- Jan 7, 2013
- 19,579
- 12,255
He's taken a huge step. I really hope he brings this into the regular season. He looks fast, strong, smart, and confident, both defensively and offensively. All the ingredients for quality play.
Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko: Part V
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will1066
If you score four, you better f'n win the game
- Oct 12, 2008
- 52,361
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- Sep 17, 2007
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Kakko has played 4 games this preseason. We've won all 4 games. His preseason stats:
2 goals, 3 assists, +7 , 11 shots on goal.
I know it's just the preseason, but we did play some tough lineups. Boston had nearly their full lineup in one game, and the Islanders did as well tonight.
2 goals, 3 assists, +7 , 11 shots on goal.
I know it's just the preseason, but we did play some tough lineups. Boston had nearly their full lineup in one game, and the Islanders did as well tonight.
bbny
Unregistered User
- Apr 12, 2019
- 2,217
- 3,616
I have a feeling some time in the future, some team is going to draft a guy at #2 and he'll disappoint for a season or two, but they'll be saying "he'll be fine, look at what Kakko did, he went from potential bust to a 180 pts/year manbearpig"
Mac n Gs
Drury plz
- Jan 17, 2014
- 22,835
- 13,558
I'm hoping it translates to the regular season NHL pace, but his quickness and acceleration are so much better this year. He made some absurd plays through the neutral zone and on the boards in the offensive zone to beat Pulock and Pelech, who are both really, really good defensemen.
Sockosensei
Registered User
Last year it was, "He's playing well defensively, but we didn't draft him 2nd overall to be Blair Betts. Where are the points?"
Here they are.
Here they are.
Peltz
Registered User
- Oct 4, 2019
- 3,925
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He drew the power play that won the game and then set up a perfect power play goal to end it.
He basically willed that win into existence. He looks excellent.
He basically willed that win into existence. He looks excellent.
Looking real good, in some ways more excited about him than Laf
As I've said before, just need Strome and Panarin to really learn to use him correctly if he stays on that line
As I've said before, just need Strome and Panarin to really learn to use him correctly if he stays on that line
gravey9
Registered User
- Dec 29, 2008
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This is the big question I think. I wonder if he's better off playing with Chytil. He's a possession guy. He looks impressive when he's allowed to possess. When the play goes through him a bit more. His talents are less obvious when the play goes through Panarin or Zib. Would like to see him on a line with Chytil. I wouldn't mind a Kakko, Blais, Chytil line. or a Kakko, Kreider, Chytil line. I think those would be really hard lines to defend against. And both might allow the offense to run through him more.
Cag29
94! I’m ready for more! LGR!
- Jul 18, 2018
- 1,226
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LOFIN
Registered User
- Sep 16, 2011
- 18,834
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Or even with Zib and Laf. I have thought for a while that Kakko won't reach his potential if he's with Strome and Panarin. NOTE, it's with Strome and Panarin as a duo, doesn't mean Kakko wont't work with Strome or Panarin on different lines...
egelband
Registered User
- Sep 6, 2008
- 16,199
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They will. Panarin is obviously amazingly creative. Strome is too. Very sharp. I’m confident they’ll end up feasting.
Sockosensei
Registered User
When Kakko feels he has license to play with the puck in his own way, it brings out the best in him.
If Strome misses a few games and Chytil's bumped up, it would force Panarin to find new ways to mesh with Kakko, and maybe give KK more freedom.
If Strome misses a few games and Chytil's bumped up, it would force Panarin to find new ways to mesh with Kakko, and maybe give KK more freedom.
haveandare
Registered User
For sure, but this is also the first season where he appears to have the strength and speed to play his way at this level. That extra step goes a long way, and I wouldn’t have thought he needed more strength but seeing the difference it makes shrugging off defenders, it definitely helps more than I expected it would. Imo he couldn’t have really played this way very effectively at this level until now.
Peltz
Registered User
- Oct 4, 2019
- 3,925
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He's really great at hanging onto the puck. There were flashes of that since he entered the NHL, but this year is the first time that it looks like he has the bodily strength to do it against more physical players consistently.
I also am not sure whether his placement on the Strome/Bread line is optimal. But they didn't look bad together either. If he hangs onto the puck in the offensive zone, it gives Panarin and Strome a lot of latitude to find open ice in dangerous areas. We'll see though. Rangers have a lot of options if they need to shake up the top two lines.
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Clown Fiesta
Registered User
I'm telling you he's going to turn into our version of Marian Hossa and that's definitely a player you can win with.
Its the first steps for me ! He seems to have grown more in the weight he added in the recent years! Last game he took the puck and transitioned it by skating through 3 zones… he almost never did this in the last years because he was slower and he seemed to get tired. We saw glimpses of plays in corners where he was impactful and dirty. Now he grew naturally as a 20 year old and he is entering his 3 season, with newfound swagger! He can do more plays with speed and hopefully we see him licking some corners soon
UnSandvich
Registered User
- Sep 7, 2017
- 5,886
- 9,026
If you guys want a funny thought, just imagine Jack Hughes trying to defend against Kakko
LeetchisGod
This is a bad hockey team.
Just picked him up super late in my 20 team fantasy league. I also got Mika, Fox and Shesty.
Peltz
Registered User
- Oct 4, 2019
- 3,925
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I knew that size was a big issue for him over the past two years. He needs to play "big" but was simply too small to do so in prior years.
Laf is the same way honestly. The kid wants to throw hits and play a physical game but doesn't have his big boy body yet.
Creating and keeping separation and then bodying off Barzal is the most impressive thing Kakko has done at this level.
It was pre season, but this is the closest he’s come to looking like he did in Finland.
Phase 3 of his transformation into Mark Stone is going to be fun.
It was pre season, but this is the closest he’s come to looking like he did in Finland.
Phase 3 of his transformation into Mark Stone is going to be fun.
I don't think it's wildly different from how he was playing last year so far but he has been more successful on the score board. Last year he was also winning battles and ragging the puck around the ice.
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