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Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

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Not counting his EN goal against Carolina, Kakko has 1 goal his last 20 games. This is in a streak where he is doing everything else right, including starting to put up nice looking assist numbers for a guy with limited PP minutes.

Kakko has to start potting a few more.
 
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Cuckoo4Kakko said:
If he sets up a goal every game, I’m good. Lot of primary assists in this run. Guy is creating something out of nothing. On the Laf goal he makes a play that almost no one on this team is capable of making.
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Honestly, that whole play he did was awesome. Chips the puck along the board to himself with a fast spin move. Takes a quick look to see who is the slot, hustles to the puck, and makes a quick back hand pass that wasn't easy to make.

It's really nice to see Kakko's hard work is finally starting to pay dividends for him. I don't think there is a player that deserves better stats than he has than Kakko.
 
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I feel like he's been doing this the entire season. It's only recently though much of his work is not going to waste (i.e. his linemates actually finishing plays he started).
 
I knew he'd eventually be rewarded. Honestly, I think he's looked this good for many stretches in the past, but now it's more consistent every game.
 
LOFIN said:
areena.yle.fi

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.
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From around 1h06 they chat about Kakko. The bit I referenced is from 1h08,35
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This was an interesting series of podcast. I listened to an earlier episode from October as well where Ismo was talking about what Gallant expects from Kakko. Gallant is *very* focused on the game when his team does not have the puck, he expects his players to be strong at taking away time and space from their opponents when the Rangers don't have the puck, they have to skate hard, grind and have strong hands for puck recovery - that's what Kakko was told to focus on. I'd say mission accomplished when it comes to that.

In the February episode Ismo talked about (his personal opinion) the next step for Kakko and pointed at agility as the key. I agree but also find it a bit 'funny'. Agility was not an issue when Kakko was in Finland, it was actually a strength of his, but the focus on "power" over the last few seasons has to be kind of balanced out now. I'd say the Laffy has a bit of the same issue, the focus on power has slowed him down a bit. Now that the kids have the power the next step is speed and agility. At least Kakko is in good hands and they know exactly what he needs to work on for his continued growth.

The podcasts also touched upon other young and upcoming talent like Zegras, Stützle, Tkachuk, etc. They are very exciting but... they don't really know the defensive side of the game. Here we again come to the different approach bwtween the Rangers and most other teams with young talent. I'd say the Kings are similar to the Rangers (old fashioned), which is why we see comments about their young talent needing "change of scenery" trades as their immediate impact is slower than more freewheeling approaches.
 
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Foxy said:
One point in his last four games. Last four games he is also averaging a minute and a half less per game then he did during the previous 10 games where he was ppg. Starting to think Gallant just likes screwing with the kid. Kids on a roll, cut his ice time. Genius.
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He and his linemates haven't been good over that stretch so if their ice time is being cut that's why.
 
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KirkAlbuquerque said:
Nobody’s been good over that stretch tbh
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Panarin, Trocheck, and Vesey have been really good, by the eye test and analytically. Tarasenko has looked great since he was put with Panarin and Trocheck, so that's not true. They've been consistently generating chances every game for a while now. The kids have been struggling, last night was a poor showing all over the ice.
 
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DanielBrassard said:
Panarin, Trocheck, and Vesey have been really good, by the eye test and analytically. Tarasenko has looked great since he was put with Panarin and Trocheck, so that's not true. They've been consistently generating chances every game for a while now. The kids have been struggling, last night was a poor showing all over the ice.
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Panarin was hot for a bit but the past 2 or 3 he’s not been as good. Vlad is getting better, and Trocheck is heating up despite all the Strome tier penalties he’s been taking. But Zib, Kreider, Miller, Fox, Shesty haven’t been at their best lately either
 
Foxy said:
One point in his last four games. Last four games he is also averaging a minute and a half less per game then he did during the previous 10 games where he was ppg. Starting to think Gallant just likes screwing with the kid. Kids on a roll, cut his ice time. Genius.
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It might have more to do with variance and puck luck than having his ice time reduced by 8%
 
Last night was glaring in that everyone basically had their cycling motors on and he didn't make himself available to be in shooting position off the passing by others.
 
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I'd like for Kakko to be a bit more assertive on the man advantage. He almost always defers rather than trying to make the play himself. Ends up largely being a passenger/placeholder on the unit who isn't looking to directly create a play via pass, shot, or movement.

More confidence in his own game would help there.
 
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DanielBrassard said:
He and his linemates haven't been good over that stretch so if their ice time is being cut that's why.
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That's part of it, but I think acquiring Tarasanko has given Gallant an excuse to play the kid line even less. With the 15 games prior to the trade averaging 17:30 to only 15mins since. They were fine in the Seattle and Cane games and still saw reduced ice time.
huerter said:
It might have more to do with variance and puck luck than having his ice time reduced by 8%
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It might be, hope he can stop this from becoming one of his typical 1 in 8 or scoreless in 5+ stretches'.
 
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