Is Kaapo Kakko Kooked or Kan he still live up to what he was billed as?

[biturbo19]

The problem is, not only does Kakko not put up points, his linemates can't either when he's out there.

He has a good influence on a number of underlying numbers, but he's a terrible influence on goals-for over a pretty large sample.

It's kind of weird. I don't normally put an enormous amount of stock in the "underlying numbers" in general...but Kakko is a real example of where they can generate...anomalous results sometimes.

Especially when cross-referenced with the eye-test and other statistics and metrics and deployment info and all the rest of the portfolio.


Where...it all really just screams that he's not a "dumb player" per se. Just that he's an extremely conservative player, and not nearly as skilled or creative offensively as his draft position would generally suggest.


He's kind of...Jack Skille for the contemporary age. But already significantly better than what Skille eventually turned himself into late in his career as a functional 4th line checker. So he'll always have that.


But there really is just that "play it safe" element to Kakko that i'm not sure he'll ever overcome. Short of some sort of major "wakeup call" change. But he's also too "decent" as a fairly "safe" checker already to maybe ever get that come to Jeebus moment that shakes him loose.

Plus, he seems permanently hex yipped as a finisher and just handling the puck in prime opportunities in general.

 

[yzerman]

Just imagine if Devils had taken Kakko at first and Rangers got Hughes

 

[PaulD]

These first over all draft picks which disappoint sometime wnd up a superb depth player with bug play off contributions.
Time will tell.
Rags should keep him.

 

[vtdevils2k]

Just imagine if Devils had taken Kakko at first and Rangers got Hughes

And Nolan Patrick over Nico.....*Shudders*

Would have set the franchise back for a LONG time. Scary thought.

 

[dgibb10]

He's a decent hockey player. I like what he can provide for a middle 6

 

[Dirty Dan]

It's so Kover for the boy, he kan't do what Laffy can

 

[123TripleDoge]

they should trade him to Klombus

 

[dgibb10]

I think it's funny to see Dach who was also rushed by the Craphawks and then he goes to the Habs for a fresh start and puts up a 50pt pace, he'll likely keep rebounding there. Seems like a few others from that 2019 draft need a change of scenery, definitely has worked out for a couple so far. Next up - Zegras and Kappo.

Kirby Dach 5v5 points/60 by year:

Not really much improvement there, in fact he got worse compared to his first 2 years.

He just went from about 1:35 a night on the PP in chicago on a PP2, to 3:30 a night on PP1 in MTL.

 

[sufferer]

What is he good at?

Becoming overrated for being a high draft pick in a big market.

 

[Honour Over Glory]

Kirby Dach 5v5 points/60 by year:
View attachment 899810
Not really much improvement there, in fact he got worse compared to his first 2 years.

He just went from about 1:35 a night on the PP in chicago on a PP2, to 3:30 a night on PP1 in MTL.

So really he did have an improvement and was used to his strengths to build up confidence and use his offensive skill to the advantage.

 

[dgibb10]

So really he did have an improvement and was used to his strengths to build up confidence and use his offensive skill to the advantage.

No. He was given more opportunity.

He didn't improve. hence why his even strength numbers are WORSE than they were in chicago.

The on ice results he generated on the PP weren't anything special either. It helped him, but didn't lead to an overall effective PP. And the power play didn't miss much of a beat whatever combo it was of Dach, Newhook, Slaf, Hoffman, Monahan, etc was on alongside the Caufield-Suzuki-Matheson anchor

 

[Nogatco Rd]

No. He was given more opportunity.

He didn't improve. hence why his even strength numbers are WORSE than they were in chicago.

The on ice results he generated on the PP weren't anything special either. It helped him, but didn't lead to an overall effective PP. And the power play didn't miss much of a beat whatever combo it was of Dach, Newhook, Slaf, Hoffman, Monahan, etc was on alongside the Caufield-Suzuki-Matheson anchor

Guessing he probably had really sheltered deployment his rookie year though. Was he getting mostly 1st line mins in Montreal?

 

[dgibb10]

Guessing he probably had really sheltered deployment his rookie year though. Was he getting mostly 1st line mins in Montreal?

Here's his zone usage.

For a large portion of his time in MTL he was getting 1st line winger minutes alongside suzuki and caufield (this was the only time in his career his possession metrics weren't horrific).

He never really produced individually, but as the 3rd best player on a offensively utilized top line, he at least wasn't getting caved in possession wise like he has every other time.

in chicago he got a lot of high quality linemate usage too with Debrincat.

The consistent lack of 5v5 production (it's in line with 3rd/4th line guys and league minimum players, a number of defensemen), despite playing with VERY good linemates and favourable usage, is very concerning.

He's an effective PP weapon tho, and maybe a decent winger alongside 2 better guys.

I've seen nothing in his career to suggest he is an effective NHL center tho.

 

[dgibb10]

Guessing he probably had really sheltered deployment his rookie year though. Was he getting mostly 1st line mins in Montreal?

For a comparable btw, here are Kakko's results 5v5

So a step ahead of dach the whole way basically, looking quite good in 22-23.

This last year was a real struggle though.

 

[Rabid Ranger]

All of this talk of "underlying stats" makes me laugh. It would be nice if he can actually evolve from a theoretical hockey player into a real one. Up the intensity. Vastly increase # of shots. Get greasy. Will probably need a top-tier playmaker to get the most out of him. Instead of trading him for Zegras I wish the Rangers would trade for Zegras and play him with Kraapo!

 

[WayTooCold]

This is why we don't draft Finn on Detroit Red Wings. They are all busts. We only draft Swedes and Russians. No Finns.

 

[MakoSlade]

Just imagine if Devils had taken Kakko at first and Rangers got Hughes

No. I will absolutely not.

 

[TGWL]

Just imagine if Devils had taken Kakko at first and Rangers got Hughes

NYR would have just ruined Jack. He has talent so he'd be a good player, but our organization would have ruined him from being the franchise player of the team.

 

[KevinFinnerty]

The bluest of the blue chips

 

[Dijock94]

What is he good at?

Strength on the puck and maintaining possession in the offensive zone along the walls. And defensive positioning.

 

[Faceboner]

Em went crazy on Fuel.

His pen will always be insane in all honesty he reached a level where his God like pen ain't even exciting you just know he murders loose-leaf to laurel even if he was in a coma but it's still fun to let him obliterate your mind

 

[Skinnyjimmy08]

Unfortunately I never notice him when watching NYR games... He reminds me of one of those guys when playing hockey that come off the ice breathing hard and sweating and you wanna ask him "I didn't even notice u out there and what did u even do out there to be breathing so hard"

I would love to see him excel but I just don't think it's gonna happen

 

[OgeeOgelthorpe]

Kooked.

 

[BigGoalBrad]

Why not trade him for someone older/better. Needs a change of scenery.

 

[teravaineSAROS]

It's kind of weird. I don't normally put an enormous amount of stock in the "underlying numbers" in general...but Kakko is a real example of where they can generate...anomalous results sometimes.

Especially when cross-referenced with the eye-test and other statistics and metrics and deployment info and all the rest of the portfolio.


Where...it all really just screams that he's not a "dumb player" per se. Just that he's an extremely conservative player, and not nearly as skilled or creative offensively as his draft position would generally suggest.


He's kind of...Jack Skille for the contemporary age. But already significantly better than what Skille eventually turned himself into late in his career as a functional 4th line checker. So he'll always have that.


But there really is just that "play it safe" element to Kakko that i'm not sure he'll ever overcome. Short of some sort of major "wakeup call" change. But he's also too "decent" as a fairly "safe" checker already to maybe ever get that come to Jeebus moment that shakes him loose.

Plus, he seems permanently hex yipped as a finisher and just handling the puck in prime opportunities in general.

It's interesting because he was seen as the complete opposite of what he's now.

He used to be very creative, his hands were his main weapon and he did very well offensively in the WHC's (including against NHLers) prior to getting drafted.

Something feels off, I wonder what would happen if Colorado traded for him.