Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko: Part IV

[Fitzy]

I certainly didn't predict that he'd go from invisible in the defensive zone to one of the more talented defensive forwards on the team in like 8 months.

Let’s give the kid some PK minutes next

 

[The New Russian Five]

You can see all the pieces and tools are there for him to be an elite player. It's just a matter of putting it together and processing the game a bit quicker, which he is slowly getting better at. I feel like next year will be his breakout year.

 

[will1066]

I certainly didn't predict that he'd go from invisible in the defensive zone to one of the more talented defensive forwards on the team in like 8 months.

Let’s give the kid some PK minutes next

This has been the bane of people who are patient vs the impatient folks. Teach these kids what responsible hockey is first, and the offense will naturally follow.

 

[Fitzy]

This has been the bane of people who are patient vs the impatient folks. Teach these kids what responsible hockey is first, and the offense will naturally follow.

It’s easier when he’s passing both the eye test and the advanced stats tests though.

Lafreniere has yet to take that non points step

 

[will1066]

It’s easier when he’s passing both the eye test and the advanced stats tests though.

Lafreniere has yet to take that non points step

Laf is getting there. According to my eyes anyway. I thought he looked good tonight away from the puck and skated in patterns that made sense.

 

[Player big P]

Takeaway skills of Mark Stone, silky hands of Patrick Kane, shot of John Scott

What a legend

That just triggered the memory of what has to be one of my favorite Sam calls ever:

"[Mitchell] feeds John Scott, on a breakaway!...He missed!"

 

[dshea19]

It will. I believe in Laf and Kakko. Not because I “have to” as a fan, but because I think the talent is there and will only manifest itself as this becomes their team.

I think that is the biggest thing. I have always said that they seem to defer too much to the older players around them. Once they feel more like this is their team, I think you will see much more assertive players.

 

[kovazub94]

It’s easier when he’s passing both the eye test and the advanced stats tests though.

Lafreniere has yet to take that non points step

For whatever it’s worth Lafreniere is better than last season’s Kakko, and in eye test recently has shown “glimpses” more regularly than earlier in the season too. Kreider seems to be getting on his cool streak so I wouldn’t mind giving Lafreniere another chance again with Zibanejad soon.

 

[Quinnisinoverhishead]

For whatever it’s worth Lafreniere is better than last season’s Kakko, and in eye test recently has shown “glimpses” more regularly than earlier in the season too. Kreider seems to be getting on his cool streak so I wouldn’t mind giving Lafreniere another chance again with Zibanejad soon.

100% agree. Kakko was awful last year. That being said, these boys need consistency. They need regular shifts. Kakko has been a stud all year, and he has been getting demotions and benchings (missed shifts) routinely. Even yesterday, coach puts out rooney for defensive zone faceoffs. Do not mess with the kids confidence. He has been incredible in all three zones. Again, let the boys play!

 

[dangsLITE]

Night and day from last year conditioning wise... after that 1.5 min shift in the D-zone in the third, he came out and supported Bread on a quick 2 on 2 before getting off and was probably skating better than he would have 30 seconds into a shift in the first then.

 

[kovazub94]

100% agree. Kakko was awful last year. That being said, these boys need consistency. They need regular shifts. Kakko has been a stud all year, and he has been getting demotions and benchings (missed shifts) routinely. Even yesterday, coach puts out rooney for defensive zone faceoffs. Do not mess with the kids confidence. He has been incredible in all three zones. Again, let the boys play!

Singing up the wrong tree, fella.

I like how Quinn develops prospects. Ice time shouldn’t be given, it should be earned. If you’re not following game plan - you sit. If you play the right way - you get ice time and if you make things happen (high danger chances) you get promoted to higher lines and yet more ice time. Given development that we see IMO Quinn knows what he’s doing there.

 

[TheDirtyH]

There were two plays apart from the goal that I loved last night.

One was the Fox goal where you can see Kakko just bullying Justin Schultz out of the middle of the ice so Fox can cut to the net free and clear.

The other was the partial 2 on 1 with Panarin where Kakko's shot gets deflected, Jensen makes contact with him after the shot is off and Jensen [Edit: was actually Backstrom(!)] goes flying into the boards like Magneto had spotted the chain he wears under his equipment. It was amazing.

From a strength and conditioning perspective, it's so obvious how much bigger, stronger, and faster he is now than when he broke into the league. He can resemble a young Kreider in the way that players who make contact with him look pained like they just hit a brick wall.

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

Takeaway skills of Mark Stone, silky hands of Patrick Kane, shot of John Scott

What a legend

Hopefully he becomes an All Star like John Scott.

 

[duhmetreE]

Takeaway skills of Mark Stone, silky hands of Patrick Kane, shot of John Scott

What a legend

He has a good release already imo. Which is enough for where he will score his goals.

He will improve, he has to use his shot more often though, in tight.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Kaapo has 21 games to score 16 point to match last years production.

He needs to accomplish this imo.

 

[True Blue]

This has been the bane of people who are patient vs the impatient folks. Teach these kids what responsible hockey is first, and the offense will naturally follow.

Nah....freaking out is much better. Plus it gives more fodder for whatever it is that both Gorton and JD do wrong.

 

[New York RKY]

I just love how dogged he is to get the puck in the offensive zone. When he does get the puck he very rarely loses it and he just bullies people on the ice.

I’m starting to see shades of his dominant play in the WJC. The swagger is starting to come too (see: the between the legs behind the back pass play). He is growing into his body and within the next few years we could see Jagr-level abilities of being about to keep the puck on his stick.

 

[True Blue]

I like how Quinn develops prospects. Ice time shouldn’t be given, it should be earned. If you’re not following game plan - you sit. If you play the right way - you get ice time and if you make things happen (high danger chances) you get promoted to higher lines and yet more ice time. Given development that we see IMO Quinn knows what he’s doing there.

What people constantly do not pay attention to is the fact that it is far easier to break bad habits up front as opposed to trying to break them a few years down the line. Look at Laine for instance. A team full of Laines does not sniff the playoffs.

 

[NickyLongLegz]

Kaapo has 21 games to score 16 point to match last years production.

He needs to accomplish this imo.

Almost all of his points last season came on the power play though, if I recall correctly. If he matches his last years total all at even strength, that’s something.

 

[NYRFANMANI]

Almost all of his points last season came on the power play though, if I recall correctly. If he matches his last years total all at even strength, that’s something.

You're right. Someone posted that, like 12 pts or something were on the PP.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

It’s easier when he’s passing both the eye test and the advanced stats tests though.

Lafreniere has yet to take that non points step

He looked much more engaged in the third last night - I liked that line with Guathier. I don't think he's too far off. Looks like his confidence is growing.

 

[True Blue]

He looked much more engaged in the third last night - I liked that line with Guathier. I don't think he's too far off. Looks like his confidence is growing.

Lafreniere' s play in the third was his best period of hockey in 3-4 weeks. I think, think mind you, that a sign of his confidence is his shooting.

I think that on that line, Gauthier should be doing what Kakko is doing on the Panarin line. Just go to the net. Lafreniere will find him there more often than not.

 

[Scott r]

This has been the bane of people who are patient vs the impatient folks. Teach these kids what responsible hockey is first, and the offense will naturally follow.

Thats ok...then don't say as mgmt of nyr he is gonna be a superstar. I remember that video of a play in ot vs wild rookies....they raved to high heavens. Maybe he will be good...but with his potential I'd expect 25 to 30 goal scorer...not sure u get that.

 

[Pawnee Rangers]

A

Lafreniere' s play in the third was his best period of hockey in 3-4 weeks. I think, think mind you, that a sign of his confidence is his shooting.

I think that on that line, Gauthier should be doing what Kakko is doing on the Panarin line. Just go to the net. Lafreniere will find him there more often than not.

Agreed. He made some plays with the puck in the D zone as well.

 

[will1066]

Thats ok...then don't say as mgmt of nyr he is gonna be a superstar. I remember that video of a play in ot vs wild rookies....they raved to high heavens. Maybe he will be good...but with his potential I'd expect 25 to 30 goal scorer...not sure u get that.

He's a second overall pick. Of course expectations are high. The point is that it doesn't happen overnight. And like @True Blue pointed out, look at Laine if you want to see how not to develop a top Finnish prospect.