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Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko: Part II

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The Crypto Guy said:
What a garbage article taking all his quotes out of context to get people to click his crap. Larry should have a word with Brett.
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Now you know why Dan Boyle flipped out on both of them on his way out the door.

Brett's a pompous asshole, so it seems to make sense he would write something like this.
 
Kakko needs to use his linemates better, specially at 5v5. NHL success comes from playing a team game. He's doing too many circles.
 
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will1066 said:
Kakko needs to use his linemates better, specially at 5v5. NHL success comes from playing a team game. He's doing too many circles.
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The game has to slow down for him. Young guys always try to hang on to the puck too long either deking to buy time (Chytil, Kravtsov) or skating around (Hayes back in the day and Kakko this year) looking for an opportunity, instead of having 90% of the decision made before the pucks is received. Buch seems to have hit his stride regarding this though he struggles with seeing it through, though he generally has the right idea at least to move the puck quickly. It'll come for our boy Kakko, hopefully sooner rather than later.
 
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romba said:
The game has to slow down for him. Young guys always try to hang on to the puck too long either deking to buy time (Chytil, Kravtsov) or skating around (Hayes back in the day and Kakko this year) looking for an opportunity, instead of having 90% of the decision made before the pucks is received. Buch seems to have hit his stride regarding this though he struggles with seeing it through, though he generally has the right idea at least to move the puck quickly. It'll come for our boy Kakko, hopefully sooner rather than later.
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Good post.
 
Young players like Kakko who can produce (I believe he can) need help adjusting, no matter how good. He wasn't placed into an ideal circumstances from the get go and these ~10 minute games aren't helping. Confidence is everything because it goes hand in hand with consistency especially at the beginning. Leaving him to figure it out with mediocre line mates makes the adjustment period difficult. Of course for instance Kreider isn't mediocre, but his game has been and I don't know why.

Slotting Kakko with Zibs is a great move even if it's just a few games. Seems like Quinn cannot make up his mind while trying out different combos. For instance, I couldn't fathom what he was thinking when he promoted Kakko to the 1st PP unit for 1 game when the play was run through Panarin and Kakko hardly even touched the puck and he was demoted the very next game (as if he hadn't done enough or something).

His top speed isn't great and needs a lot of work but he's a lot better skater at the moment than lets say Barkov or Draisaitl was at the same age, so he's going to be more than fine. His agility is already good and acceleration I would say average in the NHL standards. I would say in the long run, that's at least a good starting position for an 18 year old kid. Just need to keep in mind how thin framework he still has. I think Forsberg had similar build at this age. and he turned out like tank Of course that doesn't mean every player has similar physical development curve even if they have other similarities in the game. Nonetheless Kakko has barely begun bulking up.

I guess some expected him to be one of the leading forwards from day 1 based on his performances at 18-19 (apparently himself included), but at the end it's a process and some things just are out of his reach, like deployment for instance. He'll get better and better as the season progresses as long as he's being used like any other top six forward.

Anyway looking forward to the next game to see what he can do with an elite player and hopefully more time on the ice.
 
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kelsier said:
Young players like Kakko who can produce (I believe he can) need help adjusting, no matter how good. He wasn't placed into an ideal circumstances from the get go and these ~10 minute games aren't helping. Confidence is everything because it goes hand in hand with consistency especially at the beginning. Leaving him to figure it out with mediocre line mates makes the adjustment period difficult. Of course for instance Kreider isn't mediocre, but his game has been and I don't know why.

Slotting Kakko with Zibs is a great move even if it's just a few games. Seems like Quinn cannot make up his mind while trying out different combos. For instance, I couldn't fathom what he was thinking when he promoted Kakko to the 1st PP unit for 1 game when the play was run through Panarin and Kakko hardly even touched the puck and he was demoted the very next game (as if he hadn't done enough or something).

His top speed isn't great and needs a lot of work but he's a lot better skater at the moment than lets say Barkov or Draisaitl was at the same age, so he's going to be more than fine. His agility is already good and acceleration I would say average in the NHL standards. I would say in the long run, that's at least a good starting position for an 18 year old kid. Just need to keep in mind how thin framework he still has. I think Forsberg had similar build at this age. and he turned out like tank Of course that doesn't mean every player has similar physical development curve even if they have other similarities in the game. Nonetheless Kakko has barely begun bulking up.

I guess some expected him to be one of the leading forwards from day 1 based on his performances at 18-19 (apparently himself included), but at the end it's a process and some things just are out of his reach, like deployment for instance. He'll get better and better as the season progresses as long as he's being used like any other top six forward.

Anyway looking forward to the next game to see what he can do with an elite player and hopefully more time on the ice.
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This post should be stickied to OP and everyone should read this. Well said.
 
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The next games against Bruins and Lightning are games number 9 and 10 for Kaapo. We all know what happens if and when we get to game 10.

I think Rangers should make this weekend the decision on where Kaapo will play this season. Either NHL (with possible trips to AHL) or the rest of the season at Hartford.
 
KK will be fine. He is learning to play both ends of the ice and it appears that, for now, he is doing more thinking than playing. Give him time to get comfortable with what he needs to do. Once his natural instincts take over, he will realize that he can do what he did at every level he has played in the past.
 
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Seele said:
The next games against Bruins and Lightning are games number 9 and 10 for Kaapo. We all know what happens if and when we get to game 10.

I think Rangers should make this weekend the decision on where Kaapo will play this season. Either NHL (with possible trips to AHL) or the rest of the season at Hartford.
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Ummm what? Lol

Kakko is here to stay. He has not been anywhere near bad. He just hasn’t scored. Quite honestly he could have 3 or 4 goals right now with the some of the chances he has bad because he puts himself in positions to score. He is always around the puck, always involved. Last night he hits the post when he drives the net.

And this is all while STILL getting acclimated to the NHL game. He will be fine and he isn’t going anywhere.
 
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A little unlucky on the post he hit on a great move across the front of the net last night. That's how it goes when things aren't really going well for any player, but especially young guys.

The turnover that lead to their 1st goal is something that'll come out of his game in time. The better thing was that he was in a good position to pick up a rebound like that. The decision to blindly drop it back was not. Life of an 18 year old hockey player in the NHL.
 
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JimmyG89 said:
A little unlucky on the post he hit on a great move across the front of the net last night. That's how it goes when things aren't really going well for any player, but especially young guys.

The turnover that lead to their 1st goal is something that'll come out of his game in time. The better thing was that he was in a good position to pick up a rebound like that. The decision to blindly drop it back was not. Life of an 18 year old hockey player in the NHL.
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Life of an 18 year old and honestly life of any hockey player. Everyone turns it over every now and then. Kakko luckily hasn't had too many ugly mistakes yet.

It looks like we're all going to need a bit of patience with Kaapo. And that's fine.
 
Something is up with Kakko. Whether it's an injury or diabetic complications or something else. He moves to the top line with Zibad and his minutes drop? His minutes have been in steady decline the last 5 games. Been watching him and he is always the first linemate off the ice on a change. Like he has no stamina to finish his shift.
 
ohbaby said:
Something is up with Kakko. Whether it's an injury or diabetic complications or something else. He moves to the top line with Zibad and his minutes drop? His minutes have been in steady decline the last 5 games. Been watching him and he is always the first linemate off the ice on a change. Like he has no stamina to finish his shift.
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NHL is a big step up from Liiga in many ways
 
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ohbaby said:
I rather hope it is just a bug he has or a nagging injury. 11 minutes a game isn't gonna help this team or him.
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The season is starting to kick into gear after having 4 games in 3 weeks or whatever, it could just be the adjustment to the pace of the season for him
 
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