Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko: Part IV

[rdhstlr23]

How can you make this call this early in his career? You're so confident about something you have no idea about.

The same way a person can say he’s going to be a star before ever seeing him play an NHL game, or someone can see what he’s done and infer he is going to start coming around.

Just because I have an opinion that’s negative and you don’t agree with it, doesn’t mean it’s ridiculous to make it.

 

[rdhstlr23]

He shows skills that are vastly superior to those two (hands in tight, edge work, etc.), but he also shows some skills that are worse than them.

There is definitely going to come a time when all of this good hard work and xGF positivity needs to translate to actual production. That time is fast approaching unfortunately.

Was Marian Hossa a franchise altering talent? Didn’t play full time in the NHL until his D+3 and was a 15/15 guy at that. I think that development curve is what we need to be hoping for right now. I’m not sure what we were hoping for previously though.

Thanks for the response.

Kakko is super skilled. I’m not debating that. Julien Gauthier is also skilled. I’m not comparing the two, but more to say...skilled guys just can’t make the full jump some times. It happens.

The Hossa comp is a good one. Boy, am I hoping Kakko is just a late bloomer. However, it seems as though wingers are picking things up quicker than ever before. You can see the production when they’re 19 or in their 2nd year.

We haven’t seen the production yet, as you agreed. At some point, you’ve got to start seeing that.

 

[Crease]

4 points in 18 games. Something remains off here.

 

[The New Russian Five]

Near the end of the game just now, Kakko made a great move cutting towards the slot and seemed to have the middle of the ice available to him to find a lane to shoot through, and he elected to pass instead to Chytil at the side of the net instead. He does this a lot and I don't get why.

 

[LOFIN]

4 points in 18 games. Something remains off here.

Look the scoring on this outside of him. There is basically none. Panarin and Strome.

 

[LeetchisGod]

Near the end of the game just now, Kakko made a great move cutting towards the slot and seemed to have the middle of the ice available to him to find a lane to shoot through, and he elected to pass instead to Chytil at the side of the net instead. He does this a lot and I don't get why.

In fairness, most of the team is allergic to shooting.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Near the end of the game just now, Kakko made a great move cutting towards the slot and seemed to have the middle of the ice available to him to find a lane to shoot through, and he elected to pass instead to Chytil at the side of the net instead. He does this a lot and I don't get why.

Kakko has a mediocre shot, it gets through but it doesn’t have a ton of velocity on it. Most of his goals have been from creating openings with his hands and then basically deking the puck in.
This off-season id assume the rangers want him to work on both gaining one to two more steps in speed, and then improving his shot.

 

[CupSeeker]

Kakko stays high if he doesn't have the puck. He is trying to please his coach. He is thinking defense too much. He will learn and develop a balance between offensive chances and defensive responsibilities. Not all kids are coached by guys who treat their players like college kids. Quinn has to go at the end of the year.

 

[bl02]

There is no doubt in my mind this total "defensive mentality" is totally hampering these kids offensive game.

 

[rdhstlr23]

Look the scoring on this outside of him. There is basically none. Panarin and Strome.

I don’t know what the point of this is.

Kakko should be expected to start help carrying the complimentary load here. He’s not.

Kreider is scoring. Buchnevich is scoring. Great rates? No.

But Kakko isn’t. At some point, he’s going to need to carry his weight and help produce.

 

[Synergy27]

I don’t know what the point of this is.

Kakko should be expected to start help carrying the complimentary load here. He’s not.

Kreider is scoring. Buchnevich is scoring. Great rates? No.

But Kakko isn’t. At some point, he’s going to need to carry his weight and help produce.

Exactly. That post you replied to is just wrong. Buch is leading the team in scoring and Kreider is amongst the league leaders i goal scoring.

These kids are in no way being relied upon to be the primary drivers of offense on the team. The problem is, they are providing next to no secondary scoring, and lo and behold, the team sucks.

Seriously just praying that it’s the coaching at this point.

 

[rdhstlr23]

If Kravtsov lights things on fire when he comes over, there has to real consideration that it’s Kakko going in an Eichel trade, and not Kravtsov.

 

[CupSeeker]

I don’t know what the point of this is.

Kakko should be expected to start help carrying the complimentary load here. He’s not.

Kreider is scoring. Buchnevich is scoring. Great rates? No.

But Kakko isn’t. At some point, he’s going to need to carry his weight and help produce.

Agreed. His game is puck possession and driving to the net. Some of that is knowing your linemates and where they will be most of the time. There is no consistency in the lineup. When he wins puck battles, he then has to figure out where everyone is and he either shoots or loses the puck. He is making strides, his defense is pretty good now and he is still deflecting a lot of pucks in the O zone to keep the pressure on. I choose to be patient.

 

[Reggiet2]

Kakko reminds me of Nino Nedeirreiter.

 

[rdhstlr23]

Agreed. His game is puck possession and driving to the net. Some of that is knowing your linemates and where they will be most of the time. There is no consistency in the lineup. When he wins puck battles, he then has to figure out where everyone is and he either shoots or loses the puck. He is making strides, his defense is pretty good now and he is still deflecting a lot of pucks in the O zone to keep the pressure on. I choose to be patient.

Fair. I have no issue with anyone going with patience.

I’m not saying bench Kakko, or that he’s sucks. I’m saying we are starting to get out of the “he’s going to be a star” territory. If Eichel wasn’t a possibility, I wouldn’t be discussing him as a trade chip either.

It’s all about expectations here. I expected a lot more. Watch every night hoping to see the start of consistent production. It’s been a huge bummer.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Kakko reminds me of Nino Nedeirreiter.

That would be a win in my book. Not what we hoped for but Niederreiter is a good player.

 

[Zats Muccarello]

If Kravtsov lights things on fire when he comes over, there has to real consideration that it’s Kakko going in an Eichel trade, and not Kravtsov.

would be a huge mistake

 

[FireGerardGallant]

If Kravtsov lights things on fire when he comes over, there has to real consideration that it’s Kakko going in an Eichel trade, and not Kravtsov.

That would be so incredibly stupid

 

[TheDirtyH]

If it's the player, we should trade him now while the value is high. If it's not the player, then management sure better fix whatever it is.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

If it's the player, we should trade him now while the value is high. If it's not the player, then management sure better fix whatever it is.

Kakko is playing good hockey. I will start to worry about Kakko when our team is scoring and Kakko isn't. When he is the exception. Kakko's underlying numbers this season have been really good and that's a good reason to stay positive.

Yes, I wish he had some more goals but on this team, where we have a coach who sucks the creativity out of the team, I can't really blame a 20 year old winger for not scoring. This team is ranked 26th in the league in goals at even strength.

 

[TheDirtyH]

Kakko is playing good hockey. I will start to worry about Kakko when our team is scoring and Kakko isn't. When he is the exception. Kakko's underlying numbers this season have been really good and that's a good reason to stay positive.

Yes, I wish he had some more goals but on this team, where we have a coach who sucks the creativity out of the team, I can't really blame a 20 year old winger for not scoring. This team is ranked 26th in the league in goals at even strength.

(personally don't think it's the player)

 

[Synergy27]

Kakko is playing good hockey. I will start to worry about Kakko when our team is scoring and Kakko isn't. When he is the exception. Kakko's underlying numbers this season have been really good and that's a good reason to stay positive.

Yes, I wish he had some more goals but on this team, where we have a coach who sucks the creativity out of the team, I can't really blame a 20 year old winger for not scoring. This team is ranked 26th in the league in goals at even strength.

I’m just not seeing how that situation comes to fruition as you’ve got it defined. The team is scoring pretty decently outside of Zibanejad right now. The reason why “the team” isn’t scoring is because these kids are not scoring at anywhere near the pace they were expected to.

 

[Igor Shestyorkin]

Kakko is playing good hockey. I will start to worry about Kakko when our team is scoring and Kakko isn't. When he is the exception. Kakko's underlying numbers this season have been really good and that's a good reason to stay positive.

Yes, I wish he had some more goals but on this team, where we have a coach who sucks the creativity out of the team, I can't really blame a 20 year old winger for not scoring. This team is ranked 26th in the league in goals at even strength.

I'm the biggest advocate of advanced metrics in the world but he has the worst PPG among every single 2nd overall pick in their sophomore season in the last 20 YEARS.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I'm the biggest advocate of advanced metrics in the world but he has the worst PPG among every single 2nd overall pick in their sophomore season in the last 20 YEARS.

Off the top of my head, after 18 gamees Barkov's was worse. So was Jordan Staal's. I'm not saying I am not disappointed, but I am not worried about him not turning into the player we want him to be.

Yakupov was great in his D+1 season and then stagnated. Development isn't linear

 

[CLW]

I'm the biggest advocate of advanced metrics in the world but he has the worst PPG among every single 2nd overall pick in their sophomore season in the last 20 YEARS.

Doesn't matter. It's clear Kakko is the most naturally gifted Ranger behind only, maybe Panarin and Laf, and Panarin is a fully mature player at the peak of his abilities. What matters is that he keeps developing over the next few years. The development staff seems to be doing a good job, but Quinn is not helping (rather the opposite) with lack of knowledge of advanced systems and tactics. Fire Quinn and let Martin take over for now. Kakko and Laf et al are too important for the Rangers to allow them to be stunted by a college coach.