Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[McRanger92]

He is well on his way to being Pavel Buchnevich

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

He is well on his way to being Pavel Buchnevich

We need to start scouting the next Blais that we can trade him for.

 

[Kocur Dill]

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.

Honestly, I think they all just play with less pressure on their shoulders when they are together as the Kid Line.

All three of them seem to defer to the vets when they ride shotgun on lines 1 and 2. But when they play as a 3 man unit, Chytil, Kak, and Laf seem more "on the level" with each other.

 

[CLW]

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.

I hear you about Kakko cutting in for a shot more often, but I think the coaches see offensive zone puck possession time as a goal in itself, presumably to wear the opponents down over time. I recall a game where Kakko took a bad angle shot from the boards, it hit the goalies pads and bounced out starting counter attack for the opponents. The coaches sat Kakko the next shift after that.

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.

He knows this I'm sure. Kakko set the tone for the entire line with his drive to the goal on the very first shift the kids had, was great to see. More of that!

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

I hear you about Kakko cutting in for a shot more often, but I think the coaches see offensive zone puck possession time as a goal in itself, presumably to wear the opponents down over time. I recall a game where Kakko took a bad angle shot from the boards, it hit the goalies pads and bounced out starting counter attack for the opponents. The coaches sat Kakko the next shift after that.

That's exactly my point. I don't want him to throw the puck at the net from some stupid angle like a non-skilled forward. I want to see him opportunistically cycle, then, when he realizes he is one on one with a smaller defender behind the net, throw the guy on his back and take it right out in front and play for a high percentage chance in tight. If it's poked away, so what? If it works, it's probably a goal 1 in 4 tries that he actually gets loose.

Right now, he'll skate to the corner with the defenseman on his back and keep the play alive, but the puck stays to the outside, and in most instances because of the Rangers' offensive zone structure, even a good 45 seconds of puck possession will usually end with a bad angle wrist shot from the point rather than a real Grade A.

Adding the ability to opportunistically take the puck to the net during a successful cycle is the next stage in his evolution. He's proven he can work the puck on the outside. Now he has to show he can create more consistently, and that includes chances for himself.

 

[Kharon]

Tage Thompson has been a monster past two years and he is now 25. Stats tell me, he had some difficulties when he was younger. How did he played then?

I would love to see Kakko playing like him after few years. They both have a lot of same strenghts in their game.

 

[McRanger92]

Outside shot at 30 goals if he can start shooting more and the puck bounces his way in the second half. We all know he's been snakebit on goals and assists this year. He will have a Chytil like jump next year (under a new coach)

edit: meant to say 30 goals, not 20

 

[mas0764]

Just gonna say it, I think he's right now better than Kreider.

30 pts with 10 from the power play, invisible if he's not getting deflections, rebounds, or easy set up one-timers.

vs

23 points with 2 from the power play, is literally everywhere and doing everything, but is just snake-bitten on the score sheet.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Just gonna say it, I think he's right now better than Kreider.

He’s better than Panarin right now lol

 

[Jauffre]

Tage Thompson has been a monster past two years and he is now 25. Stats tell me, he had some difficulties when he was younger. How did he played then?

I would love to see Kakko playing like him after few years. They both have a lot of same strenghts in their game.

Not sure Kakko can ever be the wizard Thompson seems to be, especially around the net, although we've seen flashes of Kakko's high-end stickhandling. Just needs to translate that to finishing in tight.

Tage also has an elite shot, something Kakko really has to work on (needs a longer stick! lol).

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Tage Thompson has been a monster past two years and he is now 25. Stats tell me, he had some difficulties when he was younger. How did he played then?

I would love to see Kakko playing like him after few years. They both have a lot of same strenghts in their game.

TT blew up after being moved from wing to Center

 

[mas0764]

TT blew up after being moved from wing to Center

HMMMMMMM

 

[McRanger92]

Just gonna say it, I think he's right now better than Kreider.

Bold take to say this with Kreider clearly playing hurt and after one of his worst games of the 700 he's played a as a Ranger lol.

Kakko has been a force though

 

[CasusBelli]

We need to start scouting the next Blais that we can trade him for.

Marc Staal.

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

Wrong thread.

 

[CLW]

e: (oops wt)

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

TT blew up after being moved from wing to Center

Kakko played Center in Liiga

 

[GENESISPuck94]

Just gonna say it, I think he's right now better than Kreider.

30 pts with 10 from the power play, invisible if he's not getting deflections, rebounds, or easy set up one-timers.

vs

23 points with 2 from the power play, is literally everywhere and doing everything, but is just snake-bitten on the score sheet.

The kids are producing at even strength. They all have 20+ even strength points.

 

[LOFIN]

Listened to a recent podcast that featured Ismo Lehkonen, the father of Artturi Lehkonen (Avs) and a Finnish hockey analyst, and he had some nice things to say about Kakko (at least to me). He said they went for some beers after a game (probably the more recent one) and Kakko was in a very jovial mood despite having a dry stretch with points. He was very analytical of his game, knew what were the issues and how to improve them. Kakko has said that he has learned not to become frustrated if there's a dry spell with points, just need to look at things to improve and focus on.

For me, that's nice to hear. Yes, Kakko has had two stretches where he went scoreless for a while, but I think his play has been consistent all the time. And that discussion would imply such as well, he's learned how to deal with it. We are seeing him score better this season, but more importantly, I think he has been consistently a top-3 forward of the team with Chytil the whole year. Rarely has there been a game you think he has been bad. Actually, never. There are nights where he might not be the offensive motor, but he's still not f***ing things up and at least carries his weight.

 

[Sisu4ever]

Listened to a recent podcast that featured Ismo Lehkonen, the father of Artturi Lehkonen (Avs) and a Finnish hockey analyst, and he had some nice things to say about Kakko (at least to me). He said they went for some beers after a game (probably the more recent one) and Kakko was in a very jovial mood despite having a dry stretch with points. He was very analytical of his game, knew what were the issues and how to improve them. Kakko has said that he has learned not to become frustrated if there's a dry spell with points, just need to look at things to improve and focus on.

For me, that's nice to hear. Yes, Kakko has had two stretches where he went scoreless for a while, but I think his play has been consistent all the time. And that discussion would imply such as well, he's learned how to deal with it. We are seeing him score better this season, but more importantly, I think he has been consistently a top-3 forward of the team with Chytil the whole year. Rarely has there been a game you think he has been bad. Actually, never. There are nights where he might not be the offensive motor, but he's still not f***ing things up and at least carries his weight.

Could you share the link? I guess i could Google it too.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Listened to a recent podcast that featured Ismo Lehkonen, the father of Artturi Lehkonen (Avs) and a Finnish hockey analyst, and he had some nice things to say about Kakko (at least to me). He said they went for some beers after a game (probably the more recent one) and Kakko was in a very jovial mood despite having a dry stretch with points. He was very analytical of his game, knew what were the issues and how to improve them. Kakko has said that he has learned not to become frustrated if there's a dry spell with points, just need to look at things to improve and focus on.

For me, that's nice to hear. Yes, Kakko has had two stretches where he went scoreless for a while, but I think his play has been consistent all the time. And that discussion would imply such as well, he's learned how to deal with it. We are seeing him score better this season, but more importantly, I think he has been consistently a top-3 forward of the team with Chytil the whole year. Rarely has there been a game you think he has been bad. Actually, never. There are nights where he might not be the offensive motor, but he's still not f***ing things up and at least carries his weight.

Interesting to note that Kakko works out at a camp organised by Ismo Lehkonen every summer.

 

[markymarc1215]

He just needs to get more pucks on net. No other issues with his game or effort in my book.

 

[LOFIN]

Could you share the link? I guess i could Google it too.

Osavuosikatsaus 2023 | NHL-ilta

Kauden ilmiöt, kuumat puheenaiheet, yllätykset ja pettymykset, huomionarvoisimmat suomalaiset – ja kevään profetiat. Asiantuntijoina Ismo Lehkonen, Antti Mäkinen ja Sami Hoffrén, juontajana Jussi Paasi.

areena.yle.fi

From around 1h06 they chat about Kakko. The bit I referenced is from 1h08,35

 

[Sisu4ever]

Osavuosikatsaus 2023 | NHL-ilta

Kauden ilmiöt, kuumat puheenaiheet, yllätykset ja pettymykset, huomionarvoisimmat suomalaiset – ja kevään profetiat. Asiantuntijoina Ismo Lehkonen, Antti Mäkinen ja Sami Hoffrén, juontajana Jussi Paasi.

areena.yle.fi

From around 1h06 they chat about Kakko. The bit I referenced is from 1h08,35

Thank you!

 

[Cmox]

Ill just put this here.