Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[xsniper11x]

I feel Kakko's development is going to remain slow until he's the one who has the puck and can control play. That's when he's looked his best. Unfortunately, he's not that guy on any line he plays on in the top 6. He's not going to be that guy standing in the slot on PP. He looked even worse early on when Panarin and Strome were just passing around him while he was just standing in front of the net.

The raw skill and IQ is there, so I'm hopeful. Especially knowing full well if you ask a young player to play a role that differs from their core game, they're going to develop slowly. These are all things you can easily avoid when you're a bottom feeder w/ no expectations.

Now Laf I'm a bit more concerned about, but he hasn't had the opportunities Kaako's had.

 

[Thirty One]

So he should walk up to Strome and say f*** off to the center, I'm going to the right side for my natural position?

And if they put him on the right wall, there would be a new excuse the next day.

 

[LOFIN]

And if they put him on the right wall, there would be a new excuse the next day.

Maybe there would be.

Considering how every forward prospect with the organization is failing expectations, maybe there is something wrong in their development.

 

[TheDirtyH]

And if they put him on the right wall, there would be a new excuse the next day.

Unless of course, he succeeded there...

If people want less excuses they should spend less time helicopter commenting these players. They're not that good rn. Maybe they'll get better, maybe they won't. Every game doesn't need reset the conversation about how they suck or how our development sucks

 

[DanielBrassard]

It's just frustrating watching a guy like Matt Boldy step into the lineup for Minnesota ast night and look likes hes completely acclimated and up to speed with the NHL game, meanwhile Kakko and Lafreniere look timid, unwilling to impose themselves on the game and the opponent. How much longer should we be expected to wait to see #1 and #2 overall picks play like #1 and #2 overall picks?

 

[xsniper11x]

Maybe there would be.

Considering how every forward prospect with the organization is failing expectations, maybe there is something wrong in their development.

And yet there have been a bunch of established veterans in their primes filling the top 6 Fs while there were none in the top 4D until Trouba came along. And our Dmen are developing very well. Is that a coincidence?

 

[Kovalev27]

So he should walk up to Strome and say f*** off to the center, I'm going to the right side for my natural position?

I don’t know what this means? What he should do is make a play when the puck is on his stick

 

[LOFIN]

I don’t know what this means? What he should do is make a play when the puck is on his stick

Yes. He is clearly in a mental slump now, and that's obvious for everyone watching. But my point is rather that we still are not putting him on the best position to succeed. That's just what happens when you are trying to win at the same time as developing prospects. Team and winning come first.

On the face of it you can say it sounds stupid, a young guy playing with Panarin/Zibanejad is not in a good position? But I still don't think Kakko has been able to really play his game with NYR. And some of it is frankly just between his own ears.

 

[will1066]

Maybe there would be.

Considering how every forward prospect with the organization is failing expectations, maybe there is something wrong in their development.

Isn't it on the coaching staff and specifically the head coach to get the most out of them? As in Quinn and now Gallant? I wonder what words Kakko will speak to Finnish media that indicate he was held back by Gallant, throwing him under the bus after he's fired.

After a while, the lens will shift from the coaches being the problem to the player being the issue.

 

[TheDirtyH]

It's just frustrating watching a guy like Matt Boldy step into the lineup for Minnesota ast night and look likes hes completely acclimated and up to speed with the NHL game, meanwhile Kakko and Lafreniere look timid, unwilling to impose themselves on the game and the opponent. How much longer should we be expected to wait to see #1 and #2 overall picks play like #1 and #2 overall picks?

what’s the alternative? Seems like many won’t be satisfied until an hf poll has 100% votes for “these two are busts” which won’t happen and doesn’t mean anything anyway.

wait and see, or don’t. Give up on hoping they pan out. Won’t change much one way or the other but it’s probably make this board a little less annoying.

 

[LOFIN]

Isn't it on the coaching staff and specifically the head coach to get the most out of them? As in Quinn and now Gallant? I wonder what words Kakko will speak to Finnish media that indicate he was held back by Gallant, throwing him under the bus after he's fired.

After a while, the lens will shift from the coaches being the problem to the player being the issue.

Kakko has praised Gallant so far. I doubt he would really have anything to say against Gallant at this point. He knows he can't say he deserves more responsibility than guys like Panarin, Kreider, Strome and Zibanejad. He's being trusted by the coach. Gallant plays him a lot. Even during the nights when he has looked terrible offensively, he's still decent defensively and not a burden.

And I agree, if it's one player, then he has to look at the mirror. But it's not just one player we are talking about is it? Laf is having a good stint right now but I think it's fair to say we expected more out of our 1st overall. Kravtsov is in Russia, Lias in LA. Chytil is... Well he is with the team but doesn't seem to progress anywhere.

 

[LOFIN]

And trust me, making excuses for him is frustrating and not always warranted. Like the last few games he has looked almost as bad as his rookie season, at least offensively. At least he's not costing his team but yeah...

It's sad because seeing him live multiple times during his draft year at Liiga, being one of the most dominant players at the age of 17/18 in Liiga and then winning WJC and WHC the same year was so awesome. He was rightfully considered to be the best prospect ever from Finland behind Barkov. And the start to his NHL career has not been impressive. You can see the development of his overall game, but he was drafted as a game changer and he has not been that. And it's disappointing. He's turning 21 in a month so there's plenty of runway left, and calling him or Laf a bust at this point is laughable.

At least the team is doing well, so it kinda eases with some of the pain. Let the Devils fans cream all over Hughes while they wait to see where they situate in the lottery. At least this team is looking like it's making progress in terms of getting to the playoffs...

 

[aufheben]

It's just frustrating watching a guy like Matt Boldy step into the lineup for Minnesota ast night and look likes hes completely acclimated and up to speed with the NHL game, meanwhile Kakko and Lafreniere look timid, unwilling to impose themselves on the game and the opponent. How much longer should we be expected to wait to see #1 and #2 overall picks play like #1 and #2 overall picks?

As Rangers fans, we really have no one else to blame but ourselves for not seeing this coming.

 

[aufheben]

“We develop forwards so poorly.” Hasn’t been many open spots for young guys in top 6.

“We develop defenseman so well.” We’ve had major openings in the top 4 Dcore.

It’s not all just a coincidence. Star players perform better with bigger roles.

Kakko & Lafreniere have seen the top-six a lot in the NHL. Like a non-trivial amount.

Likewise, Fox did the complete opposite.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

“We develop forwards so poorly.” Hasn’t been many open spots for young guys in top 6.

“We develop defenseman so well.” We’ve had major openings in the top 4 Dcore.

It’s not all just a coincidence. Star players perform better with bigger roles.

Icetime is not the issue.

 

[GigaChad]

Laf and Kakko both scream that "what the F should I do now" when they have the puck.
When I watch other teams rookies, I don't see that as much.
What the hell is going on?

 

[Thirty One]

Laf and Kakko both scream that "what the F should I do now" when they have the puck.
When I watch other teams rookies, I don't see that as much.
What the hell is going on?

I've never heard them scream that once.

 

[Synergy27]

Whose looking forward to seeing Zegras up close and personal tomorrow?

 

[TheDirtyH]

Kakko & Lafreniere have seen the top-six a lot in the NHL. Like a non-trivial amount.

Likewise, Fox did the complete opposite.

Fox was older as a rookie than either of them are now!

 

[LionsHeart]

Laf and Kakko both scream that "what the F should I do now" when they have the puck.
When I watch other teams rookies, I don't see that as much.
What the hell is going on?

This is what’s frustrating for me. One of them struggling? Okay, it happens. Both of them struggling? There’s something in the water.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Fox was older as a rookie than either of them are now!

You're onto something here.

 

[Rempe73]

There was like a 10-12 game stretch this season where Kakko was one of our best forwards, and games where he was our best forward. We know he can do it. To me, it’s not really a question of ability, but there has to be something. Why does he look so intimidated? It also sucks seeing Zegras and Hughes PPG

 

[Kovalev27]

You cannot criticize “not in position to succeed” when he’s playing PP1 and first line mins. You can’t hand a player more than that.

he should be taking advantage of this opportunity with Panarin out and he looks awful.

lafreniere on the other hand has looked very good with Panarin out

 

[LionsHeart]

You cannot criticize “not in position to succeed” when he’s playing PP1 and first line mins. You can’t hand a player more than that.

he should be taking advantage of this opportunity with Panarin out and he looks awful.

lafreniere on the other hand has looked very good with Panarin out

Kakko has had really good games though. Some where’s looked dominant. The problem is those highs come with some serious lows.

Laf has had some games this year wheres he’s looked completely lost. He’s really started to take off over the last few games.

 

[will1066]

And trust me, making excuses for him is frustrating and not always warranted. Like the last few games he has looked almost as bad as his rookie season, at least offensively. At least he's not costing his team but yeah...

It's sad because seeing him live multiple times during his draft year at Liiga, being one of the most dominant players at the age of 17/18 in Liiga and then winning WJC and WHC the same year was so awesome. He was rightfully considered to be the best prospect ever from Finland behind Barkov. And the start to his NHL career has not been impressive. You can see the development of his overall game, but he was drafted as a game changer and he has not been that. And it's disappointing. He's turning 21 in a month so there's plenty of runway left, and calling him or Laf a bust at this point is laughable.

At least the team is doing well, so it kinda eases with some of the pain. Let the Devils fans cream all over Hughes while they wait to see where they situate in the lottery. At least this team is looking like it's making progress in terms of getting to the playoffs...

Agree. They're still young, all of them, but it's disheartening to see regression and at times like they're playing the sport for the first time.

I have seen a glimmer of hope in that the first line showed some life in Vegas, so maybe he's now getting acclimated to Mika and Kreider similar to how he needed time to figure out Panarin and Strome.