Should Kakko have been demoted to the 4th line? He hasn't been bad, and in some games this playoffs its been the best I've seen from him. Demoting him to the 4th line must be such a confidence killer. It's frustrating because you can see the talent and the skill is there, but he seems to get down easily that he hasn't been rewarded when he does play well.
Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko
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haveandare
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Thought I saw him out with Fil and Laf a bunch as the game went on, no? I think Gallant wanted to see if a Laf - Fil - Motte combo would forecheck the canes to death and pin them a bit. After it didn’t necessarily work better than the kids I thought they were together again
Psycho for Perreault
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I think this is a mistake. He can't play with Reaves. Motte doesn't make the kid line better, but losing his speed on line 4 makes them significantly worse. Motte deserves more time, but this doesn't help the team.
HatTrick Swayze
Just Be Nice
I'm a bit frustrated too, but at the same time I get it. If memory serves (it may not TBH) JT Miller played on the 4th line / was scratched a few times in the 2014 run and he ended up ok.
McRanger92
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- Jun 7, 2017
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Kakko has been pretty good this playoffs but less consistent than Laf & Chytil. I think moving up Motte was more about his great play than anything Kakko did. That 4th line is insanely slow though, i really hope Gallant goes back to the Kid line and Motte-Rooney-Reaves in Raleigh
LORDE
I am Lorde, YA YA YA
He was pretty awful last night. At least Laffy looks better, got a few chances, was right there on the goal by Copp (I think) and finishes his checks.
Kakko can't even catch guys to hit them and when he does he misses completely allowing them to get back into the play faster than he can.
Kakko can't even catch guys to hit them and when he does he misses completely allowing them to get back into the play faster than he can.
Psycho for Perreault
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Laffy was right there on a goal by Copp. Copp, one of our best players. Kakko was put on a line with 2 guys who sell out for hits at every turn resulting in the other team in constant transition. What do you want him to do? Go to the net and be offsides cause the play on that line is always going to be in the other zone?
LORDE
I am Lorde, YA YA YA
I want him to not be a detriment on the ice...
Maybe make a couple of plays... make a pass, win a puck battle, score a goal?!?!?! Something.
You know... the kinda shit hockey players do.
He's been either injured or disappointing since we drafted him.
He's been nearly invisible in most games this post season (other than the non goal vs Pitt and missed opportunities in this series including a wide open net).
You wanna stand up for him? Fine. He deserves 4th line or scratch status and if Blais / Goodrow were healthy I'd bet he would be watching in a suit.
HatTrick Swayze
Just Be Nice
?? He has done this many times in this PO run. A lot more than in the regular season. He has stepped up for sure.
At 5v5 Kakko is 5th among forwards in CF%, 4th in SCF %, 4th in HDCF %, 3rd in xGF%. Yea, Chytil and Lafreniere are right there with him. And maybe you can argue they are driving that line. But the fact remains that Kakko has been part of one of the most consistently dangerous lines for the NYR in these playoffs. He has been one of the best forwards on the team at protecting the puck.
It seems to me like people are making one bad miss in G1 color their entire perspective on Kakko. Similar to how they let a few brutal turnovers from JT Miller bias their view of how good Miller's production was with the NYR.
RagFinMet
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- Jan 5, 2019
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You have a short memory
The kid line was our best line most of these playoffs and KK was a big part of that. His possession down low helped that line cycle and keep the puck in the O zone.
Him being placed on the 4th line is a disaster. That player needs speed whether it be motte or hunt.
It's a horrible fit.
I definitely think his confidence is very low since he missed the empty netter.
He does need to snap out of it but he wont playing with roo and reav
Put him back with laf and chy or play a hunt one game
A few games on the fourth line to work on some basics does not hurt (in principle). It did wonders for Laffy and Chytil to get their physical involvement and game flow up. The problem is more the timing is awkward with the games being in the playoffs. Kakko's also has had some great looks this series but he's not confident in front of goal (#justroofitkaapo) and maybe the coaches got irritated. It is the playoffs after all.
KAKKO BANG. KAKKO CRUSH. KAKKO SMESH! Kaapo needs to use that big body of his.
EdJovanovski
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LORDE
I am Lorde, YA YA YA
Sorry but it's not short memory... his cycle down low? His possession metrics?
Jesus people will do or say anything to defend their fav player(s).
He was horrific last night and when Chytil and Laff have been w other players they still at the very least, APPEAR to be trying.
I only see Kakko pretending to be a hockey player.
I do remember the one really good cycle he had down low a game or two ago... is that what we should all hang our hats on? It didn't lead to anything other than killing time.
Jesus people will do or say anything to defend their fav player(s).
He was horrific last night and when Chytil and Laff have been w other players they still at the very least, APPEAR to be trying.
I only see Kakko pretending to be a hockey player.
I do remember the one really good cycle he had down low a game or two ago... is that what we should all hang our hats on? It didn't lead to anything other than killing time.
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EdJovanovski
#FreeRempe
He was supposed to get more than that in his rookie season though lmao. The goalposts keep moving to justify his play. Going back and reading threads about him during the World Championships and leading up to the 2019 season… is just absolutely depressing
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He has to work on and trust his shot. He cannot solely rely on dangling the puck into the net
Fitzy
Very Stable Genius
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Oh for sure.
I'm on team bridge, and if some team offers him a Kotkaniemi, let him go.
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If there were a chance to land a youngish top6 center, he'd become available IMO
There's just limited selection.... and they'd cost a lot
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Inferno
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Fitzy
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Well we can talk about justifying it or not- I don't think a single person here is going to contest that his projected ceiling has gone way down since selected. That's life.
The matter at hand is what role he could play on this team moving forward, what that is worth in terms of investment, and what the opportunity cost of trading him would be.
At d+4 you might as well have been drafted in the 2nd or 3rd round. If you ignore his initial projections and draft position, the matter at hand is what is he going to be now?
EdJovanovski
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dshea19
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If Kakko scores that open goal in game 1 and put home the chance he had early in game 3 (both in this series against Carolina), we are not talking about his play. I think he might be gripping the stick a little tight right now and not finishing his chances, but he is doing his job defensively. I do wish he had a higher gear because his acceleration is terrible. His overall speed is fine, it just takes too long to get there. However, his game is made for the playoffs. The top lines always want to score off of the rush. The kid line does the hard work and cycles, which is why they are often dangerous and the other lines can look useless at times. This is also the reason why Kakko can look lost with the other lines. His game is not a good fit for the run and gun guys. This is probably why the Panarin supposedly doesn't like playing with him. Their games are very different.
I think this is also why Laf has had a hard time at points with this team. His game better matches with Chytil and Kakko than it does with the guys who just want to blaze up the ice. You are seeing 3 guys who work the boards and cycle. Kreider and Copp are the only guys that consistently do that on the top lines. I really wonder how well that line would work with Copp as the C vs Chytil. Chytil's shooting percentage (5.9%) is his lowest in his 3 seasons as a regular player. That is terrible news for the moment, but hopeful news for the future considering he should go back to roughly 10% or 11%. He is already better in these playoffs at around 8.7%.
A temporary time on the 4th line is no big deal. He took it like a champ and played hard. He really does need to get a skating coach to work on acceleration. His agility and edge work are great, but he needs to get up to speed faster.
I think this is also why Laf has had a hard time at points with this team. His game better matches with Chytil and Kakko than it does with the guys who just want to blaze up the ice. You are seeing 3 guys who work the boards and cycle. Kreider and Copp are the only guys that consistently do that on the top lines. I really wonder how well that line would work with Copp as the C vs Chytil. Chytil's shooting percentage (5.9%) is his lowest in his 3 seasons as a regular player. That is terrible news for the moment, but hopeful news for the future considering he should go back to roughly 10% or 11%. He is already better in these playoffs at around 8.7%.
A temporary time on the 4th line is no big deal. He took it like a champ and played hard. He really does need to get a skating coach to work on acceleration. His agility and edge work are great, but he needs to get up to speed faster.
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