I see a lot of Marcel Hosea in Kakko if his offense game never improves at the NHL level.
I can’t see why you’d say that. Even marcel would go on some streaks and make you think, wow is this kid finally putting it together?? He looks like he’s becoming a dangerous player. He would also have some pretty slick confident moves with the puck.
Although he wasn’t physical, his size and style allowed him to play along to boards and down low well. Marcel and Marian both had not problem protecting the puck with their bodies/legs.
I do think that even if Kakko doesn’t hit that extra gear offensively, he’s still a more consistent point producer then marcel. He’s also already a better 2-way/ defensive fwd then marcel ever was right now.
I don’t see him putting up less then 40-45 pts really ever if he plays like he has from the start of this season.
Obviously we’re all hoping he turns out more like Marian and less like Marcel. I’m not really that worried tbh.
The thing that sucks is him not really getting any 1 PP opportunities. Perhaps in a year or 2 he might be able to take over for kreider in front on the net if the rangers feel they can trade him. He may not be as good at deflecting shots in net. But both guys are loads to to move and neither are particularly overly physical guys. He would have no problem screening the goalie and mopping up rebounds or set passes from panarin/Fox/Zibby. He’s probably got just as good or better hands then kreider right now.
My best guess is Kakko lives in between that 60-65 pt range for the majority of his career. I could see him having a few years where he surpasses those totals though.
Imo LaF with always be the guy that scores more points. Both have no problem scoring goals from the dirty/high traffic areas. They are only going to get better at that as time goes on, but Lafs wrister and the way he shoots the puck off the pass should be the major thing that separates them.
LaF isn’t shooting enough, but his shot is def superior to kakkos.