Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[Zats Muccarello]

On the plus, his next contract should be cheap, I was thinking around $2mm

This is certainly a glass half full perspective. A 2MM bridge deal for at least 2 years would be great.

 

[dshea19]

Ck is a cycle player. Chytil is a cycle player.
But yes. Kakko is designed for a different style.
But the best thing is his game directly translates to the playoffs better than anyone we have.

Yup. That is why I left CK out of that mix. For some reason, CK and Kakko haven't really gelled. I thought Kakko would be a better fit for that line, but his game disappeared when he started playing with Zib and CK. Considering we don't know what the injury is or how long he has been dealing with it and to what degree, there is no way of knowing why things were really taking off for KK and then suddenly dropped off the table.

 

[CLW]

I honestly think I'm watching a different sport than most others on here. Kakko is playing well overall, but apparently if he doesn't play pond hockey or go for highlight reel stuff he is a "bUsT".

e: I'll add that I agree with the poster of the tweet that Kakko's injuries are a concern. He is the Lindgren of the forwards really pushing himself to play the best he can for the team.

 

[tomobson]

Ck is a cycle player. Chytil is a cycle player.
But yes. Kakko is designed for a different style.
But the best thing is his game directly translates to the playoffs better than anyone we have.

If the center doesn't cycle it is not going to work. Try him with Goodrow.

 

[Synergy27]

Does Kakko going to IR open up the opportunity for him to get a short “conditioning” assignment in HFD?

 

[Thirty One]

Does Kakko going to IR open up the opportunity for him to get a short “conditioning” assignment in HFD?

Yes.

 

[CLW]

This is certainly a glass half full perspective. A 2MM bridge deal for at least 2 years would be great.

If Drury lowballs Kakko he opens himself up for an offer sheet to get "Bergevined". Say Drury signs Strome reaching the cap, then Florida comes up with the Canes offer (a very low 1st and a 3rd is nothing at all) and Kakko will be off in a blink to play with Barkov, "Baby Barkov" Lundell & Huberdeau - it's a "business" after all.

Kakko's underlying numbers are great, if he played on PP1 instead of Strome (who's coughing up the puck all the time) he'd have more points and more ammo for the negotiations.

 

[IDvsEGO]

If Drury lowballs Kakko he opens himself up for an offer sheet to get "Bergevined". Say Drury signs Strome reaching the cap, then Florida comes up with the Canes offer (a very low 1st and a 3rd is nothing at all) and Kakko will be off in a blink to play with Barkov, "Baby Barkov" Lundell & Huberdeau - it's a "business" after all.

Kakko's underlying numbers are great, if he played on PP1 instead of Strome (who's coughing up the puck all the time) he'd have more points and more ammo for the negotiations.

Correct, essentially the order the negotiations happen need to be kakko first, then strome or anyone else.
Potentially Kakko's camp is waiting on the end of the season to see if he shows more signs of breaking out to push a higher number.
We'll have an even bigger issue next year with both Miller and Laf due for RFA raises.

 

[Peltz]

Kakko is all about being a possession monster and scoring down low. All of his goals come around the crease and all of his best work comes from using his backside to box out players in the offensive zone.

If he had an upper body injury, I don't see how he can play as physical of a game. I'm honestly not worried about this kid. He's had a ton of stretches where he's shown he's a stud. I'm still not worried about his numbers for another year or so.

 

[mas0764]

I honestly think I'm watching a different sport than most others on here. Kakko is playing well overall, but apparently if he doesn't play pond hockey or go for highlight reel stuff he is a "bUsT".

e: I'll add that I agree with the poster of the tweet that Kakko's injuries are a concern. He is the Lindgren of the forwards really pushing himself to play the best he can for the team.

Let’s trade him

/old gray heads

 

[duhmetreE]

Laffy Strome Kakko makes so much sense.

Both the kids showed chemistry and played their best hockey with Strome. Strome is very vocal and a leader imo. It might also push Strome to lead by example on the ice, ie playing a stronger 2way game.

IF the kids can show any semblance of why they were top picks ( which I believe they can ) our top6 is set. Everyone is where they belong.

 

[mas0764]

Laffy Strome Kakko makes so much sense.

Both the kids showed chemistry and played their best hockey with Strome. Strome is very vocal and a leader imo. It might also push Strome to lead by example on the ice, ie playing a stronger 2way game.

IF the kids can show any semblance of why they were top picks ( which I believe they can ) our top6 is set. Everyone is where they belong.

Still need long term center(s) and a wing though.

 

[duhmetreE]

Still need long term center(s) and a wing though.

The quicker everyone accepts Strome, the better.

It is what it is. Hopefully his contract is not an albatross and moveable after a couple years

We have wings for days. Berard, Othmann, Kravtsov and Cuylle. The kids need to fill in with the cap crunch.

 

[mas0764]

The quicker everyone accepts Strome, the better.

It is what it is. Hopefully his contract is not an albatross and moveable after a couple years

We have wings for days. Berard, Othmann, Kravtsov and Cuylle. The kids need to fill in with the cap crunch.

Kravtsov could be one, but he’s apparently going to be moved for a rental or defenseman . I see Berard and Cuylle as more like middle or bottom six guys, albeit quality bottom six guys. Othmann not sure yet but we will see. Wish I could say I was confident our most recent first round pick was a surer bet for future top liner but we will see.

 

[KOVALEV022473]

I read it in a tweet (I don’t know how to embed), so I just went to try to find it and I’m Pretty sure it was from Vince, and GG said “it’s going to be a while”. I’m going to keep looking.

I guess my idiotic misreading was prescient.

 

[Anthony5967]

Come on, Scott!

 

[mas0764]

If that was to be true, again, might as well head back to the lottery.

 

[Crease]

Laffy Strome Kakko makes so much sense.

Both the kids showed chemistry and played their best hockey with Strome. Strome is very vocal and a leader imo. It might also push Strome to lead by example on the ice, ie playing a stronger 2way game.

IF the kids can show any semblance of why they were top picks ( which I believe they can ) our top6 is set. Everyone is where they belong.

Strome is not only one of the best centers on the team, he understands the pressure that comes with being a top draft pick.

Hopefully him and Zibanejad, who went 5 and 6 overall, are speaking with Kakko and Laf regularly about development, expectations and silencing the critics.

 

[bbny]

Winning is accomplished by having a young forward who is capable of scoring points in buckets and who also doesn't make mistakes.

The problem is that the scoring is harder to learn at the NHL level. That's the skill. And if you don't learn it early it might never come.

Being defensively responsible is about want-to, not ability, for most of these elite athletes. Kakko should have his scoring ability fostered before we demand that he play a muted, defense-first game.

Once he's a scoring phenom he can be taught to play some defense.

Then you win.

Don’t know if that is actually true to be honest. Plenty of players become scorers later into their careers after first becoming better all around players. We just traded one of them away this summer.

 

[haveandare]

If that was to be true, again, might as well head back to the lottery.

Literally 0% chance of that happening so let’s hope they find their way

 

[The Crypto Guy]

View attachment 501760
Come on, Scott!

Woof. What a terrible take. Literally he is just pulling numbers out of his ass.

 

[mas0764]

Literally 0% chance of that happening so let’s hope they find their way

There's a zero percent chance that Dolan/Sather/Drury allow it, but they will be wrong.

I agree let's hope it doesn't come to that because otherwise we can look forward to another 20 years of no Cups.

 

[bleedblue94]

The quicker everyone accepts Strome, the better.

It is what it is. Hopefully his contract is not an albatross and moveable after a couple years

We have wings for days. Berard, Othmann, Kravtsov and Cuylle. The kids need to fill in with the cap crunch.

I think people are more willing to accept strome if he isnt stapled to panarin. When he plays with panarin he plays perimeter pond hockey which works against bad teams but wont do shit in the playoffs. Strome can be an effective 2c on a line without panarin, and if he is used that way than more people will be accepting of him.

 

[Ruggs225]

Any word on what his actual injury is and how long he has dealt with it?

glad to know there is a good reason why his play was so poor. Hopefully he can rest and come back by 2/15. We need him!

 

[mas0764]

I think people are more willing to accept strome if he isnt stapled to panarin.

Strome should from this day forward be playing with Kakko (when he returns) and Lafreniere almost exclusively.

If Strome can get those kids producing he trebles his value to this organization.