Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[mike14]

Kid was rolling and starting to realize his potential with ziba and Kreider. Then… durr durrr kid line durr durr. It was a dumb move

Was it though?
I'm not a huge fan of the Kid line, but almost 2/3rds of KKs points have come in 2 scoring spans where he's put up 21pts in 23 games.
The first was 7 Dec - 3 Jan where he went 10 pts in 12 games
The 2nd was 16 Jan - 17 Feb where he went 11 in 11

16 of those 21 were with Laf and Chytil as hiss top 2 line mates (although in one Chytil was tied with Brodz). He had 16 points in those games
Another 3 had him with Laf and Mika. He got 3 points
In the 4 games he played with Mika and CK in the periods where he scored 2/3rds of his points he got 3 points.

I don't think it's linemates. He scores in bunches (like a lot of NHLers), but when he goes cold he goes really cold

 

[Gordon Bombay]

There is only one of us who fully knows what's up with Kakko lately. We need the professor

 

[mas0764]

The whole kids line is ice cold and I have to wonder if it’s not partially because of the atrocious D pairs they’ve been forced to play with between being essentially moved from second to third line in conjunction with the Lindgren injury.

 

[CLW]

The whole kids line is ice cold and I have to wonder if it’s not partially because of the atrocious D pairs they’ve been forced to play with between being essentially moved from second to third line in conjunction with the Lindgren injury.

Good opportunity for them to grow their games tho.

 

[ReddestRum]

The whole kids line is ice cold and I have to wonder if it’s not partially because of the atrocious D pairs they’ve been forced to play with between being essentially moved from second to third line in conjunction with the Lindgren injury.

4th line outplaying the kid line and it's the D's fault?

 

[FlyguyOX]

Was it though?
I'm not a huge fan of the Kid line, but almost 2/3rds of KKs points have come in 2 scoring spans where he's put up 21pts in 23 games.
The first was 7 Dec - 3 Jan where he went 10 pts in 12 games
The 2nd was 16 Jan - 17 Feb where he went 11 in 11

16 of those 21 were with Laf and Chytil as hiss top 2 line mates (although in one Chytil was tied with Brodz). He had 16 points in those games
Another 3 had him with Laf and Mika. He got 3 points
In the 4 games he played with Mika and CK in the periods where he scored 2/3rds of his points he got 3 points.

I don't think it's linemates. He scores in bunches (like a lot of NHLers), but when he goes cold he goes really cold

His advanced metrics were much better with ziba and kreider than with Chytil and Laf. His xG+-/60 is positive with ziba and kreider and negative with everyone else. He was rolling with those guys and should’ve been left there to help his development

 

[ReddestRum]

His advanced metrics were much better with ziba and kreider than with Chytil and Laf. His xG+-/60 is positive with ziba and kreider and negative with everyone else. He was rolling with those guys and should’ve been left there to help his development

Going to agree here. Advanced stats aside, he looked much better with Zibs and CK. With the recent additions, unfortunately, there's nowhere to put anyone, anywhere.

 

[duhmetreE]

For the first time since we drafted him, I think they trade him if the right offer comes along.... unless something drastic changes

 

[Peltz]

For the first time since we drafted him, I think they trade him if the right offer comes along.... unless something drastic changes

Why would you do this? To keep a 34 year old Kane on your team?

 

[duhmetreE]

Why would you do this? To keep a 34 year old Kane on your team?

to make room for Othmann and possibly get another big PMD back

He's 'fine' if you ignore his draft pedigree but you may be able to extract value from him. This doesn't mean trade him for nothing.. Still think he could develop somewhat but the lack of killer instinct is a major blemish.

 

[Anthony5967]

to make room for Othmann and possibly get another big PMD back

He's 'fine' if you ignore his draft pedigree but you may be able to extract value from him. This doesn't mean trade him for nothing.. Still think he could develop somewhat but the lack of killer instinct is a major blemish.

Which is odd because Rantanen and Barkov train with him, if I am not mistaken, so you would think he would take that from their games. If Kakko played like a bull, think Nichushkin, he would be a monster. Needs to shoot a hell of a lot more.

 

[duhmetreE]

Which is odd because Rantanen and Barkov train with him, if I am not mistaken, so you would think he would take that from their games. If Kakko played like a bull, think Nichushkin, he would be a monster. Needs to shoot a hell of a lot more.

Even a guy like Nichuskin didn't put it together until his mid 20's...

Barkov took off at 22-23.. I dont mind waiting on Kakko until then.... 26 though? that might be pushing it for a contending team

Comparing Kakko and Barkov, even strength wise, they're not far off in production. His problem is 100% mindset right now

 

[Ori]

A promising game by Kakko tonight

 

[LionsHeart]

He played well tonight. Well earned goal.

I feel like he was one of the few forwards in the Top 9 that could cancel out what Carolina wanted to do.

 

[Shesty31]

He is really good at board play and puck possession. Which we need more of so it’s great to see. I just wish he wasn’t so slow ugh.

 

[bl02]

He is really good at board play and puck possession. Which we need more of so it’s great to see. I just wish he wasn’t so slow ugh.

You can see it last night. Was really good along the boards and puck control but the few times he tried to cut it to the middle he just couldn't create enough separation to get a shot off in a decent spot.
He did make a beautiful pass to Lafreniere tho.

 

[Shesty31]

You can see it last night. Was really good along the boards and puck control but the few times he tried to cut it to the middle he just couldn't create enough separation to get a shot off in a decent spot.
He did make a beautiful pass to Lafreniere tho.

Ya that was nice indeed. I do wonder what I’m his ceiling really is though. Maybe 25 goals a season? Just tough to project him for more than that given his skating, and he isn’t really a front of the net/garbage goal kinda guy either despite his size.

 

[bl02]

Ya that was nice indeed. I do wonder what I’m his ceiling really is though. Maybe 25 goals a season? Just tough to project him for more than that given his skating, and he isn’t really a front of the net/garbage goal kinda guy either despite his size.

Looks like it. 25-30 goals. Which isn't bad because I think with his board play and good hands he could should pile up some assists.
He should become a net front beast with his size and hands but not seeing that right now.
Looks like Lafreniere is becoming better at that.

 

[will1066]

I just found out that he shares his birthdate with my mother-in-law, so now I know why he sucks.

Seriously, though, he's 22, and we have to be patient. There's still time for him to grow into the player he can become, or switch tracks and adapt a different play style, like being better away from the puck and becoming more of a pure shooter/sniper than a puck hound.

 

[cheech70]

K2 needs some cocky confidence...get engaged physically which will create offense

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

His last 2 games have been much better.

 

[markymarc1215]

I would love to see this guy rip off a few consecutive multi-point games. I feel like whenever he gets on the scoresheet, it is always a 1 point game. Talent is there and most of the fanbase loves him, just endlessly frustrating having this guy putting 1 puck on net per game and not playing the body at all.

 

[Chytilmania]

Still think he could develop somewhat but the lack of killer instinct is a major blemish.

Watching his highlights in his draft year, before the Rangers had a shot, I thought he was going to a player who drags his nuts all over others. Either those highlights made him look really good or something changed for him coming to NY.

 

[Cheapshot]

No matter how the playoffs go for him I hope he finds a way this summer to get the confidence he had in his draft year back. Maybe practicing with better players or talking to old coaches. Same could be said for our other high draft pick. What are the odds on missing out on both ?

 

[duhmetreE]

Watching his highlights in his draft year, before the Rangers had a shot, I thought he was going to a player who drags his nuts all over others. Either those highlights made him look really good or something changed for him coming to NY.

People were legit thinking he was better than Hughes

He was 'dominating' men.