Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[NickyFotiu]

Looks like a cut and paste from last year.

Hoping you’re right, but thinking you’re pretty wrong.

He has to really want the puck. Like it is his puck and someone is trying to steal it from him on the pond. He has to raise his desire and compete level. Compete and desire will often beat his level of talent. If I was his coach I would show him a tape of Crosby. I would then ask is Crosby talented. Once Kakko says yes I would say you see how a talented guy is still out working everyone else on the ice? You want to be a significant player in the NHL? Match Crosbys motor.

 

[Barnaby]

It makes no sense at all that highly regarded prospects won’t turn into competent second pair defenders?

What exactly are we hoping Zach Jones and Matthew Robertson turn into then?

And we can afford Trouba right this second, but once new contracts are needed for Miller, Lafreniere, Kakko, Chytil, Kravtsov, etc, it won’t be affordable.

Which is why he will end up moved.

We are 'hoping' they turn into top 4 defensemen. However, there is hoping and there is being realistic. Neither of these guys are coming into the league as a Moritz Seider. Once they prove they can play, then you can make subtractions.

We can afford Trouba now. Trouba is an anchor on defense. Subtracting him today makes the blue line much weaker. With that said, two years from now that may not be the case. The team may be ready to move on from him ala TB an Mcdonough. As for Miller, Lafreniere, Kakko, Chytil, and Kravstov... let's see these kids actually take off and perform before we start planning massive extensions and jettisoning high end players. I think Chytil will be gone in a year or two and Kakko might be trending the same way. Kravstov is a wildcard. He hasn't made the team yet. II have confidence in Miller and Lafreniere, but again, let's see them do it first. The team will find money just like TB has done.

 

[Glen Sathers Cigar]

Uncle Larry deserve to have his Hall of Fame award revoked after than column.

In no single way shape or form is Kakko not getting offersheeted a bad thing.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Uncle Larry deserve to have his Hall of Fame award revoked after than column.

In no single way shape or form is Kakko not getting offersheeted a bad thing.

pretty sure he got it for "time served" as opposed to quality writing

 

[Barnaby]

Did anyone really think Kakko was getting offer sheeted after what he's shown so far? I'm not even THAT down on him but, in this cap-hell world where nobody has money to risk, is anyone showing him 4+M after his first three NHL seasons vs. not giving that to someone else they have to sign? No. Think of some of the UFA/RFA's that are still out there that would not be out there at all had Covid not been a thing and the cap had gone up like it should. It's crazy. Kakko is a young man who should sign his 2ishM bridge and go prove something.

Reaves is an important guy in the room. Hunt is a valuable utility guy. I'd jettison both to sign Motte in a second.

After KK's offer sheet and subsequent contract nothing would surprise me. I don't even care for Kakko, but it would make sense to a team like AZ. They have tons of draft capital. Offer KK 1 year at 4 million. If the Rangers pass then you lose a 2nd and take a shot on adding a young forward who should be a top 6 winger. He doesn't have to be a star to make it a worthy gamble. If he's a 40-45 point two way winger then it's a nice addition. If he fails, then they are still probably drafting 2-4 times in the 2nd round. If the Rangers match then no harm, no foul. Although the Rangers just paid them handsomely to take Nemeth so maybe they don't want to turn around and give the Rangers a problem.

As to your 2nd point. Hunt can be buried so it's just a matter of sending him down or him getting plucked off waivers. As for Reaves, I think he was a big part of the culture change so I doubt they move him.

 

[Barnaby]

Uncle Larry deserve to have his Hall of Fame award revoked after than column.

In no single way shape or form is Kakko not getting offersheeted a bad thing.

I get the point he's trying to make. He's obviously just trying to put an article out. The problem is nothing is going on.

If the Rangers were legitimately concerned about an offer sheet then the ink would have been dry weeks ago. I highly doubt we see Lafreniere drifting in the wind like this.

 

[Leonardo87]

Uncle Larry deserve to have his Hall of Fame award revoked after than column.

In no single way shape or form is Kakko not getting offersheeted a bad thing.

Offer-sheets are rare as it is, but the thing is paying Kakko like 4 million is overpayment, a team is taking a risk on him breaking out and living up to his 2ndOA status. But I also think teams don’t want to move their 2nd round pick because it’s supposed to be a very deep draft next year.

Brooks is just bored and is trying to make something out of nothing.

 

[egelband]

The hack Larry Brooks just doing his thing trying to create a negative spin when there is none. What is so hard to understand? Most teams have little money, Offer sheets are RARE, and I'm sure they would be worried about retaliation at some point. Plenty of RFA's still unsigned. How many offer sheets have been tendered so far? Nothing to see here. Move along.

Yep. And also Kakko and the Rangers probably have a couple options they’re looking at and Kakko might just want to stay.

 

[Mac n Gs]

See, these things normally get pushed until the end of the summer. Stop worrying about it, folks, and stop listening to Larry's inane ramblings about offer sheets. He's just gotta get his monthly click quota in

 

[will1066]

Is sitting out a possibility, like DeAngelo did?

 

[GAGLine]

Is sitting out a possibility, like DeAngelo did?

It's a possibility for any non-arbitration eligible RFA, but I'd say it's unlikely.

 

[JHS]

It's a sad reality but I've been saying for months that if kakko wasn't our 2oa pick them people wouldn't be grasping at straws that he is good and would be looking to replace him in this lineup.

Certainly looks like that is the jist from other teams in the league or they would be making an effort to sign or acquire him. Sad to think that a lot of people wanted him over jack Hughes and three years later the two are on very different personal paths. Very much the same situation as Nils right now. This is a massive season for kakko before he turns into Jani Rita

This is 100% accurate. He’s a third borderline 4th line plugger that was drafted second overall because his draft was all time weak and he was”nhl ready.”

Kappo not getting signed and the way the season ended with him being benched is not an indication this organization is too impressed so far. If he has another brutal season he’s out the door at the deadline.

I only saw very few sparks when he was on the “kid line” and other than that he was entirely too often invisible.

 

[SA16]

This is 100% accurate. He’s a third borderline 4th line plugger that was drafted second overall because his draft was all time weak and he was”nhl ready.”

Kappo not getting signed and the way the season ended with him being benched is not an indication this organization is too impressed so far. If he has another brutal season he’s out the door at the deadline.

I only saw very few sparks when he was on the “kid line” and other than that he was entirely too often invisible.

Why do you think he would be signed by now when it's already been shown many times that most players in his situation haven't even signed until September?

 

[Larrybiv]

Why u make this a kravy vs kk thing??
I like both players
Im rooting for both players
There's room for both players
If kk is a 40 pt jan erixon then great(i know u dont know who he is) haha
If krav is buch 2.0 great
They bring different abilities every team needs

Think Krav has much more to offer than Buch (respectfully) and it took at least 3 years for Buch to become what he was before he got traded. NYR were pretty patient with him, and we all were pulling for him......weren't we? Why, oh why arent we being patient with KK? Many are, more.....not so much.
This year should tell everything. 1 yr. contract, put up or shut up.
BUT, he has to be given a sporting chance. Even out the PP minutes a bit to 1:15 & :45 and put him on 2PP. Go to the net & shoot more! Simple.

 

[Larrybiv]

I dunno man. Kind of a big difference on whether a player is lining up with Panarin and Trocheck, or like Goodrow and Chytil....don't ya think? Not just about TOI.

KK should get points with those 2 and Fox sometimes, BUT KK needs to put himself in position to shoot. I mean, does anyone remember him being in the slot or at the dot awaiting a 1 timer? I know I dont remember. Anyone? Seriously though.

 

[Larrybiv]

They could, but they won't, make it more like a top 9 where those players get about equal amounts of ice time. Like if some majority of a line plays the PP or PK the others get a little more 5on5 time.

They have 3 LWs, 3 centers, and lots of RW candidates, I don't see why, other than stubbornness, they can't make a top 9 in earnest and just reduce the 4th lines ice time as they are not going to likely be very good anyway.

Speaking of Good, if everything pans out in that top 9 scenario....that brings GOODrow, to the 4th line, EXACTLY where he should be and stabilizing it with whomever. Hopefully one of them is Tyler Motte. Thats a good start.

 

[Rongomania]

Think Krav has much more to offer than Buch (respectfully) and it took at least 3 years for Buch to become what he was before he got traded. NYR were pretty patient with him, and we all were pulling for him......weren't we? Why, oh why arent we being patient with KK? Many are, more.....not so much.
This year should tell everything. 1 yr. contract, put up or shut up.
BUT, he has to be given a sporting chance. Even out the PP minutes a bit to 1:15 & :45 and put him on 2PP. Go to the net & shoot more! Simple.

Kakko deserves a look in the Strome spot on PP1. Strome couldn't hold on to the puck down low to save his life. That's where Kakko thrives.

 

[Larrybiv]

I usually look at a player's 23 or 24 year old season. Some guys struggle until then. Some guys come out of the gate firing. Even for someone like Auston Matthews, who was a great player out of the gate, this season (turned 24 in September) was his big jump. Smaller improvements until a big leap this year. Sens dump Mika at 23. He is 25 before he approaches PPG playing. Buch is 27 before that happens for him. Not every trajectory is great, and I don't put super importance on third or 4th year. I tend to look at age. Mika and Buch started doing the smaller things that lead to success more consistently when they were 23/24. It took a little bit for the results to pop. Laf and Kakko are, in my opinion, just starting to apply those lessons. Their jumps are coming. The question is how much of a jump is even possible. That remains to be seen. Kravtsov might be in the same boat. He seems like he might be putting the pieces of all the lessons together. This is going to be an interesting year to see if the kids take big steps or not.

I agree, but the thing is......right, wrong or indifferent it seems that our organization STRONGLY pushes a new addition into LEARNING how to be a complete 200 ft. player. We (fans) don't care too much for that, as we want the IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION of said superstar rookie (high pick that we previously have never had before) that storms the league.
Yes, it keeps players DOWN a bit (points) but then that also helps keep the asking price down.
Again, right, wrong or indifferent......that is my take. I don't think any of this is personal, BUT this is NY and immediate stardom could derail a player in getting too big of a "head" but yet not WORKING hard enough to get there. LEARN the fundamentals (defense, backchecking etc.) and when your time comes, it comes.

Kakko deserves a look in the Strome spot on PP1. Strome couldn't hold on to the puck down low to save his life. That's where Kakko thrives.

Okay fine, but isn't thagt where Trochek will be? Just assuming that will be the case. But I guess they will figure that out prior to the season.

 

[Rongomania]

I agree, but the thing is......right, wrong or indifferent it seems that our organization STRONGLY pushes a new addition into LEARNING how to be a complete 200 ft. player. We (fans) don't care too much for that, as we want the IMMEDIATE GRATIFICATION of said superstar rookie (high pick that we previously have never had before) that storms the league.
Yes, it keeps players DOWN a bit (points) but then that also helps keep the asking price down.
Again, right, wrong or indifferent......that is my take. I don't think any of this is personal, BUT this is NY and immediate stardom could derail a player in getting too big of a "head" but yet not WORKING hard enough to get there. LEARN the fundamentals (defense, backchecking etc.) and when your time comes, it comes.


Okay fine, but isn't thagt where Trochek will be? Just assuming that will be the case. But I guess they will figure that out prior to the season.

Of course that will happen, but I'm sorry I'm forgetting who it was here who said Troch is basically a Kreider clone on the PP and should be 'the guy' on PP2 and we'd probably have a better PP2 than all the kids and trouba. I like that idea best.

Honestly I want Laf in the Kreider spot and Kakko in the Strome spot. That's the PP1 of the future for me personally.

 

[Levitate]

He has to really want the puck. Like it is his puck and someone is trying to steal it from him on the pond. He has to raise his desire and compete level. Compete and desire will often beat his level of talent. If I was his coach I would show him a tape of Crosby. I would then ask is Crosby talented. Once Kakko says yes I would say you see how a talented guy is still out working everyone else on the ice? You want to be a significant player in the NHL? Match Crosbys motor.

nah

what Kakko needs to do is score goals and make his decisions with the puck just a tick faster

He already "wants" the puck. He creates more turnovers than pretty much any other forward. He's always stealing pucks, he's still incredibly hard to knock off the puck when he has it, he retrieves it if it's taken from him, but he's struggled to operate just a tick faster to shoot or pass sometimes

There may also be something to making himself more available to his linemates to receive passes so he has the puck more often, we'll see.

But he already turned himself into a puck hound which is great. That's how he turned around his bad first year analytic numbers into very good analytics numbers in the last two years. He's now gotta take the next step into putting up points

 

[Levitate]

This is 100% accurate. He’s a third borderline 4th line plugger that was drafted second overall because his draft was all time weak and he was”nhl ready.”

He was drafted 2nd overall because he broke scoring records for his age in a professional league. He absolutely had the bonifides to be drafted that high and probably would have been a top 5 ranked prospect in many drafts

The big thing to me is that he really wasn't ready for the NHL style game. He played against men in Finland and did great, played in the WC and did great, but the game is so different in the NHL and he wasn't ready for how fast players come at you and how little space you have.

And that's OK for a first year in a lot of ways. One of the big problems in my mind is that the pandemic also then hit and has severely messed with how some of these players have been able to prepare and adjust to the NHL, not to mention how the Rangers have used these kids in the lineup once the NHL did get going (3rd line minutes and extremely limited PP time is not conduicive to scoring a lot of points even if you are very talented)

That said, Kakko still hasn't scored enough when he has gotten opportunities and he has to figure that out. It is a bit of a make it or break it year in that regard...he needs to show scoring progress like he progressed in other areas of his game

 

[bhamill]

This is 100% accurate. He’s a third borderline 4th line plugger that was drafted second overall because his draft was all time weak and he was”nhl ready.”

Kappo not getting signed and the way the season ended with him being benched is not an indication this organization is too impressed so far. If he has another brutal season he’s out the door at the deadline.

I only saw very few sparks when he was on the “kid line” and other than that he was entirely too often invisible.

It's not 100% accurate. It's 100% speculation and projection.
Saying what other people would think and do always is.
IMO, the REASON people are saying they want him replaced is because he WAS a 2OA. If he was a 3rd rounder we'd all be pretty happy that he made the team as an 18 year old and has shown what he has shown at age 21 in the NHL. It's the DISAPPOINTMENT of what he has shown in relation to expectations based on his draft position that have people screaming "borderline 4th liner." Hahahaha. It's pretty much the OPPOSITE of what Bleedblue is contending.
I'm not saying that disappointment is unwarranted, we all want to see more, but saying he'd be gone, or that we would all want him gone, if he wasn't 2nd overall is frankly nonsense. We'd all just have lower expectations of him. Of course this is speculation and projection on MY part, hahaha, but at least it's logical.

 

[Larrybiv]

Of course that will happen, but I'm sorry I'm forgetting who it was here who said Troch is basically a Kreider clone on the PP and should be 'the guy' on PP2 and we'd probably have a better PP2 than all the kids and trouba. I like that idea best.

Honestly I want Laf in the Kreider spot and Kakko in the Strome spot. That's the PP1 of the future for me personally.

Yes, me too. But if it ain't broke dont fix it, right? Their time will come, just doesnt seem in the near future. Injuries could change that. Whats the chances of Kreids and Zibby playing 78 games again?

 

[IDvsEGO]

He was drafted 2nd overall because he broke scoring records for his age in a professional league. He absolutely had the bonifides to be drafted that high and probably would have been a top 5 ranked prospect in many drafts

The big thing to me is that he really wasn't ready for the NHL style game. He played against men in Finland and did great, played in the WC and did great, but the game is so different in the NHL and he wasn't ready for how fast players come at you and how little space you have.

And that's OK for a first year in a lot of ways. One of the big problems in my mind is that the pandemic also then hit and has severely messed with how some of these players have been able to prepare and adjust to the NHL, not to mention how the Rangers have used these kids in the lineup once the NHL did get going (3rd line minutes and extremely limited PP time is not conduicive to scoring a lot of points even if you are very talented)

That said, Kakko still hasn't scored enough when he has gotten opportunities and he has to figure that out. It is a bit of a make it or break it year in that regard...he needs to show scoring progress like he progressed in other areas of his game

Kakko playing w strome and Panarin was our best player in that spot before copp.
There’s two problems where Kakko would set up a lot of the plays and then not get the points because of extra passes.
The other is that yeah Kakko deferred a lot to Panarin and strome, which cost him a ton of points.
Both him and Laffy both need to be more assertive and I blame a lot of that on Quinn.

 

[Levitate]

Kakko playing w strome and Panarin was our best player in that spot before copp.
There’s two problems where Kakko would set up a lot of the plays and then not get the points because of extra passes.
The other is that yeah Kakko deferred a lot to Panarin and strome, which cost him a ton of points.
Both him and Laffy both need to be more assertive and I blame a lot of that on Quinn.

he probably played his best and put up points playing with Strome and Panarin but that didn't last long as the top line was kinda struggling and Gallant thought Kakko would fit better there, rather than keep him where he was already doing well.

too much overthinking things there by Gallant I think