Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko: Part II

[Mac n Gs]

I really do wonder how much different the narrative would be around him if he had slightly better puck luck and didn't hit 2 posts on scoring chances with a very high probability of being goals. I still think he's been pretty rough at 5v5, but then again, so has the entire team.

Who behind him is having more success? Not doubting it really but not sure who you mean.

Look who you're replying to and that gives you all of the information you need to know. The only players taken after Kakko that have played NHL minutes are Dach, Heinola, and Bjornfoot. Dach started with extremely limited minutes, has 2 points just like Kakko, and has played half of his minutes with Patrick Kane.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

He absolutely needs time in the AHL. I think it's abundantly clear at this point.

Rangers just had a promo for a free Kakko jersey with a purchase of quarter, half or full season tickets. They won’t send him down. He’s adjusting to the NHL. No reason for panic.

 

[offdacrossbar]

hes gonna be fine. he set his bar pretty high. he should have 3 already really.

hes gonna get hot here soon and have 5 goals before we know it.

keep him on that PP1 and keep him with stromer.

 

[Albatros]

He absolutely needs time in the AHL. I think it's abundantly clear at this point.

The AHL is not a good developmental league for junior-aged players, if anything he should go back to Finland.

 

[will1066]

I can hear the "Well, fellow Finnish 2OA pick Patrik Laine didn't have to go down" comments already coming.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Kakko is figuring it out. He's hit some posts and missed some chances and as he gets more comfortable those will start going in for him.

 

[Levitate]

If the rest of the team wasn't struggling so hard he'd probably be doing better. Zibanejad's line hasn't been good lately either, their forecheck has been bad with or without Kakko.
I don't think it's really AHL time or more time in the Finnish league that he needs, he just needs to adjust to the pace of the game and get some help from his teammates. He's got a team playing very badly around him and everyone is on an island trying to do it themselves and he can't do much in a situation like that.

 

[SnowFort]

If Kakko were to be sent down he could probably take half of the team with him at this point.

 

[Uncle Dru]

If Kakko were to be sent down he could probably take half of the team with him at this point.

Of the 29 goals the Rangers scored this year, Zibanejad and/or Panarin have been on the ice for 20 of them (Panarin for 18). If he's not glued to either one of these two it's going to be tough sleddin...

 

[Matt Rentfree]

Who behind him is having more success? Not doubting it really but not sure who you mean.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I know we keep harping on it but I would really like to see him in Buchnevich's spot on PP1.

 

[Irishguy42]

I know we keep harping on it but I would really like to see him in Buchnevich's spot on PP1.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

The AHL is not a good developmental league for junior-aged players, if anything he should go back to Finland.

No.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Cool. Our problem now is that we don't really have any good left handed shots on the PP. Don't know if KK is the answer but Buch definitely isn't.

 

[Albatros]

No.

What is there for him in Hartford that is superior to other alternatives?

 

[Levitate]

Cool. Our problem now is that we don't really have any good left handed shots on the PP. Don't know if KK is the answer but Buch definitely isn't.

KK has scored a bunch in the past from that spot and hit the post a time or two in the NHl this season

 

[Machinehead]

He looks afraid to me.

I understand you want to get him into good habits, but you can't scare him either.

We drafted a dangler. He has to do cool shit and make mistakes doing cool shit.

 

[JCProdigy]

We drafted a dangler. He has to do cool **** and make mistakes doing cool ****.

It's what Chytil did offensively last year. Figured out what works and what doesn't at the NHL level.

 

[Machinehead]

It's what Chytil did offensively last year. Figured out what works and what doesn't at the NHL level.

Chytil hasn't figured that out though and they probably chain him too much.

 

[TheDirtyH]

Kakko hasn't looked worse than 90% of the forwards. That's both his problem and not his problem.

 

[will1066]

Focus on managing the puck. Focus on body positioning. Stop thinking about what the next move is gonna be even before touching the puck. Reduce predictability of circling behind the net. The rest will come.

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

He looks afraid to me.

I understand you want to get him into good habits, but you can't scare him either.

We drafted a dangler. He has to do cool **** and make mistakes doing cool ****.

Yeah, for a guy pegged as a big body with great puck control, hands and power, he hasn't flashed the power or ability to drive the net. Not that he doesn't have that ability, but he definitely seems a bit afraid.

Kakko has certainly struggled thus far, but I don't think the way the Rangers attempt to play helps him. He's more of an east-west player than a north-south player imo. He doesn't have explosive speed really. Rangers north-south system barely fits half the players on the team anyway because we can't skate.

 

[Levitate]

I think Kakko hasn't yet adjusted to how fast players get on you at the NHL level and on the smaller ice surface. He often gets stripped of the puck because he looks not ready to protect it once he gets it. He's gotta adjust to the idea he doesn't have time to settle the puck down and look around when he's trying to retrieve it along the boards etc

 

[GeorgeKaplan]

There also seems to be a decently long learning curve for forwards who use their strength/physicality as a weapon, could be something at play here

 

[JCProdigy]

Chytil hasn't figured that out though and they probably chain him too much.

I dunno man. I believe Chytil started turning the puck over less by the end of last year. Picked and chose his spots better. Also I haven't seen them chain him at all. They seemed to have no problem last year sending him back out there after trying a move that didn't work, ending in a turnover. I was specifically looking to see for that too because I fear any restraining of offensive creativity as well.

From what I saw, his demotions to the wing and to lower lines (and to HFD) had more to do with watching the play and losing his coverage on D.