Just because he is a rookie doesn't mean he should be shielded from any criticism. I'm happy he's been decent on the power play but he has been very underwhelming on 5v5. Like people have said, not worried about it. He'll pick it up and be great. Just not as NHL ready as people (including myself) thought he would be. Nothing wrong with pointing that out
Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko: Part II
- Thread starter aufheben
- Start date
-
Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
- Status
Rangerfans
Registered User
- Oct 12, 2008
- 1,804
- 546
It's almost as if adversity is a negative. Did people honestly expect 100-120 points? He has 14 points in 30 games. Slightly under .5 ppgs, and people are 'disappointed.'
PS - I hope I triggered someone.
- Jul 20, 2005
- 4,926
- 2,339
I think how high the bar was set for Kakko is being exaggerated a bit. There are always a handful of crazy opinions but I dont think most reasonable posters thought he was going to put up ridiculous numbers as an 18 year old. The "I told you so" thing seems a bit like like yelling at the guy with the "End is nigh" sign, rubbing in his face that you knew the end was not, in fact, really nigh.
That said Kakko's play at 5v5 has been brutal at times. He looks winded a lot, and I think that has nothing to do with his competition and everything to do with his conditioning and the fact that Quinn probably runs no joke practices.
This is a fair POV, i somewhat share it with you, he has been bad in some aspects and needs alot of work, that's completely normal.
Exactly, he has been bad in some aspects but they way some people look at it is just so wrong.
Maximus
Registered User
Bottom line is Kakko needs over the offseason to do what Lemieux for example did, who's skating and speed has improved tremendously since last season did and improve his skating which in turn has helped Lemieux's offensive game overall as well.
Kakko's skating is simply not up to par for the best league on the planet. He has looked gassed after 20-30 seconds in every shift he takes from Game 1 and it's only because of his immense talent that he even has 14 points at this juncture. His best moments have come on the PP when he can do his thing off the half wall where skating or speed is not as big a factor as it is at even strength.
He likely needs to do some intense power skating training in the offseason which I'm sure he'll do but until that occurs, what we see now is very likely what we we'll get for the rest of the season.
He's only 18 and no doubt his skating skills will improve which will help the rest of his game but until that occurs, this is what Kakko is, which is a very talented kid with a ton of potential who needs to learn how to skate better than he does now!.
Kakko's skating is simply not up to par for the best league on the planet. He has looked gassed after 20-30 seconds in every shift he takes from Game 1 and it's only because of his immense talent that he even has 14 points at this juncture. His best moments have come on the PP when he can do his thing off the half wall where skating or speed is not as big a factor as it is at even strength.
He likely needs to do some intense power skating training in the offseason which I'm sure he'll do but until that occurs, what we see now is very likely what we we'll get for the rest of the season.
He's only 18 and no doubt his skating skills will improve which will help the rest of his game but until that occurs, this is what Kakko is, which is a very talented kid with a ton of potential who needs to learn how to skate better than he does now!.
HatTrick Swayze
Just Be Nice
EdJovanovski
#FreeRempe
I’d much rather send him to the World Juniors than the AHL
Maximus
Registered User
I'm not too versed on this type of training tho it sounds like you are inferring like I am that Kakko needs additional training to improve. Is it safe to assume that Kakko's skating would improve by going thru this type of training or am I off on this?
Amazing Kreiderman
Registered User
- Apr 11, 2011
- 45,072
- 40,922
Kakko won both the WJC and WC last season. I doubt he has any interest in playing in the WJC this year.
Kakko will be fine. He will have bad stretches. Eichel had them too. Same with Barkov. Sending him down or to the WJC isn't going to do anything for him. Let him fight through it.
In the off season he can go to Turku and work on his strength with Hannu Rautala
aufheben
#Norris4Fox
Kakko is in a weird spot between someone not quite ready for the NHL but too good for the AHL. Part of it is how young he is, and no league in the world is going to make him age faster.
If he’s scoring a point almost every other game while not really even being ready for the NHL, brave yourselves for when he is.
The biggest “issue” for me isn’t the skating, it’s how easily he is knocked over. He doesn’t receive hits well yet. He’ll learn how to use his body in the NHL, clearly his size isn’t the problem.
If he’s scoring a point almost every other game while not really even being ready for the NHL, brave yourselves for when he is.
The biggest “issue” for me isn’t the skating, it’s how easily he is knocked over. He doesn’t receive hits well yet. He’ll learn how to use his body in the NHL, clearly his size isn’t the problem.
Last edited:
Almost all of his problems comes down to skating and just adjusting to speed of NHL. He certainly isn't great on 5v5, specially on own end and without puck.
We constantly see flashes of what he is cabable of. Once he gets that speed, explosiviness and more strength he will be beast.
We constantly see flashes of what he is cabable of. Once he gets that speed, explosiviness and more strength he will be beast.
I said at his rookie topic that he us one year to early to NHL.
He has the brains etc., but he is just way to raw at skating and overall conditioning and strenght.
It is mentally quite tiring to fail in 5vs5 game.
He will get it going but playing forced us not the answer.
He has the brains etc., but he is just way to raw at skating and overall conditioning and strenght.
It is mentally quite tiring to fail in 5vs5 game.
He will get it going but playing forced us not the answer.
There are a bunch of guys struggling to finish right now. Kakko is just one of them but Strome Chytil Buchy Lemieux Howden all struggling to find the net. Sometimes it happens and probably why were seeing even more over passing than usual right now. They’re definitely in the dog days rut and need to get out of it.
Gardner McKay
RIP, Jimmy.
I'm not concerned about the point production from an 18 year old. An almost .5 ppg for an 18 year old is outstanding.
All I am saying is the kid looks tired and lacking confidence. Not unheard of for an 18 year old by any means, I just think he could benefit from 1-2 AHL games or maybe sitting out a game or two.
Please don't mind me, someone from Puljujarvi's camp, stepping in. I really believe acquiring him could be great for Kakko. Puljujarvi just had a very strong cup in the national team. This was the first time when he was the leading player in the national team, including a game against a strong Russian team in an NHL sized rink in front of 70 000 viewers. He scored 1+3 which made him the best scorer of the tournament. I'm writing this because I know the Rangers have been interested about him.
I believe Kakko and Puljujarvi could support each other off the ice, too, and one day they could very possibly form one of the best lines in the NHL. Kakko is such a terrific prospect I'm sure he'll become a star player sooner or later so patience is the key here.
I believe Kakko and Puljujarvi could support each other off the ice, too, and one day they could very possibly form one of the best lines in the NHL. Kakko is such a terrific prospect I'm sure he'll become a star player sooner or later so patience is the key here.
Inferno
Registered User
I'm up for trading for puljujarvi mostly because I am not a lias Andersson believer... And I'll take a chance on a big guy who can skate like puljujarvi.
Amazing Kreiderman
Registered User
- Apr 11, 2011
- 45,072
- 40,922
It's a big change going from Liiga to the NHL in more ways than 1. Travel, different timezones, more games, different style of hockey. I expected him to struggle and go through some bad stretches. If he ends up with 40 points, it will be a good season.
Edge
Kris King's Ghost
I guess I'm more or less in the same boat as @aufheben in the sense that I see a player that is probably too good for the AHL. So in that sense, I'm not really sure what he'd do there other than put up a 3-5 points in the 2-4 games and then come right back up here and still have to work on the same things.
In some cases, I think a trip to the AHL can be beneficial. In other cases, I wonder if it becomes a bit of a default response when a young player is going through rough patches. Kind of like a wounded animal, we don't want them to suffer, so we figure sending them to a place where they can dominate will help. But sometimes a young player just needs to accept the challenge and needs to experience just how difficult the NHL can be.
In Kakko's case, I think he has more to learn fighting for his points in the NHL than he does racking up the points in the AHL.
Chytil used to have this issue as well, despite not being as tall. Kaako is a tall kid, the bigger they are, the harder they fall ya know. He will get much stronger as the years go on. What I like is that he isn't too skinny, he seems naturally solid which means when he puts on muscle, he is going to be very hard to take off his skates
Uncle Dru
Formerly Kakk Addict
- Mar 12, 2012
- 645
- 494
https://www.google.com/amp/s/nypost...sial-kappo-kakko-demotion-was-right-move/amp/
Brooks article, good read. You know how I know it's good, he spelled his f'n name wrong in the title!
Brooks article, good read. You know how I know it's good, he spelled his f'n name wrong in the title!
I'd be more open to sending Kakko down to the AHL if I thought he had more of a support system in place there. I think he needs another visit from Ruutu.
Amazing Kreiderman
Registered User
- Apr 11, 2011
- 45,072
- 40,922
Everyone expects McDavid out of their top pick and thinks they have Daigle the moment their top prospect has a few bad games.
- Status
Latest posts
-
Proposal: Free agency edition Trade Rumours/Proposals [MOD - Stay on Topic] 5- Latest: frightenedinmatenum2
-
-
