Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[rangersfansince08]

His cieling is probably 20-50-70.

 

[KevinFinnerty]

Kid is turning into Rick Nash. PWF who can dance around you and into the net

 

[duhmetreE]

No chance in hell.I would love to be proven wrong though

If he works diligently on his shot there’s a chance

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

No chance in hell.I would love to be proven wrong though

You never know. Don't forget, if he stays with the Rangers long enough, he eventually becomes the veteran who gets stapled to PP1 no matter what.

 

[McRanger92]

Doesnt turn 22 for another 2 months. Anyone still worried about his long-term development should relax. He's going to be a very good and effective player for us for a long time.

 

[huerter]

Gleyber is only 22.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

IMO he's going to be a better player than Hughes. Hughes puts up points because he's put on the ice for every situation. He gets a ton of ice time. Always has. He's been getting 19+ minutes since his rookie season.

Kakko is elite defensively. Stronger. Bigger. Has more ability to control and protect the puck down low.

If Kakko and Lafreniere were getting more PP time and more ice time overall they'd also be putting up more points.

 

[rangersfansince08]

IMO he's going to be a better player than Hughes. Hughes puts up points because he's put on the ice for every situation. He gets a ton of ice time. Always has. He's been getting 19+ minutes since his rookie season.

Kakko is elite defensively. Stronger. Bigger. Has more ability to control and protect the puck down low.

If Kakko and Lafreniere were getting more PP time and more ice time overall they'd also be putting up more points.

This is wishful thinking. KK doesn't look anything close to a 100 pt player that drives play like Hughes does. Please for everyone's sake never express this opinion on the main boards.

 

[duhmetreE]

His cieling is probably 20-50-70.

That's absurdly low for a ceiling.

 

[Narcissus]

That's absurdly low for a ceiling.

Yea its probably 30-40-100

 

[The Crypto Guy]

That's absurdly low for a ceiling.

If he becomes an elite defensive player and can put up 70 points that would be insanely good. That a 1st line star defensive forward. I'd be thrilled with that.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Yea its probably 30-40-100

That math doesn’t work.

 

[mrmovies779]

If he works diligently on his shot there’s a chance

I just don't see it.He has too much of a pass first mindset.

 

[rangersfansince08]

That's absurdly low for a ceiling.

What do you think it is? He doesn't have the speed or shot for more points imo. Like @The Crypto Guy said if he had this level of production with Selke quality defense we should all be jumping up and down with joy. That's a player that takes you far in the playoffs.

 

[zlev]

Tage Thompson breaking out at age 24/25 shows why you never call a 21 year old with talent like Kakko a bust. even Thompson's age 23 season was pretty bad.

 

[duhmetreE]

What do you think it is? He doesn't have the speed or shot for more points imo. Like @The Crypto Guy said if he had this level of production with Selke quality defense we should all be jumping up and down with joy. That's a player that takes you far in the playoffs.

His ceiling is a better Mark Stone with some Rick Nash in his game IMO.

We're talking about absolute ceiling and full potential realized. It doesn't mean it will happen. That's why I said IF ... a MASSIVE IF, he works dillegnetly on his shot he could potentially score 50.

Stone broke 30 before, Nash broke 40. Both with average to below average shots. That's where the caveat comes in, if he improves his release/shot he can net 50. If not, I think his ceiling is 35-40Gs.

He's always around the net and producing chances. We meme about his finishing/bad luck. He gets the chances at EvenStrength. What happens if he gets PP1 time? He works on his shot and starts finishing in all situations?

this isn't a definitive. I'm talking about unrealized potential.

 

[NYR Viper]

I have repeatedly compared Kaako to Blake Wheeler. I still think that is his comparable player. Wheeler has been an absolutely underrated superstar for the last 10+ Years with his strength, 2-way play and offensive output.

 

[LionsHeart]

If Kakko turns out to be a 70 point, 2 way monster I’ll absolutely take that.

 

[Narcissus]

That math doesn’t work.

No way!

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

IMO he's going to be a better player than Hughes. Hughes puts up points because he's put on the ice for every situation. He gets a ton of ice time. Always has. He's been getting 19+ minutes since his rookie season.

Kakko is elite defensively. Stronger. Bigger. Has more ability to control and protect the puck down low.

If Kakko and Lafreniere were getting more PP time and more ice time overall they'd also be putting up more points.

This is a huge statement.

Hughes is reaching superstar status at the same age. I hate to say it but he has a Gretzky-like style to his game.

It may be one of those things where Kakko is more durable, or maybe a better playoff performer because of the things you mention, but I don't think he will be "better" than Hughes in a sense that he won't be a point compiler, or be more valuable to a teams offense like Hughes. His game is built a little differently.

Hope to hell I'm wrong in that regard, but this comparison is never going to end and we see Kakko slowly inching closer to it being a real debate. But right now its not close what Hughes is supplying vs. Kakko.

Its also a little subjective as to what someone deems a better "player". Defense and an all around game is very important to some and doesnt mean much to others.

 

[Levitate]

His ceiling is a better Mark Stone with some Rick Nash in his game IMO.

We're talking about absolute ceiling and full potential realized. It doesn't mean it will happen. That's why I said IF ... a MASSIVE IF, he works dillegnetly on his shot he could potentially score 50.

Stone broke 30 before, Nash broke 40. Both with average to below average shots. That's where the caveat comes in, if he improves his release/shot he can net 50. If not, I think his ceiling is 35-40Gs.

He's always around the net and producing chances. We meme about his finishing/bad luck. He gets the chances at EvenStrength. What happens if he gets PP1 time? He works on his shot and starts finishing in all situations?

this isn't a definitive. I'm talking about unrealized potential.

I've said it before but I think people always undersold Nash's shot. He was very accurate with it. It wasn't overpowering and he didn't pick corners with it all the time, but he could place it just above the pad pretty consistently as well and he scored with it a lot because he wasn't just trying to shoot as hard as he could for the top corner

Kakko has a good shot but I think it's less about shooting and him getting into prime scoring position to use it, but also that I think he's kind of in that "do I shoot or do I deke"mindset and isn't quite as clear with what he wants to do at times

 

[QJL]

I think Kakko is going to peak as a 30/30/60 possession monster. I’ll be very happy about it. I highly doubt he puts up more points than that.

 

[duhmetreE]

I've said it before but I think people always undersold Nash's shot. He was very accurate with it. It wasn't overpowering and he didn't pick corners with it all the time, but he could place it just above the pad pretty consistently as well and he scored with it a lot because he wasn't just trying to shoot as hard as he could for the top corner

Kakko has a good shot but I think it's less about shooting and him getting into prime scoring position to use it, but also that I think he's kind of in that "do I shoot or do I deke"mindset and isn't quite as clear with what he wants to do at times

I never liked it. It's a sweeping wrist shot.. really long release and he never lifted the puck.

Some say it's because he used a really long stick... similar to Zucc. It's more of a sweeping motion than a flex/snapshot.... funnily enough Kakko has a small stick.

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

No way!

Haha I remember that year! That was the year Belak more than doubled his previous single-season high in points! (seriously)

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

I've said it before but I think people always undersold Nash's shot. He was very accurate with it. It wasn't overpowering and he didn't pick corners with it all the time, but he could place it just above the pad pretty consistently as well and he scored with it a lot because he wasn't just trying to shoot as hard as he could for the top corner

Kakko has a good shot but I think it's less about shooting and him getting into prime scoring position to use it, but also that I think he's kind of in that "do I shoot or do I deke"mindset and isn't quite as clear with what he wants to do at times

100% agreed on that. His offensive instincts need a bit of work, as well as how to get open for shots, and what Valiquette was talking about last night re: Lafreniere about disengaging for defensemen at the right time to get great looks.

This is a huge statement.

Hughes is reaching superstar status at the same age. I hate to say it but he has a Gretzky-like style to his game.

It may be one of those things where Kakko is more durable, or maybe a better playoff performer because of the things you mention, but I don't think he will be "better" than Hughes in a sense that he won't be a point compiler, or be more valuable to a teams offense like Hughes. His game is built a little differently.

Hope to hell I'm wrong in that regard, but this comparison is never going to end and we see Kakko slowly inching closer to it being a real debate. But right now its not close what Hughes is supplying vs. Kakko.

Its also a little subjective as to what someone deems a better "player". Defense and an all around game is very important to some and doesnt mean much to others.

Kakko was always going to have a longer road to stardom were he to get there. A huge part of his game is size/strength, so as he physically matures, that will allow him to take advantage more and hopefully make the next step.

Hughes as a speed/agility guy always projected to get there first if he could improve his skating (which he clearly has) and get size strength good enough.

If Kakko can develop into a star, he'll have a better tail to his career when he loses foot speed and it doesn't matter as much to his game as it will with Hughes.