Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[IDvsEGO]

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

There’s two concepts there, and I don’t hate what gallant did even tho I agree with you.
By moving Kakko he says I know you’re comfortable and doing well, but I think you’re good enough to help pick up the first line of struggling vets. It’s actually a great confidence boost for the kid.

 

[NickyFotiu]

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

He has to do all that as well but he does not have a Crosby like motor. That is something anyone in condition with desire can have but few do.

 

[IDvsEGO]

He has to do all that as well but he does not have a Crosby like motor. That is something anyone in condition with desire can have but few do.

It’s not that he needs a Crosby like motor. He just needs to get a better first and second step. He’s got a really good ability to stop on a dime and change directions, but the problem is he doesn’t pull away from people enough, to open the ice. If he can do that, he’s gonna get alot more opportunities

 

[NickyFotiu]

It’s not that he needs a Crosby like motor. He just needs to get a better first and second step. He’s got a really good ability to stop on a dime and change directions, but the problem is he doesn’t pull away from people enough, to open the ice. If he can do that, he’s gonna get alot more opportunities

I agree with you regarding the skating but I think all these young kids could be better if they got in top condition and had a Crosby like motor. Crosby wouldn't be Crosby without his motor. Hustle makes up for a lot while fatigue takes away a lot.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

Kakko is 21 years old.

Came straight from Europe, had two BS Covid seasons, and a couple of injuries.

He's one of, if not the, best possession player on the team. Quinn's and Gallant's usage of him has been complete bull compared to what he would've gotten on 30 other teams in the league. Barely any PP time.

How about, we allow players to actually develop and allow them to get to say 23 or 24 years old with a chance to play consistently in the top 6 and get at least some PP1 time before calling them a bust.

 

[Rongomania]

Nah he can't shoot

 

[EdJovanovski]

Nah he can't shoot

That’s patience not a good shot, he waited the goalie out until he was beat
Ironically one of his biggest issues is he has too much patience lol

 

[Rongomania]

That’s patience not a good shot, he waited the goalie out until he was beat
Ironically one of his biggest issues is he has too much patience lol

You (and others) really need to practice exactly that. Patience. He's 21.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Until one of Schneider or Robertson becomes the next Trouba. Trouba is at worst a slight overpay for arguably the nastiest defenseman in the NHL. If Fox was a left Dman Trouba would be more than capable of being on the top pair. He's not perfect but we don't sniff the ECF without him. The other 31 teams wish they had Trouba in their top 4. I take Trouba all day over the likes of Hamilton, OEL, Nurse, Burns, Spurgeon, Vlasic, Chabot, Seabrook, Karlsson, Werenski, Jones, Doughty at their respective cap hits. The list grows by the day. Trouba and Kreider are the defacto Captains of this team. Every rookie and deadline acquisition has said as much. I'd much sooner part with lindgren and Goodrow if push came to shove.

Trouba will be traded for cap reasons, not because of performance.

 

[JHS]

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.

If you look at his skill set( speed, hands, quickness and shot) and you see something other than a guy who can’t possibly generate offense on his own and can’t even score without considerable help around him than you are not even watching the games.

Kappo can’t play top 6 forward minutes and certainly does not fit the definition of a top 6 forward in most organizations. He just does not have that skill set. Right now he’s a bottom 6 forward at best. Sorry to break it to you but unless he develops some serious speed or some serious hands, he’s never gonna make substantial impact.

Being drafted 2nd overall is not his fault but we need to evaluate his skills as they are right now.

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

If you look at his skill set( speed, hands, quickness and shot) and you see something other than a guy who can’t possibly generate offense on his own and can’t even score without considerable help around him than you are not even watching the games.

Kappo can’t play top 6 forward minutes and certainly does not fit the definition of a top 6 forward in most organizations. He just does not have that skill set. Right now he’s a bottom 6 forward at best. Sorry to break it to you but unless he develops some serious speed or some serious hands, he’s never gonna make substantial impact.

Being drafted 2nd overall is not his fault but we need to evaluate his skills as they are right now.

Wow. I actually have to ask if YOU are watching the games? He has really, really good hands. Thats unquestionable.

It's his decision making that needs improvement.

 

[bhamill]

If you look at his skill set( speed, hands, quickness and shot) and you see something other than a guy who can’t possibly generate offense on his own and can’t even score without considerable help around him than you are not even watching the games.

Kappo can’t play top 6 forward minutes and certainly does not fit the definition of a top 6 forward in most organizations. He just does not have that skill set. Right now he’s a bottom 6 forward at best. Sorry to break it to you but unless he develops some serious speed or some serious hands, he’s never gonna make substantial impact.

Being drafted 2nd overall is not his fault but we need to evaluate his skills as they are right now.

Interestingly enough this doesn’t counter anything I said, although I disagree that he doesn’t have top six potential especially since he’s already had some measure of success there as an 18-21 year old when given time and was healthy.
What I actually addressed was expectations and how our disappointment with him is based on the expectations linked to his draft position. You think he’s a third liner at best? You’re entitled to your opinion even though it’s already kind of been proven wrong and the player isn’t even 22 yet. I think this season will be a bit enlightening, one way or the other.

 

[bhamill]

That’s patience not a good shot, he waited the goalie out until he was beat
Ironically one of his biggest issues is he has too much patience lol

That's patience AND a good shot. In tight, very little room, goalie hadn't over committed, perfect placement in a very small space just inside the post, up at the height it needed to be with some oomph on it. Now you can say he doesn't show that shooting anywhere near often enough, that's fair. Hahaha

 

[Rongomania]

That's patience AND a good shot. In tight, very little room, goalie hadn't over committed, perfect placement in a very small space just inside the post, up at the height it needed to be with some oomph on it. Now you can say he doesn't show that shooting anywhere near often enough, that's fair. Hahaha

Hart was real good that year too, no?

 

[JHS]

Wow. I actually have to ask if YOU are watching the games? He has really, really good hands. Thats unquestionable.

It's his decision making that needs improvement.

This is the same guy who missed a wide open net in the playoffs correct? This is the same guy who was benched in favor of Gregg McKegg in the playoffs no?

This is the same guy who went about 20 games without a single point last season? I mean come on my friend, if he has good hands than I guess Jeff Beukaboom should have been Paul Coffey.

 

[JHS]

Interestingly enough this doesn’t counter anything I said, although I disagree that he doesn’t have top six potential especially since he’s already had some measure of success there as an 18-21 year old when given time and was healthy.
What I actually addressed was expectations and how our disappointment with him is based on the expectations linked to his draft position. You think he’s a third liner at best? You’re entitled to your opinion even though it’s already kind of been proven wrong and the player isn’t even 22 yet. I think this season will be a bit enlightening, one way or the other.

He has 26 goals in over 150 NHL games. That’s it. He as a solid season’s worth of points in almost 2 full NHL season’s worth of games. That’s it.

Now I know he was injured last season and the first two seasons are tough to evaluate but the guy has shown almost limited NHL caliber goal scoring potential. He’s shown almost limited NHL skating ability. This is the same guy who was benched in the playoffs by our head coach.

I am rooting for Kappo a lot. I hope he has a breakout year but to expect it based on everything we’ve witnessed from him so far is essentially hoping for a miracle.

His skill sets translate much better to a third line player. He can grind the puck out of the corner and can take up some space and seems to anticipate the play pretty well. Top 6 forwards need something that stands out offensively and Kappo has nothing.

 

[mas0764]

He has 26 goals in over 150 NHL games. That’s it. He as a solid season’s worth of points in almost 2 full NHL season’s worth of games. That’s it.

Now I know he was injured last season and the first two seasons are tough to evaluate but the guy has shown almost limited NHL caliber goal scoring potential. He’s shown almost limited NHL skating ability. This is the same guy who was benched in the playoffs by our head coach.

I am rooting for Kappo a lot. I hope he has a breakout year but to expect it based on everything we’ve witnessed from him so far is essentially hoping for a miracle.

His skill sets translate much better to a third line player. He can grind the puck out of the corner and can take up some space and seems to anticipate the play pretty well. Top 6 forwards need something that stands out offensively and Kappo has nothing.

I don't think your conclusion fits your evaluation.

Yes his point production has been limited but it's not because he does not have any top 6 skills.

He's specifically been hamstrung by bad circumstances, bad coaching, and yes, some specific skill deficiencies. But he does have many top 6 qualities. He just has to improve a couple things and get some breaks, because the dude has been the unluckiest player on our roster by far. He had like 4 points taken away in the playoffs by bad calls or bad reviews. His confidence is definitely shaken, no doubt about that as well.

...


For what it's worth, for a player who averaged 0.42 ppg this past season with no ST time at all, even if he does not improve hardly at all, with the bigger role he almost certainly will get, I expect 0.5 ppg is a reasonable projection even if he doesn't get any PP time this year either.

And if he stays healthy that's a 40 point season, and I think people will begin thinking differently about him just based on the raw numbers because 40 looks a lot different than 18 where you miss half the season.

And if he breaks out even a little bit I think you could see 50.

We will see.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Ya'll can stop freaking out now.

 

[Nate070]

I was too slow

 

[mas0764]

Awesome (given expectations, a long term deal would have been best obviously).

What's the AAV?

 

[JohnC]

Tbh some of you bed wetters need to calm down.

Some RFA signings off of their ELC:

McDonagh - 7/8/13 (7 days after UFA start)
Stepan - 9/26/13 (87 days after UFA start)
Skjei - 7/28/18 (27 days after UFA start)
Callahan - 7/13/09 (12 days after UFA start)
Dubinsky - 9/19/09 (80 days after UFA start)
DeAngelo - 9/20/19 (81 days after UFA start)

I’m also surprised people are genuinely concerned about an offer sheet being that they’re basically unicorns outside of the Aho one (I’ll barely count the Kotkaniemi one since it was basically nothing more than a retaliation pushed by an owner looking to meme on Montreal).

For the bed wetters:

Kakko - 7/28/22 (15 days after UFA start)

 

[bhamill]

He has 26 goals in over 150 NHL games. That’s it. He as a solid season’s worth of points in almost 2 full NHL season’s worth of games. That’s it.

Now I know he was injured last season and the first two seasons are tough to evaluate but the guy has shown almost limited NHL caliber goal scoring potential. He’s shown almost limited NHL skating ability. This is the same guy who was benched in the playoffs by our head coach.

I am rooting for Kappo a lot. I hope he has a breakout year but to expect it based on everything we’ve witnessed from him so far is essentially hoping for a miracle.

His skill sets translate much better to a third line player. He can grind the puck out of the corner and can take up some space and seems to anticipate the play pretty well. Top 6 forwards need something that stands out offensively and Kappo has nothing.

He has a solid season's worth of points in almost two full seasons worth of NHL games, under very far from normal circumstances, as a developing 18-21 year old in a "foreign" country in the BEST league on the planet... And played arguably some of his best hockey under the most highly pressurized circumstances in hockey itself, the Stanley Cup playoffs. If you think this is where he tops out, at his 20-21 year old D+3 season self, I'm going to have to go ahead and disagree with you. And it's not because he's OUR player, or because he was a 2OA (though, lets face it, draft pedigree is a thing). It's because he has shown flashes of more and he will still be 21 years old when the next season starts. He is already a solid 3rd line level player.
What's the more reasonable take?:
a) a 21 year old player will not get any better
b) a 21 year old player will continue to develop
I'm with b). I expect him to progress this season, but I still will not expect that at 22 (end of season) that is all there is. Frankly, I think that is a pretty reasonable take. Hahaha.
Feel free to disagree, but nothing you've said is proof otherwise.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Things I'd like to see him improve this season, in addition to the usually discussed skating and shot improvement:

He's very good down low protecting the puck and keeping possession, but when he doesn't have the puck he needs to get to dirty areas willingly and get to the front of the net with a purpose. There is a lot of waiting for the perfect pass kinda stuff with him, especially on rushes and cycles when he's on Mika or Bread's line. Make them find you, don't try to find a lane for them.

He needs to disrupt the other team with his body. He has a very good stick, can pick off passes and takes good routes to players and getting in lanes - but im sure Gallant and Drury want a lot more of him using his big frame and finish players into the wall. He doesn't have to kill them or become a Cam Neely, he just needs to separate them from the play and grow into playing more of a man's game. I think this was a big reason why he was benched in the last game.

Get mad. Probably asking too much here - but you see the fire in this kid when he scores a goal and lets out some frustration. Hes very hard on himself. Take that energy and apply it to others. Hell, even towards his own teammates. He's a big guy and hes going to become a truck when hes fully grow, adding a little snarl to his game will only help his confidence with the puck overall. Its OK to show some emotion.

 

[JHS]

He has a solid season's worth of points in almost two full seasons worth of NHL games, under very far from normal circumstances, as a developing 18-21 year old in a "foreign" country in the BEST league on the planet... And played arguably some of his best hockey under the most highly pressurized circumstances in hockey itself, the Stanley Cup playoffs. If you think this is where he tops out, at his 20-21 year old D+3 season self, I'm going to have to go ahead and disagree with you. And it's not because he's OUR player, or because he was a 2OA (though, lets face it, draft pedigree is a thing). It's because he has shown flashes of more and he will still be 21 years old when the next season starts. He is already a solid 3rd line level player.
What's the more reasonable take?:
a) a 21 year old player will not get any better
b) a 21 year old player will continue to develop
I'm with b). I expect him to progress this season, but I still will not expect that at 22 (end of season) that is all there is. Frankly, I think that is a pretty reasonable take. Hahaha.
Feel free to disagree, but nothing you've said is proof otherwise.

You’ve made excuses for why his development has not met expectations. That’s why I find it funny that you want to defend the guy but in each case you also throw out excuses. Defend the player based on his skills not “circumstances.” Every player in the NHL went through the same circumstances.

I never said he won’t develop more. I said “his current skill set translates best to a third line player.”

The Rangers have spoken and given him the classic bridge deal. This is now his make or break moment— if his season is terrible he will be gone.

 

[tbassler]

Awesome (given expectations, a long term deal would have been best obviously).

What's the AAV?

$2.1

Kaapo Kakko signs two-year bridge deal with NY Rangers

The New York Rangers have signed the No. 2 overall pick from the 2019 NHL Draft to a two-year contract.

www.usatoday.com