Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko: Part V

[GoAwayPanarin]

what worries me about Kakk0.... he does not have a killer instinct.

Mackenzie Blackwood enters the chat

 

[will1066]

The top picture... can't see where the puck is... His head is still down, yes the lane is open but once he's receives the puck and looks up the defender is already in that lane.

What this goes to show is hard-crisp puck movement is a necessity. You can't take your time, like we often do and allow the opposing team to get in position/or the shooting/passing lane.

It's on his stick already (you can hear the puck hit it) and you can extrapolate where it is from that. The puck didn't bounce off based on his movement, he had full control. Had he fired it across right away he had a lane, but that was never a thought for him, he was 100% focused on gathering the puck in properly which is fine. Guys like Panarin and Fox (and Zib) would know before getting the pass the best play instinctually, but that's elite vision and passing skills which is pretty rare

@duhmetreE In the top pic, Kakko has just received the puck on a backhand flip from Blais, who is at the right point being checked by a NJ player. I remember Kakko had a second or so of a window to cross-ice the puck. That's Trouba who's open at the left circle, but Kakko instead held on to it at the wall. I think he already had a play made up in his mind, which was to go to Laf at Blackwood's left post. Like @romba said, Laf eventually kicks it back high to the point to Lundkvist. The puck goes back to Kakko and I think this time he cuts in and feeds Trouba for the shot that led to the rebound with Laf poking it in. I was the same as @romba; if they didn't score on the ensuing play I would've posted about Kakko not dishing that pass in pic #1. And @romba, Vally should be nervous about your telestrator skills as an analyst.

 

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

I have

Then good for you, give yourself a pat on the back and don’t let the door hit you in the arse on the way out

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

what worries me about Kakk0.... he does not have a killer instinct.

Did you type "Kakko" with a 0 so people can't look up this post in the future when Kakko is a star?

 

[duhmetreE]

@duhmetreE In the top pic, Kakko has just received the puck on a backhand flip from Blais, who is at the right point being checked by a NJ player. I remember Kakko had a second or so of a window to cross-ice the puck. That's Trouba who's open at the left circle, but Kakko instead held on to it at the wall. I think he already had a play made up in his mind, which was to go to Laf at Blackwood's left post. Like @romba said, Laf eventually kicks it back high to the point to Lundkvist. The puck goes back to Kakko and I think this time he cuts in and feeds Trouba for the shot that led to the rebound with Laf poking it in. I was the same as @romba; if they didn't score on the ensuing play I would've posted about Kakko not dishing that pass in pic #1. And @romba, Vally should be nervous about your telestrator skills as an analyst.

and we hope that with experience ( and hopefully a lot more confidence ) He learns it's an option and he sees it next time.... How many times has this happened in his NHL career? They ( the kids ) need reps and opportunities. I would love for PP2 to get more time. We've been pleading for them to get more opportunities with the man advantage

I don't want to say he sulks but you can tell how the lack of confidence affects his game. He defers and keeps things to the perimeter.... it's the 'safe zone'... like a kid first learning to skate... hold onto the boards and go around.

 

[duhmetreE]

Did you type "Kakko" with a 0 so people can't look up this post in the future when Kakko is a star?

he's Kakk2 now

 

[Sockosensei]

@duhmetreE In the top pic, Kakko has just received the puck on a backhand flip from Blais, who is at the right point being checked by a NJ player. I remember Kakko had a second or so of a window to cross-ice the puck. That's Trouba who's open at the left circle, but Kakko instead held on to it at the wall. I think he already had a play made up in his mind, which was to go to Laf at Blackwood's left post. Like @romba said, Laf eventually kicks it back high to the point to Lundkvist. The puck goes back to Kakko and I think this time he cuts in and feeds Trouba for the shot that led to the rebound with Laf poking it in. I was the same as @romba; if they didn't score on the ensuing play I would've posted about Kakko not dishing that pass in pic #1. And @romba, Vally should be nervous about your telestrator skills as an analyst.

He might have had a quarter-second window to throw it across. There's risk: the D could poke-check break up the play and possibly get a shorthanded chance against. He took the safer play. If I got 16 seconds of powerplay time a game and was slumping, I might do the same.

His vision is good. Maybe not Panarin/Fox superhuman good, but good. The thing that's missing is the deception. Once he learns to mask his moves, the lanes will open up.


His goal showcased many things that I love about his game.
-Forces a turnover with a good poke check after positioning himself
-Outmuscles Graves for the loose puck
-Slick give-and-go
-Drives the net
-Hands, hands, hands.

We've been frustrated, but the signs have all been there. It'll continue to be a roller coaster for a while. I'm confident it will end well.

 

[will1066]

He might have had a quarter-second window to throw it across. There's risk: the D could poke-check break up the play and possibly get a shorthanded chance against. He took the safer play. If I got 16 seconds of powerplay time a game and was slumping, I might do the same.

His vision is good. Maybe not Panarin/Fox superhuman good, but good. The thing that's missing is the deception. Once he learns to mask his moves, the lanes will open up.


His goal showcased many things that I love about his game.
-Forces a turnover with a good poke check after positioning himself
-Outmuscles Graves for the loose puck
-Slick give-and-go
-Drives the net
-Hands, hands, hands.

We've been frustrated, but the signs have all been there. It'll continue to be a roller coaster for a while. I'm confident it will end well.

All good points. Yeah, if he had tried the cross-ice pass and the penalty killer got his stick on it, I'd be second-guessing the play just as much as I did with him not trying the pass.

 

[duhmetreE]

The biggest things holding him back is mindset/confidence and his shot.

He needs to work over time on his release and add some more power. I do not doubt it improves year over year. He works hard and is willing.

His slap shot/one timing is actually pretty decent from the limited times we've seen it.

 

[romba]

He might have had a quarter-second window to throw it across. There's risk: the D could poke-check break up the play and possibly get a shorthanded chance against. He took the safer play. If I got 16 seconds of powerplay time a game and was slumping, I might do the same.

His vision is good. Maybe not Panarin/Fox superhuman good, but good. The thing that's missing is the deception. Once he learns to mask his moves, the lanes will open up.


His goal showcased many things that I love about his game.
-Forces a turnover with a good poke check after positioning himself
-Outmuscles Graves for the loose puck
-Slick give-and-go
-Drives the net
-Hands, hands, hands.

We've been frustrated, but the signs have all been there. It'll continue to be a roller coaster for a while. I'm confident it will end well.

Yup, he would have had to have planned the pass before Blais passed it to him, that's a bit beyond his capabilities right now and without a ton of PP he doesn't want to ef it up either. Spot on about the deception- watch Fox videos and you'll see how to open lanes that are shut tight. That's his next step.

 

[duhmetreE]

He's beginning to believe.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

 

[n8]

goal scoring streeeeeeak!

 

[n8]

1st star streeeeeeak!

 

[mas0764]

Could have had two goals and two assists tonite.

 

[MysticLeviathan]

another strong game

 

[tellermine]

He still has a a habit of trying to carry puck to goal? So weird No shoot aspect. Dangle Dangle.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Kudos to Gallant for sticking with him while he was trying to find his game after the injury.

I feel like tonight that Panarin and Strome “accepted” him on their line. They both looked for him several times during the game instead of differing to each other

I also saw Strome talking with him about something on the bench. Kakko said the other night that they haven’t really talked, they just play. That’s a good sign.

Regardless, we saw flashes of this type of play from him last season, the next step would be to string a bunch of these games together.

I feel like if he gets 2 or 3 in a game hes going to launch into the stratosphere. TPS Kakko. It’s just waiting to come out.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I was pissed at Bread, but these past couple of games he really upped his individual and team-game and showed me, that he's not overpaid.

It helped Kakko greatly, what I saw yesterday.

I’ve seen a big turnaround in Panarins game too. You are right and I felt the same way

I said a week ago one of the biggest keys to success of the team was to see if Gallant could get Panarin to buy in

 

[Matz03]

That's now 3-4 strong games from Kakko, and the point or goal streak could've easily been that long. That line is finally starting to mesh and we finally see Panarin and Strome trust Kakko. What I'm also liking is that Kakko is playing to his strengths, he's not just trying to fill the Jesper Fast role on that line, that's huge for Kakko and long-term success. Props to Gallant for keeping this combo, let them keep building game by game.

 

[CLW]

That's now 3-4 strong games from Kakko, and the point or goal streak could've easily been that long. That line is finally starting to mesh and we finally see Panarin and Strome trust Kakko. What I'm also liking is that Kakko is playing to his strengths, he's not just trying to fill the Jesper Fast role on that line, that's huge for Kakko and long-term success. Props to Gallant for keeping this combo, let them keep building game by game.

Panarin and Strome finally integrated Kakko. It took a little prodding from Gallant over the mini-break but the team is stronger for it. Good coaching.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

Kudos to Gallant for sticking with him while he was trying to find his game after the injury.

I feel like tonight that Panarin and Strome “accepted” him on their line. They both looked for him several times during the game instead of differing to each other

I also saw Strome talking with him about something on the bench. Kakko said the other night that they haven’t really talked, they just play. That’s a good sign.

Regardless, we saw flashes of this type of play from him last season, the next step would be to string a bunch of these games together.

I feel like if he gets 2 or 3 in a game hes going to launch into the stratosphere. TPS Kakko. It’s just waiting to come out.

I think people are still trying to push the stupid narrative that strome and panarin wouldn't pass to Kakko in the first place. Not sure where it started but its asinine

 

[Peltz]

I think people are still trying to push the stupid narrative that strome and panarin wouldn't pass to Kakko in the first place. Not sure where it started but its asinine

Strome and Panarin definitely weren't looking for Kakko in the offensive zone before the last few games. I don't think it was deliberate. It just sorta happened.

 

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

I think people are still trying to push the stupid narrative that strome and panarin wouldn't pass to Kakko in the first place. Not sure where it started but its asinine

It started from Fast and Blackwell

 

[THE BIG WHISTLE]

Maybe he has some stock in the T-Mobile Tuesdays