Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko: Part II

[Gluten Free Breadman]

Dude watched one game. Lazy video.

I have seen tons of example of Kakko playing to his strengths. He has made beautiful passes, kept control of the puck while under pressure, scored some sick goals on the PP / shootout.

Not saying Kakko is perfect, but Scouching definitely needs to put more research in before he does any more videos.

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

I know this guy only watched one game but I do agree with some of his points tbh. I feel like there has been something lacking for Kakko all year.

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

My big criticism of Kakko is his lack of explosiveness. Defending is teachable and I feel like for wingers, defense is usually more a product of the system/just learning positioning. Guy has the offensive talent and hands but the skating seems lacking a bit, for me. He's only 18, so I guarantee he improves in that area, and many more.

 

[BroadwayStorm]

The truth is in those instances when he plays selfishly he looks so much better. He should do more of it. Or be in a line with competent offensive players.

 

[Kiekura]

The truth is in those instances when he plays selfishly he looks so much better. He should do more of it. Or be in a line with competent offensive players.

I agree. Kakko is on his best with puck. He has great hands and good shot. He dumps a lot and passes when he could shoot.

Biggest problems i see currently are his skating and that skating specially shows in 5vs5 and at the own end. He constantly loses battles on loose pucks and is late. That is also why i am not worried at all, because that is something he can improve pretty easily. It might take years but after that he will be threat and PPG player atleast.

 

[Kiekura]

I know this guy only watched one game but I do agree with some of his points tbh. I feel like there has been something lacking for Kakko all year.

Yeah he has some points there for sure, but i think it is stupid to watch 1 game. Atleast watch several games and some highlight reels.

 

[ThirdEye]

He's doing fine in his first season for a #2 pick. Going to be lots of feeling around and figuring out what works and what doesn't

I think some people forget how lucky we were to even get him. Patience is key

Once his skating and strenth catch up to his hands he'll be a nightmare for opposing D

 

[Mac n Gs]

I thought he had much, much better moments last night. A really bright spot was him leading the team in individual shot attempts with 7 and having an ixGF of 0.53 (3 individual high-danger scoring chances).

To put some context into it, he only had 52 individual shot attempts at 5v5 before last night. I hope the message of being aggressive offensively and shooting the puck is starting to settle in for him.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

He's doing fine in his first season for a #2 pick. Going to be lots of feeling around and figuring out what works and what doesn't

I think some people forget how lucky we were to even get him. Patience is key

Once his skating and strenth catch up to his hands he'll be a nightmare for opposing D

 

[True Blue]

I thought he had much, much better moments last night. A really bright spot was him leading the team in individual shot attempts with 7 and having an ixGF of 0.53 (3 individual high-danger scoring chances).

He is going to be fine.

What I did not like at all, was what I saw in those first 5 minutes. He was fed the puck by Panarin and could have had a quality shot, but chose to curl it out again. And he did that several times. That may well have worked for him in Liga, but that is not going to work in the NHL. But he is an 18 year old and has plenty of time to learn.

 

[Brooklyn Rangers Fan]

He is going to be fine.

What I did not like at all, was what I saw in those first 5 minutes. He was fed the puck by Panarin and could have had a quality shot, but chose to curl it out again. And he did that several times. That may well have worked for him in Liga, but that is not going to work in the NHL. But he is an 18 year old and has plenty of time to learn.

Yes, but then shot more and more assertively later in the game. Legit had me wondering if Panarin (or someone else) spoke to him on the bench afterwards.

I feel like we may have witnessed a step in his development last night. Not necessarily the step, but a step nonetheless. I was very encouraged.

 

[True Blue]

Yes, but then shot more and more assertively later in the game. Legit had me wondering if Panarin (or someone else) spoke to him on the bench afterwards.

I feel like we may have witnessed a step in his development last night. Not necessarily the step, but a step nonetheless. I was very encouraged.

Good point and it does make one wonder if someone said something to him as he got more assertive.

Agreed that it was a step. Let's hope he can take some more steps forward.

 

[Mac n Gs]

He is going to be fine.

What I did not like at all, was what I saw in those first 5 minutes. He was fed the puck by Panarin and could have had a quality shot, but chose to curl it out again. And he did that several times. That may well have worked for him in Liga, but that is not going to work in the NHL. But he is an 18 year old and has plenty of time to learn.

Right, but you could also see his visible frustration on the bench after that shift. From that point forward, he was much more aggressive and stopped trying to do too much with the puck.

 

[haveandare]

Imo the fact that he's done well on the PP most of the year makes a lot of sense. There's more time to think, less urgency to make a decision at NHL pace, and more room to play with the puck. His puck skills and vision are his big strengths, and like almost every 18 year old NHLer with very few exceptions, thinking at the pace of the NHL game and making decisions with guys closing in on him are things he still needs to adjust to. I'd be worried if he wasn't showing his puck skills and vision when the circumstances make it possible, but he's taking advantage of those opportunities just fine so far. The rest will come with a little time.

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

Yeah he has some points there for sure, but i think it is stupid to watch 1 game. Atleast watch several games and some highlight reels.

Yeah, don't disagree there. But I wouldn't really be surprised if he watched more and came back with a similar conclusion tbh.

 

[Kiekura]

Yeah, don't disagree there. But I wouldn't really be surprised if he watched more and came back with a similar conclusion tbh.

Most likely he would have lots of similar points atleast and i agree with some of his points.

 

[Kiekura]

Yes, but then shot more and more assertively later in the game. Legit had me wondering if Panarin (or someone else) spoke to him on the bench afterwards.

I feel like we may have witnessed a step in his development last night. Not necessarily the step, but a step nonetheless. I was very encouraged.

It might be coaches too. Against Vegas i saw how Quinn took flapboard and was drawing something and talking to Kakko. I am 100% sure players and coaches are teaching him in every game.

 

[Rongomania]

11p in his last 17gp?

Nice.

He'll be just fine.

I just don't believe the 'Svech was better' talk. The kid was on a MUCH stronger team. I think Kakko has a similar second year as Svech is having right now.

Also RE: The second overall pick chart:

Wild that he has more points than Seguin had at this point in their rook years. He keeps getting better. I've seen zero stalling in his game.

 

[Seanharold]

I'm not worried about Kakko but his skating is absolutely brutal.

 

[The New Russian Five]

Rangers need to have him train with the same skating coach that trained Brian Boyle after his first season with the rangers.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Kakko had his best games last night, once he figures out he needs to shoot quicker he will be great.

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

I'm not worried about Kakko but his skating is absolutely brutal.

Basically this. His skating is a lot more concerning than I thought it'd be. He could probably be a force on the forecheck if he really added more explosiveness. And he'd be a force with the puck on the rush, considering his hands and ability to position his body.

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

Yeah, last night was one of his best games easily. Unfortunately it was a bit overshadowed by the entire team having a dogshit game after LA had that late good shift in period 1.

 

[EdJovanovski]

I'm not worried about Kakko but his skating is absolutely brutal.

It’s weird because if you watch him in Liiga or the WC his skating was very good, especially his agility. I think it’s moreso conditioning & the pace of the game that he’s not used to. I think he also is putting too much pressure on himself to be defensively responsible, you can see this by how he always comes way too deep when we’re in our own zone. Since he’s covering too much ice he’s gassed by the end of every shift. I don’t think it’s that he’s a poor skater.

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

List one person who expected Kakko to be PPG.