Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[JohnC]

The pressing issue is where does K2 fit in the lineup. No way kids line in playoffs. 13-72-21 was very good so no messing there. K2 with Rooney and Reeves/Hunt?? not feeling it...

The easy answer is to move Vatrano out of the top 6.

Kreider-Zib-KK (proven to work really well together
Panarin-Strome-Copp (the BFF line)
Laf-Chytil-Vatrano (gives this line a player that can bury passes and finish on his own)

4th should be Hunt-Good-Brod but we’ll get Hunt-Rooney-Reaves because the universe hates us.

 

[cheech70]

The easy answer is to move Vatrano out of the top 6.

Kreider-Zib-KK (proven to work really well together
Panarin-Strome-Copp (the BFF line)
Laf-Chytil-Vatrano (gives this line a player that can bury passes and finish on his own)

4th should be Hunt-Good-Brod but we’ll get Hunt-Rooney-Reaves because the universe hates us.

The easy answer is to move Vatrano out of the top 6.

Kreider-Zib-KK (proven to work really well together
Panarin-Strome-Copp (the BFF line)
Laf-Chytil-Vatrano (gives this line a player that can bury passes and finish on his own)

4th should be Hunt-Good-Brod but we’ll get Hunt-Rooney-Reaves because the universe hates us.

I like it but K2 is not replacing Vatrano....they would have tried it last night. K2 on 4th or as a reserve?

 

[JohnC]

I like it but K2 is not replacing Vatrano....they would have tried it last night. K2 on 4th or as a reserve?

Would be idiotic IMO. He’s clearly one of our 9 best forwards, even with injury struggles this year.

 

[mas0764]

The pressing issue is where does K2 fit in the lineup. No way kids line in playoffs. 13-72-21 was very good so no messing there. K2 with Rooney and Reeves/Hunt?? not feeling it...

In the top 9 and move Goodrow down.

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

The pressing issue is where does K2 fit in the lineup. No way kids line in playoffs. 13-72-21 was very good so no messing there. K2 with Rooney and Reeves/Hunt?? not feeling it...

I would keep Goodrow on the 4th but put either Copp or Strome on the 3rd to give that line some experience.

20-93-77
10-18-24
13-16-72
21-17-75

 

[mas0764]

I would keep Goodrow on the 4th but put either Copp or Strome on the 3rd to give that line some experience.

20-93-77
10-18-24
13-16-72
21-17-75

That looks good.

 

[Raspewtin]

I would keep Goodrow on the 4th but put either Copp or Strome on the 3rd to give that line some experience.

20-93-77
10-18-24
13-16-72
21-17-75

why are we taking hunt out for two worse players in reaves and rooney

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

why are we taking hunt out for two worse players in reaves and rooney

Honestly, the 4th line I couldn't give a flying f*** about as long as McKegg and Gauthier aren't on it.

 

[Rongomania]

The Kakko defending is getting strong. Hope he proves all the haters wrong beginning next week. New season, bitches.

 

[IDvsEGO]

The Kakko defending is getting strong. Hope he proves all the haters wrong beginning next week. New season, bitches.

He had a really strong series against carolina in 20.
I don’t get people calling him soft, he’s got a game almost designed for the playoffs, he’s doesn’t shy away from contact.

 

[JohnC]

He had a really strong series against carolina in 20.
I don’t get people calling him soft, he’s got a game almost designed for the playoffs, he’s doesn’t shy away from contact.

Because the only thing consistent about this place is inconsistent characterization of players.

It’s a symptom of a non-insignificant number of posters here being misinformed (at best) or stupid (at worst).

 

[Rongomania]

He had a really strong series against carolina in 20.
I don’t get people calling him soft, he’s got a game almost designed for the playoffs, he’s doesn’t shy away from contact.

It's bonkers now, it's always been bonkers. Let the kid shut 'em all down.

 

[huerter]

why are we taking hunt out for two worse players in reaves and rooney

Why are we deactivating the 6th WR instead of the long snapper?

 

[kovazub94]

The easy answer is to move Vatrano out of the top 6.

Kreider-Zib-KK (proven to work really well together
Panarin-Strome-Copp (the BFF line)
Laf-Chytil-Vatrano (gives this line a player that can bury passes and finish on his own)

4th should be Hunt-Good-Brod but we’ll get Hunt-Rooney-Reaves because the universe hates us.

Kreider - Zibanejad - Kakko didn't work "really well". If anything Kreider - Zibanejad - Lafreniere was better even disregarding that Lafreniere is not a RW. Vatrano addition "forced" Lafreniere back to his natural side.

 

[SA16]

Kreider - Zibanejad - Kakko didn't work "really well". If anything Kreider - Zibanejad - Lafreniere was better even disregarding that Lafreniere is not a RW. Vatrano addition "forced" Lafreniere back to his natural side.

Yea let's go ahead and break up this line so we can force feed extra time to our young players so they develop...in the playoffs.

Line Stats - Natural Stat Trick

www.naturalstattrick.com

Makes sense.

 

[The New Russian Five]

He had a really strong series against carolina in 20.
I don’t get people calling him soft, he’s got a game almost designed for the playoffs, he’s doesn’t shy away from contact.

The issue is that he continues to play the perimeter and not attack the net, as well as, not shoot enough when he has good opportunities. He continues to try being a playmaker when it is clearly not his strength.

 

[haohmaru]

I think Kakko had a pretty good season, all things considered.

 

[Doctyl]

Yea let's go ahead and break up this line so we can force feed extra time to our young players so they develop...in the playoffs.

Line Stats - Natural Stat Trick

www.naturalstattrick.com

Makes sense.

You say this like that line with Kakko or Laf doesn’t have similar stats. Vatrano isn’t some special player

 

[SA16]

You say this like that line with Kakko or Laf doesn’t have similar stats. Vatrano isn’t some special player

Vatrano has 8 goals in 22 games as a Ranger. Kakko has a career high of 10. Lafreniere has more. Vatrano isn't doing it by shooting 20%. Vatrano has always been a first line level goal scorer at 5v5. Has been pretty much every year of his career. If you want to watch prospects in the playoffs go watch junior hockey. And you can say the line would work as well with the other two guys. Well it did not.

 

[dangsLITE]

would like to see KK back in the PK rotation in the playoffs but seems unlikely

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

You say this like that line with Kakko or Laf doesn’t have similar stats. Vatrano isn’t some special player

It's amazing how much love Vatrano gets, and how much hate Strome gets.

 

[NickyFotiu]

No way this happens but I would go with

CK-Zib-KK
Bread-Strome-Laf
Chytil-Copp-Valtrano
Rooney-Goodrow-Reeves

 

[Doctyl]

It's amazing how much love Vatrano gets, and how much hate Strome gets.

re-signing Vatrano because of his small stint of success with Kreider and Zibanejad would be a huge mistake

 

[Kocur Dill]

When we acquired Vatrano FLA fans said we will love his motor but don't fall in love with his office because he is streaky and when he isn't scoring he isn't useful in the top 6.

I like the kid a lot, but he hasn't been here all that long and is starting to prove those FLA poster's point.

You don't derail a kid like Kakko who is so much more important to this team long term for a guy like Vatrano.

Kakko is the future. A cornerstone. Vatrano is a top 9 guy who you let play up when he is hot and move down when he is cold.

Vatrano doesn't replace, displace, or make Kakko redundant one iota. He is what Gauthier should have been, nothing more. And defiantly not a long term Top 6 RW for this team. Think more along the lines of Pouliot or Grabner.

 

[SA16]

Here are Vatrano's 5v5 goal rates among forwards with 400+ mins each year:

15/16 - 42 out of 378
16/17 - 122 out of 377
17/18 - 40 out of 389
18/19 - 47 out of 389
19/20 - 189 out of 371
20/21 - 54 out of 341
21/22 - 62 out of 410

He's been a top line quality goal scorer almost his entire career. One down year in 19/20. He is the exact type of complementary wing you want in the top six with good playmakers. He also has solid play driving numbers his whole career. I don't know why we're going out of our way to bash the guy or to demote him for top prospects who are currently inferior players. They can take his job next season when we cannot afford to extend him. He's no more/less streaky than any other player of his style. Kakko is currently a defensive third line player who over three years has shown little offense. It makes no sense to move him up to start in the playoffs.