Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[Peltz]

Has he been a bit disappointing this season? Yes. But anyone who has eyes can see he’s improved this year. Still has work to do to be a solid top 6 player but he’s growing. I think he’ll get there in the next few years. He’s given me a lot more hope he can grow into a solid player than Laf

This kid is helping us win games. Not a disappointment in the slightest.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Would love to see him shoot more. Would also love to see him on PP1.

 

[mas0764]

Kakko is at 0.47 ppg.

On it's face, for a fourth year player who was the second overall pick, that is unimpressive.

With context - and take that for whatever you think it's worth - it's a career high for Kakko. It's with hardly any power play time.

And (this is the most important bit, IMO) it is with scoreless streaks of 7, 5, and 4 games at various points. Take out those cold streaks and he would be at 0.76 ppg with no PP time. Heck, just take away his 7 game scoreless streak and he's at 0.61 ppg.

Obviously you can't "take away" streaks of ineffectiveness when evaluating a player. That's like saying, hey, take away 50 games and Blais isn't on a 50 game goal-less streak! Well, he is on that streak, and it's cause he stinks.

My point is -- Kakko is still showing flashes and still has upside. He has to do away with those long streaks where he doesn't show up. He has to force himself into the scoring column. But there is hope.

And 0.6-0.7 ppg for a player who doesn't get PP time is a nice player. Because then it is approaching a PPG player when he does get PP time someday.

 

[Kords]

These are the kinds of shifts that inspire hope, we just gotta stay patient a little longer. This goal was all him.

 

[rangersfansince08]

Kakko is at 0.47 ppg.

On it's face, for a fourth year player who was the second overall pick, that is unimpressive.

With context - and take that for whatever you think it's worth - it's a career high for Kakko. It's with hardly any power play time.

And (this is the most important bit, IMO) it is with scoreless streaks of 7, 5, and 4 games at various points. Take out those cold streaks and he would be at 0.76 ppg with no PP time. Heck, just take away his 7 game scoreless streak and he's at 0.61 ppg.

Obviously you can't "take away" streaks of ineffectiveness when evaluating a player. That's like saying, hey, take away 50 games and Blais isn't on a 50 game goal-less streak! Well, he is on that streak, and it's cause he stinks.

My point is -- Kakko is still showing flashes and still has upside. He has to do away with those long streaks where he doesn't show up. He has to force himself into the scoring column. But there is hope.

And 0.6-0.7 ppg for a player who doesn't get PP time is a nice player. Because then it is approaching a PPG player when he does get PP time someday.

Laf has 1 less point than Kakko.

 

[Peltz]

These are the kinds of shifts that inspire hope, we just gotta stay patient a little longer. This goal was all him.

Yep. This is why he’s a player you win with. I love his ability to create turnovers and posses the puck.

 

[broadwayblue]

These are the kinds of shifts that inspire hope, we just gotta stay patient a little longer. This goal was all him.

Masterful job on the forecheck.

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

Remember that game where Kakko was our best defensive player in the very few moments the puck was on that end and dominated shift after shift on offense?

No? You don’t?

That’s because Vesey was on the ice for 3 minutes more than him. Less 5v5 time than Goodrow. Good use of your resources coach sniffles.

 

[Kords]

Remember that game where Kakko was our best defensive player in the very few moments the puck was on that end and dominated shift after shift on offense?

No? You don’t?

That’s because Vesey was on the ice for 3 minutes more than him. Less 5v5 time than Goodrow. Good use of your resources coach sniffles.

Really makes the blood boil... At least he probably wouldn't bench the kid on a crucial do-or-die elimination playoff game for a chance at the SCF, right???

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Remember that game where Kakko was our best defensive player in the very few moments the puck was on that end and dominated shift after shift on offense?

No? You don’t?

That’s because Vesey was on the ice for 3 minutes more than him. Less 5v5 time than Goodrow. Good use of your resources coach sniffles.

Vesey is legit good defensively so I have no issue with him playing.

Panarin shouldn’t play when they’re trying to hold a lead

 

[OthmannOut]

These are the kinds of shifts that inspire hope, we just gotta stay patient a little longer. This goal was all him.

Man we could sure use a player that in the last few minutes of a game when we are holding on to a lead. This is who we should be gunning for at the deadline. How much do you think he is going to cost? A 1st and kravtsov maybe?

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

Man we could sure use a player that in the last few minutes of a game when we are holding on to a lead. This is who we should be gunning for at the deadline. How much do you think he is going to cost? A 1st and kravtsov maybe?

That’s actually pretty smart. If GG thinks we traded for Kakko, he’s sure to get more minutes.

 

[markymarc1215]

That’s actually pretty smart. If GG thinks we traded for Kakko, he’s sure to get more minutes.

Another strong game for Kakko. Confidence is building and the slow rise from probable bust to competent 2nd liner should be complete by the end of the season. Really enjoying his game coming around and his defensive presence. Said it before, I think he will have Kreiders scoring numbers with borderline Selke defense starting next year.

 

[QJL]

8 points in his first 27 games.

15 points in his last 21 games.

Nice stretch. Kakko and Fil are really putting it together and it’s great to see.

 

[mas0764]

8 points in his first 27 games.

15 points in his last 21 games.

Nice stretch. Kakko and Fil are really putting it together and it’s great to see.

15 points in his last 21 games with like a 5 game scoreless streak built in.

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

15 points in his last 21 games with like a 5 game scoreless streak built in.

In the last 21 games, Kreider has 10 points while parked in front of the net on PP1 and averaging around 2:00 minutes more per game. The coach JUST said how he can't take away minutes from someone as great as Kreider just to give it to a kid.

Kakko has one more PPP than Kreider over that same span with almost no time. Almost like PP1 is stale and needs a change.

 

[mas0764]

In the last 21 games, Kreider has 10 points while parked in front of the net on PP1 and averaging around 2:00 minutes more per game. The coach JUST said how he can't take away minutes from someone as great as Kreider just to give it to a kid.

Kakko has one more PPP than Kreider over that same span with almost no time. Almost like PP1 is stale and needs a change.

I'm so tired of career 50 point player Kreider being untouchable for all the top assignments.

I would trade him away just to get out from his birthright status of first line player.

He would be so effective with Trocheck and Vesey on a third line, because then he doesn't have to be "on" every night.

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

In the last 21 games, Kreider has 10 points while parked in front of the net on PP1 and averaging around 2:00 minutes more per game. The coach JUST said how he can't take away minutes from someone as great as Kreider just to give it to a kid.

Kakko has one more PPP than Kreider over that same span with almost no time. Almost like PP1 is stale and needs a change.

PP1 is incredibly stale. They have one look, which is the Zibanejad one-timer. Pretty much any other type of goal they've scored in recent months has been off a broken play. How many other set plays has PP1 scored off?

They have become predictable and easy to defend.

Really want to see KK or Laf replace Tro on that unit and move Zibby to bumper and Panarin to left side where he'll be forced to shoot more. Creates a shooting option on the right side.

As for KK, he's been playing with more confidence generally, but the biggest thing holding him back is not merely "not shooting more," it's what he does with the puck in the offensive zone. He's great at controlling it, winning it along the wall, etc. but at some point instead of circling the zone, I'd rather see him opportunistically cut to a scoring area and try to make a play. Most of the time nothing will happen, but the few times it works will be beautiful and the shots will create themselves if the rush works. And in the end I think he'll create more offense taking these opportunistic shots than just cycling for another 30 seconds while hoping the opponent blows a coverage. He'll have to learn when to cycle (his line is fresh, opponent is tired, matched up against a big strong Dman who's not fast) vs. when to try a scoring play (matched up with a smaller Dman) but that's the next stage in his growth.

He's still too content to circle the perimeter, and while the puck control is impressive, nothing much materializes from it.

 

[SA16]

In the last 21 games, Kreider has 10 points while parked in front of the net on PP1 and averaging around 2:00 minutes more per game. The coach JUST said how he can't take away minutes from someone as great as Kreider just to give it to a kid.

Kakko has one more PPP than Kreider over that same span with almost no time. Almost like PP1 is stale and needs a change.

Good thing the coach recognizes the PP1 net front role causes a lot of wear and tear and is keeping Kakko healthy and away from it.

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

I'm so tired of career 50 point player Kreider being untouchable for all the top assignments.

I would trade him away just to get out from his birthright status of first line player.

He would be so effective with Trocheck and Vesey on a third line, because then he doesn't have to be "on" every night.

As much as I want to see the kids get shots at PP1 from time to time (particularly when that unit is struggling), I think 20 and 23 are excellent in their roles and are the only people I wouldn't move around within or off that unit as circumstances dictate.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

PP1 is incredibly stale. They have one look, which is the Zibanejad one-timer. Pretty much any other type of goal they've scored in recent months has been off a broken play. How many other set plays has PP1 scored off?

They have become predictable and easy to defend.

Really want to see KK or Laf replace Tro on that unit and move Zibby to bumper and Panarin to left side where he'll be forced to shoot more. Creates a shooting option on the right side.

As for KK, he's been playing with more confidence generally, but the biggest thing holding him back is not merely "not shooting more," it's what he does with the puck in the offensive zone. He's great at controlling it, winning it along the wall, etc. but at some point instead of circling the zone, I'd rather see him opportunistically cut to a scoring area and try to make a play. Most of the time nothing will happen, but the few times it works will be beautiful and the shots will create themselves if the rush works. And in the end I think he'll create more offense taking these opportunistic shots than just cycling for another 30 seconds while hoping the opponent blows a coverage. He'll have to learn when to cycle (his line is fresh, opponent is tired, matched up against a big strong Dman who's not fast) vs. when to try a scoring play (matched up with a smaller Dman) but that's the next stage in his growth.

He's still too content to circle the perimeter, and while the puck control is impressive, nothing much materializes from it.

The net drive is the one thing I really want to see more of from him.

These plays create so much chaos. Not every goal has to be tic-tac-toe and against good teams its harder to score those kinds of goals.

 

[Kocur Dill]

Another strong game for Kakko. Confidence is building and the slow rise from probable bust to competent 2nd liner should be complete by the end of the season. Really enjoying his game coming around and his defensive presence. Said it before, I think he will have Kreiders scoring numbers with borderline Selke defense starting next year.

Jere Lehtonen was a big factor in Dallas' dominace of the late 90's/early 00's.

If Kappo can be that player with more points, he will no doubt be an integral part of this team's success.

Underwhelming for a 2oa? Okay, I get it. Or, maybe top 5 picks aren't generational all stars every single draft. How many teams pick top 5 and the player is a total flame out? Ask those teams if they would have rather drafted a Kakko level player in a do-over. Same with Laffy. Just like you can't predict the Pasternak's and Fox's of the drafts I'm retrospect.

 

[Peltz]

Another strong game for Kakko. Confidence is building and the slow rise from probable bust to competent 2nd liner should be complete by the end of the season. Really enjoying his game coming around and his defensive presence. Said it before, I think he will have Kreiders scoring numbers with borderline Selke defense starting next year.

I really don’t see him as a second liner. To me, Kakko is one of this guys I want getting the most minutes and being put in every situation, just like Zibanejad, even if his offensive upside is less high (even that remains to be seen).

I trust him on both special teams, OT, shootout, first line 5v5, defensive zone draws with the game on the line, etc.

He is a real grinder with some finesse. Would have been absolutely perfect on the Tortarella era Rangers.

 

[IDvsEGO]

I really don’t see him as a second liner. To me, Kakko is one of this guys I want getting the most minutes and being put in every situation, just like Zibanejad, even if his offensive upside is less high (even that remains to be seen).

I trust him on both special teams, OT, shootout, first line 5v5, defensive zone draws with the game on the line, etc.

He is a real grinder with some finesse. Would have been absolutely perfect on the Tortarella era Rangers.

Tort probably wouldn’t have liked him because he doesn’t hit often.

 

[TheDirtyH]

That whole line has done a great job of getting the puck to the net and creating chaos in the middle of the ice. They're all big, skilled, and have good shots, great at handles in tight, and you see that the more they do it, the more ice opens up for them in the offensive zone to make plays. @Ola makes this point alot and I think it's true, that the most effective way to generate chances in today's game is to drive the middle and the slot. Even if the attempt doesn't result in a chance, it knocks teams out of their structure and gets players scrambling.

Kakko has always had this in his arsenal. Lafreniere too is great at making controlled plays amidst chaos and in tight spaces. They have to play to these strengths and it's why they have so much potential. Stop with trying to be Panarin and play in the middle of the ice.