Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko: Part II

[Rongomania]

That celly of his last night might be my favorite ranger moment ever. He reminds me of Hank as a forward; where you see the unreal passion that is clearly matched by very few.

 

[Gardner McKay]

Totally agree. He's already more than halfway there and hes learning what he can and cannot get away with. He seems to bank all of that knowledge on a nightly basis. He's only 18 for christssake. Once he grows fully into his body and continues to develop his skating quickness and edge work he is going to be a force to be reckoned with.

Still can't believe the Rangers drafted this kid.

That really is the main point and one I hope people don't forget despite the lofty expectations. He is only 18. Look at Barkov. He struggled his first two years in the league and now he is one of the elites in the game at just 24 years old.

 

[JimmyG89]

Getting him with Ruutu might have done the trick for him. Confidence is sky high since then.

Of course, just playing in more games and learning helps too.

Was really surprised we didn't sign a cheap Finnish forward on 7/1 to help Kakko along, or try and acquire one in a trade. Would give him a teammate he could lean on that speaks his native language while getting himself situated in North America.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Getting him with Ruutu might have done the trick for him. Confidence is sky high since then.

Of course, just playing in more games and learning helps too.

Was really surprised we didn't sign a cheap Finnish forward on 7/1 to help Kakko along, or try and acquire one in a trade. Would give him a teammate he could lean on that speaks his native language while getting himself situated in North America.

Does Georgiev not speak Finnish?

 

[NYR94]

I agree that confidence is key. It will come with experience and when he's truly comfortable and confident out there he'll be the best player on the ice for the Rangers.

 

[Calad]

Does Georgiev not speak Finnish?

Born in Bulgaria, raised in Russia. Likely not. Zibanejad speaks Finnish via his mother, though

 

[LOFIN]

Does Georgiev not speak Finnish?

He spent 3 years in Finland, Finnish is super hard to learn + pretty much everyone speaks English here. Maybe he knows something but not much.

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

Born in Bulgaria, raised in Russia. Likely not. Zibanejad speaks Finnish via his mother, though

He spent 3 years in Finland, Finnish is super hard to learn + pretty much everyone speaks English here. Maybe he knows something but not much.

I thought there was a comment or something along the lines from him recently that he lives in Finland in the offseason

 

[tellermine]

I thought there was a comment or something along the lines from him recently that he lives in Finland in the offseason

Yeah. He trains summers in Finland.
Did loads of work with hips last summer.

 

[Levitate]

Having someone that speaks the language versus having someone actually from your country and background are different things. I"m sure it's nice to be able to speak to Zibanejad or Georgiev in Finnish but it's not the same as sharing a common background when you're a young kid far from home

 

[LOFIN]

Having someone that speaks the language versus having someone actually from your country and background are different things. I"m sure it's nice to be able to speak to Zibanejad or Georgiev in Finnish but it's not the same as sharing a common background when you're a young kid far from home

Nevermind a former pro who has had a good career in the NHL and with the national team.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

To put things into perspective a little better regarding his age:

Going into the 22-23 season when he becomes RFA and Zib is a UFA and the only other players currently signed to he roster are Panarin, Trouba and Skjei he will still be only be the same age as Fox, Lindgren, Andersson, Howden & Hajek are right now but he will have 3 seasons under his belt.

 

[Calad]

Having someone that speaks the language versus having someone actually from your country and background are different things. I"m sure it's nice to be able to speak to Zibanejad or Georgiev in Finnish but it's not the same as sharing a common background when you're a young kid far from home

It certainly can't be discounted

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Born in Bulgaria, raised in Russia. Likely not. Zibanejad speaks Finnish via his mother, though

He has been going to training camps in Finland ever since he was a kid. But I doubt he speaks Finnish

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Having someone that speaks the language versus having someone actually from your country and background are different things. I"m sure it's nice to be able to speak to Zibanejad or Georgiev in Finnish but it's not the same as sharing a common background when you're a young kid far from home

This x1000. Language isn't everything. It's about customs and habits, about understanding someone's upbringing and childhood.

 

[LOFIN]

He has been going to training camps in Finland ever since he was a kid. But I doubt he speaks Finnish

He first came to Finland in 2014. When he was already 18yo.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

He first came to Finland in 2014. When he was already 18yo.

He moved to Finland at age 18, but he has been going to Fredrik Norrena's goalie camp in Turku ever since he was 10 years old.

 

[Leetch3]

clearly the only solution is for us to draft a good old finnish born player like brad lambert so kakko was a fellow finn on the team

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

clearly the only solution is for us to draft a good old finnish born player like brad lambert so kakko was a fellow finn on the team

Brad Lambert would be a great prospect to add. I'd settle for Lundell this summer though.

 

[LOFIN]

He moved to Finland at age 18, but he has been going to Fredrik Norrena's goalie camp in Turku ever since he was 10 years old.

True, I should be knowing this. But I still doubt Georgijev knows Finnish that much. It's not his job to make Kakko at home, Sasha has enouhg job with himself.

 

[ZiGOODejad]

I like what the NHL did there with KK’s highlight. Snap. Kakko. Pop.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

That really is the main point and one I hope people don't forget despite the lofty expectations. He is only 18. Look at Barkov. He struggled his first two years in the league and now he is one of the elites in the game at just 24 years old.

Barkov, Rantanen, Draisaitl... these bigger, "non-speedster" skilled players all looked underwhelming in their rookie years, or in the case of Rantanen didn't even play in the NHL. Svechnikov had a modest rookie year, came on strong at the end and now he looks like a superstar in the making. Kakko will be a star but it will take some time. We love to see 18 year old stars and the Rangers haven't had a star rookie since Hank in 2005 but we need to realize that its very very rare for a rookie especially an 18 year old to dominate in the NHL. Even Matthews was 19 for his entire rookie season.

 

[Kaapo Cabana]

Really encouraged by his play of late.

still seems to "over-dangle" at times, but he seems to be doing things with authority and purpose now as opposed to before when it looked like he was just throwing moves out and hoping they would work.

looks like he is becoming more confident each game.

 

[SA16]

Really encouraged by his play of late.

still seems to "over-dangle" at times, but he seems to be doing things with authority and purpose now as opposed to before when it looked like he was just throwing moves out and hoping they would work.

looks like he is becoming more confident each game.

Yea he holds on to the puck way too long but I don't think it's really a bad thing. It's frustrating to watch him overhandle it but how else will he learn what does and doesn't work? Eventually he'll realize he can't do it forever and will start to figure out how to make plays to find teammates open when he draws multiple defenders to him.

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

Yea he holds on to the puck way too long but I don't think it's really a bad thing. It's frustrating to watch him overhandle it but how else will he learn what does and doesn't work? Eventually he'll realize he can't do it forever and will start to figure out how to make plays to find teammates open when he draws multiple defenders to him.

It’s a far “better” concern than that of Andersson, who is allergic to touching the puck for more than half a second.