Toggle sidebar

Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko: Part IV

  • 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
Not open for further replies.
CLW said:
I followed Kakko's draft season in Liiga and I noticed the same pattern.

The first quarter he adapted to playing in Liiga. The second quarter he started to show his obvious talent, leading up to the WJC gold. The third quarter he was impressive. The final quarter he was outright dominant, and went on the win gold with the men at the World Championship.

That pattern is how I see his curve of development unfold in the NHL over the next three or four seasons (rather than quarters within a single season).
Click to expand...
Digging up yesterday's post -- I also followed Kakko as much as I could because I'm a TPS fan, and this is a completely accurate description of his season. It's also worth adding that when TPS absolutely blew it in the playoffs that year, he personally was still dominating.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Rongomania, CasusBelli, The New Russian Five and 3 others
Synergy27 said:
Is y to he NHL games really that much faster than a WC with tons of NHL players in it?
Click to expand...
By the way, just following up on this, in Kravstov's post game presser he was asked about the differences between the different leagues he's played in and the NHL, and he said that NHL is much faster than even the KHL.
 
  • Like
Reactions: CasusBelli and SnowblindNYR
Peltz said:
By the way, just following up on this, in Kravstov's post game presser he was asked about the differences between the different leagues he's played in and the NHL, and he said that NHL is much faster than even the KHL.
Click to expand...
Yeah that was never in doubt for me. I’m aware that the NHL is easily the fastest league in the world. My question was just how much faster it is than a WC event with tons of NHLers in it. I’d imagine that that event is pretty close to NHL speed, and Kakko didn’t look behind the play there at all.
 
Look at post-Covid Zib and how he struggled and look at him now when he got his strength back. The kids will be fine once they have their full strength.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SnowblindNYR
Kakko passed up on a great shooting opportunity last night that made me want to pull my hair out. These kids need to learn that perfection is the enemy of good. Too many forced passes when a shot and rebound can be equally as effective as a good pass and better than a forced pass.
 
dshea19 said:
Kakko passed up on a great shooting opportunity last night that made me want to pull my hair out. These kids need to learn that perfection is the enemy of good. Too many forced passes when a shot and rebound can be equally as effective as a good pass and better than a forced pass.
Click to expand...

And set up Chytil for a great one timer chance which was almost certainly a better scoring chance than he had shot.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SnowblindNYR and UnSandvich
Every time on he is on the ice he is controlling the puck and making plays. He is extremely consistent too.

There have been multiple shifts lately where he is looking more and more like the pre-NHL Kakko.

I think in 2 or 3 years not only will Kakko be a huge force for this team but he will also be a leader. He commands the ice already when he's out there. It always seems to be him driving play in the offensive zone
 
  • Like
Reactions: SnowblindNYR, BobSantos, FireGerardGallant and 3 others
dshea19 said:
Kakko passed up on a great shooting opportunity last night that made me want to pull my hair out. These kids need to learn that perfection is the enemy of good. Too many forced passes when a shot and rebound can be equally as effective as a good pass and better than a forced pass.
Click to expand...

I remember that sequence. There were a few of them actually where he found himself close to the high slot when the seas parted and he just shouldve ripped one on. It will come. I think the positive sign is he is starting to get to the inside and those areas with the puck on his stick and an opportunity to let it go.

We really didn't see any of that last season.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: CLW, dshea19 and HatTrick Swayze
SA16 said:
And set up Chytil for a great one timer chance which was almost certainly a better scoring chance than he had shot.
Click to expand...
Yes. Amazing play that was not converted. Definitely not saying that the best option is always to shoot. It is absolutely a maturity thing with being aware of the best option in a particular situation. I love Kakko and I want to see him be a star. You can see it building. My initial example is very emblematic of the Rangers as a whole: Passing up shots at times when looking to force a pass.
 
The kid's confidence is definitely showing. The last few games I feel like we are starting to see the Kakko we were promised when we drafted him. He's starting to become a bull along the boards. Players are just bouncing off of them. He's getting stronger and even his skating is getting faster. His hands look electric again, which is nice to see. He basically has MacKinnon hands.

He's just on the verge of putting it all together. He just needs to work on his shot this off-season. A bit stronger and faster Kakko with an improved shot will make this kid an absolute beast.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SnowblindNYR and Rongomania
HockeyBasedNYC said:
I remember that sequence. There were a few of them actually where he found himself close to the high slot when the seas parted and he just shouldve ripped one on. It will come. I think the positive sign is he is starting to get to the inside and those areas with the puck on his stick and an opportunity to let it go.

When really didn't see any of that last season.
Click to expand...
Yup. Came off the boards and circled into the high slot on his forehand. Parting of the seas is an excellent way of describing it. In that one sequence it happened a couple of times, but one in particular seemed to be the world opened up for him to really let it rip and he forced a pass down low where there was a sea of tangled humanity.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HockeyBasedNYC and Peltz
TheDirtyH said:
Watching Chytil blow that open net is why I don't buy the he has 0 primary assists and thus has not shown any high end playmaking ability.
Click to expand...

I think it's just part of his slow break out that's been building. I 100% think he's ready for big minutes. He can handle it.
 
With Kakko, I think he needs to be on a line where he's the go to guy with the puck in the offensive zone. When he plays with Panarin his role is supposed to be more about getting in position for a scoring chance, which is not his forte. Instead, he needs to be a bit more of the Panarin on his line. So I don't think him on bread's line is the best place for him.
 
  • Like
Reactions: SnowblindNYR
The New Russian Five said:
With Kakko, I think he needs to be on a line where he's the go to guy with the puck in the offensive zone. When he plays with Panarin his role is supposed to be more about getting in position for a scoring chance, which is not his forte. Instead, he needs to be a bit more of the Panarin on his line. So I don't think him on bread's line is the best place for him.
Click to expand...

Yup. He wants to be in control of the puck. I wonder if moving Kakko to center would work down the line. Someone suggested moving Laffy, but I think Kakko might be the more natural choice.
 
CLW said:
Yup. He wants to be in control of the puck. I wonder if moving Kakko to center would work down the line. Someone suggested moving Laffy, but I think Kakko might be the more natural choice.
Click to expand...

And Kakko actually played center against pros before. Albeit a small sample size, he looked better than Kravtsov in that position
 
Amazing Kreiderman said:
And Kakko actually played center against pros before. Albeit a small sample size, he looked better than Kravtsov in that position
Click to expand...
A very small sample size though :laugh:

With his current defensive game I wouldn't be against it, but if we really want to experiment with Kakko down the middle (which I doubt the team wants to anyway) he needs to get those legs going during the offseason.
 
The New Russian Five said:
With Kakko, I think he needs to be on a line where he's the go to guy with the puck in the offensive zone. When he plays with Panarin his role is supposed to be more about getting in position for a scoring chance, which is not his forte. Instead, he needs to be a bit more of the Panarin on his line. So I don't think him on bread's line is the best place for him.
Click to expand...
Honestly, I think I agree. In fact, I think he's the best puck carrier on the kid line. Chytil has the speed, Laf is developing a finishing touch and elite passing, and Kakko can absolutely drive possession and set these two up. At first, I thought these guys would be overwhelmed, but now I like them together a lot.

Give them another year together and we could see something special develop.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom