous center experience, but so does Kakko. Think Mark Messier was a left winger for several seasons to start his career also. These things happen, though I wouldn't but any money on Kakko ending up a center.

 

[Vitto79]

lets just take the dominating RW to go with the dominating LW in Panarin...........hope Zib rocks 1st line again

2nd line C can be either Chytil, Andersson, Howden..........its another rebuilding year so lets run the kids out there and see who takes it.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Never say never. If I remember right Sebastian Aho played mostly wing in Finland and started his NHL career as a winger, before making the jump to center this past season. Obviously he had some previous center experience, but so does Kakko. Think Mark Messier was a left winger for several seasons to start his career also. These things happen, though I wouldn't but any money on Kakko ending up a center.

The 4 games in Liiga should not really be considered a big enough sample size to rate Kakko as a center. I watched those games, and he was not bad, but he is so much better on the wing. He's the type of player who needs to be on the wing.

And Aho was dominating at center on a line with Puljujarvi, Laine and Rantanen on his wings in several tournaments.

 

[AntNYR]

The 4 games in Liiga should not really be considered a big enough sample size to rate Kakko as a center. I watched those games, and he was not bad, but he is so much better on the wing. He's the type of player who needs to be on the wing.

And Aho was dominating at center on a line with Puljujarvi, Laine and Rantanen on his wings in several tournaments.

I was referring more to Kakko playing center in juniors, you're right that those 4 liiga games aren't enough to go by.

 

[SA16]

Yes, he can. If they want him to play center he'll be a center and I'm sure he will do fine at it. Center and wing is not some completely different sport and I find it hard to believe an 18 year old elite prospect is incapable of doing so if desired.

 

[FIRE DRURY]

Kakko played more on the left side than at RW last year if I recall correctly.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Personally, I think it is a fair question and the OP shouldn't be attacked.

While he is a prototypical power winger and most likely where he will be for his career - who are we to say where he'll wind up or develop into? The kid is a freak force on the ice. You never know.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I was referring more to Kakko playing center in juniors, you're right that those 4 liiga games aren't enough to go by.

A lot of the top players were centers in junior hockey. It's not because they are natural centers, but because they are so much better than everyone else. I still see no reason to use Kakko as a center

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

If Kakko begins to dominate as a center why would you NOT use him there?

 

[True Blue]

Short answer: No
Long answer: Nope

Enough with this BS obsession of moving players to center. It didn't work for Chytil, it will not work for Kakko, Kravtsov or any other winger we draft

Didn't we just have this debate with a Kakko fan who claimed that now is the time to start to transition him to be our top line center of the future?

Not sure I understand the obsession.....Que the Aho commentary.........

 

[SA16]

If Kakko begins to dominate as a center why would you NOT use him there?

Apparently because he played wing as a teenager. I don't care what position he played but it's stupid to say he can't play center.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Chytil played wing almost entirely before he was drafted. He may one day grow into a center, but he may as well end up like JT Miller. Chytil played center in the AHL, and then for the Czech National team a few games at the WC. But the large majority of games he was used on the wing since he was drafted

Chytil said played center his whole life until he was in the Czech men’s league

Chytil played wing almost entirely before he was drafted. He may one day grow into a center, but he may as well end up like JT Miller. Chytil played center in the AHL, and then for the Czech National team a few games at the WC. But the large majority of games he was used on the wing since he was drafted

It’s also only been 2 years since he was drafted, and it’s closer to a 50/50 split than ‘large majority’

 

[offdacrossbar]

sure.

lets not all jump too quickly. this is a reasonable question.

kids got size and the skating to play anywhere up front.

i think we all get too excited too quickly even with hypotheticals like this.

there are many examples of kids going back and forth from center to the edge.

this question really has more to do with the middle after mika.

 

[Zynbanejad]

Short answer: No
Long answer: Nope

Enough with this BS obsession of moving players to center. It didn't work for Chytil, it will not work for Kakko, Kravtsov or any other winger we draft

I thought Chytil had previously played C?

 

[nyr2k2]

If the team thinks he has the skills and IQ to play there (which he almost certainly does), I don't see the harm in trying.

 

[Filthy Dangles]

Yes, he can. If they want him to play center he'll be a center and I'm sure he will do fine at it. Center and wing is not some completely different sport and I find it hard to believe an 18 year old elite prospect is incapable of doing so if desired.

So, why wouldn't every high-end forward/wing prospect make the move? After all C is more coveted and valuable position. Answer, because it's not that easy.

I'm not saying KK can or can't but in general, I don't agree with that point at all.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

no

 

[SA16]

So, why wouldn't every high-end forward/wing prospect make the move? After all C is more coveted and valuable position. Answer, because it's not that easy.

I'm not saying KK can or can't but in general, I don't agree with that point at all.

Oh I wouldn't move him to center. I've already shown my work on this you get more surplus value out of wings than centers due to the higher quantity and weaker depth of them.

Hard to know how difficult or easy it would be if you don't try. Most teams don't even try so how can you know?