Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[SA16]

Laf has 5 pts in 12 games, 0 in his last 4, 18 total shots. and is one of the biggest offenders on the team of overpassing when in good shooting positions. Let’s not get carried away with his level of play in the postseason

 

[Brutananadilewski]

Please, if we did that the whole team would look like shit, Laf has emerged as a leader during the playoffs and is usually the only one looking to try an win a game.

Except for Zibs.

But that's the thing: Laf has taken that next step. Laf has earned PP time and should be bumped up to the 1st, if not the 2nd.

No one is saying that with respect to Kap. One noticeable/barely noticeable play a game doesn't warrant praise.

 

[bleedblue94]

Well I am not saying he was unlucky for 3 seasons, and he does need to improve his offense no doubt. Just saying I think he’s been better than his numbers have looked. And that he’s not replacement level.

This series I haven't seen him do anything to distinguish himself and that was after ra mediocre series against Pitt. I've been pretty outspoken about chytil and the fact he has no future here bc he's neither a 2c nor a 3c, but chytil has been 10x better in this series and the playoffs than kakko. Our expectations for kakko are dropping weekly much the way they started to for another recent first round flop. I'm not saying kakko can't be a great nhler, but right now he is about as bland as sugar free vanilla

 

[DanielBrassard]

Laf has 5 pts in 12 games, 0 in his last 4, 18 total shots. and is one of the biggest offenders on the team of overpassing when in good shooting positions. Let’s not get carried away with his level of play in the postseason

When he's 24 maybe he will reach 2 shots per game.

 

[bleedblue94]

Laf has 5 pts in 12 games, 0 in his last 4, 18 total shots. and is one of the biggest offenders on the team of overpassing when in good shooting positions. Let’s not get carried away with his level of play in the postseason

Contrasting that and his effort as a sophomore in his first playoff against others on this roster he has absolutely stood out in a positive way. No one is suggesting he is mcdavid.

 

[LokiDog]

Laf has 5 pts in 12 games, 0 in his last 4, 18 total shots. and is one of the biggest offenders on the team of overpassing when in good shooting positions. Let’s not get carried away with his level of play in the postseason

I thought this entire conversation started when I said not to get carried away with Kakko’s 2 points in 12 games, so… what’s your message here?

 

[IronBloodedLion]

This series I haven't seen him do anything to distinguish himself and that was after ra mediocre series against Pitt. I've been pretty outspoken about chytil and the fact he has no future here bc he's neither a 2c nor a 3c, but chytil has been 10x better in this series and the playoffs than kakko. Our expectations for kakko are dropping weekly much the way they started to for another recent first round flop. I'm not saying kakko can't be a great nhler, but right now he is about as bland as sugar free vanilla

I don’t agree that Kakko or Chytil was mediocre against Pittsburgh.

I also thought they played well in the 1st game against Carolina. The Rangers aren’t losing because of them. They’re losing because outside of Zibanejad their better players (especially that 2nd Line aren’t playing well).

 

[The Crypto Guy]

This series I haven't seen him do anything to distinguish himself and that was after ra mediocre series against Pitt. I've been pretty outspoken about chytil and the fact he has no future here bc he's neither a 2c nor a 3c, but chytil has been 10x better in this series and the playoffs than kakko. Our expectations for kakko are dropping weekly much the way they started to for another recent first round flop. I'm not saying kakko can't be a great nhler, but right now he is about as bland as sugar free vanilla

Chytil has barely done a thing this series. You cant seriously be bashing Kakko and saying Chytil has been 10x better.

 

[Savant]

Laf has 5 pts in 12 games, 0 in his last 4, 18 total shots. and is one of the biggest offenders on the team of overpassing when in good shooting positions. Let’s not get carried away with his level of play in the postseason

Honestly I think, people are more excited about what Lafreniere is doing because Kakko has been so wretched and people are desperate for those two to work out

 

[bleedblue94]

I don’t agree that Kakko or Chytil was mediocre against Pittsburgh.

I also thought they played well in the 1st game against Carolina. The Rangers aren’t losing because of them. They’re losing because outside of Zibanejad their better players (especially that 2nd Line aren’t playing well).

Carolinas top players haven't been good, more realistically the top two lines on each team get checked to hell and your players beyond your top guys make the difference. People want to make kakko out to be a top 6 rw yet he can't be effective when he's not even a focus for the other teams. And I'm sick of this bs argument of how can he be good when he's playing with shitty players. If zegras, Hughes, or whatever other top pick was playing on a 4th line with 4th line caliber players than that line wouldn't actually be the 4th line bc those kind of players standout and elevate the players around them. Kakko is val nischukin prior to 2021 season. That's a disappointment.

 

[Savant]

My wife knows pretty little overall about hockey. More than the average non-HF poster, I guess. But she looks at me and goes “they should trade Kakko while people still think he has potential. If Reaves doesn’t fight, what’s the difference between Kakko and Reaves?”

She doesn’t understand the significance of a #2OA, honestly, and I’m not saying that this was a particularly insightful take. Not am I actually advocating trading him. Teams need guys like Nichushkin and Armia and Lehkonen. The Lightning traded a lot for Goodrow, Coleman, Hagel, etc. These guys are valuable.

My point is… we should probably start thinking of Kakko as a bottom six player and stop with pretending theres an offensive star in there.

This is why they should have given Danault that exact year. That was the perfect linemate for Kakko.

Kakko does not fit stylistically well with any of the other lines. He is a square peg in a round hole here.

 

[Brutananadilewski]

Honestly I think, people are more excited about what Lafreniere is doing because Kakko has been so wretched and people are desperate for those two to work out

What?

Laf has played physical, has won puck battles, has created scoring chances. Even had a breakway in this game.

Laf is noticeable. With Kap, you have to pay closer attention and even then it's not much.

 

[bouds]

Chytil has barely done a thing this series. You cant seriously be bashing Kakko and saying Chytil has been 10x better.

Chytil has had some really good stretches last couple of years, but 21-22 was just not there for him. Know he's potted a couple of goals, but to me it feels like he's gone backwards.

 

[bleedblue94]

Chytil has barely done a thing this series. You cant seriously be bashing Kakko and saying Chytil has been 10x better.

Chytil has actually been a factor in games with his forecheck. Don't confuse a comment of how poor kakko has been for thinking it's a compliment to chytil.

Also, isn't it telling that our coaches decide to move our 3c up to 1rw rather than elevate the natural rw? Instead they drop that rw to the 4th line. I am absolutely not a chytil fan fyi, I've been pretty vocal that I don't think he has a future here.

 

[Savant]

What?

Laf has played physical, has won puck battles, has created scoring chances. Even had a breakway in this game.

Laf is noticeable. With Kap, you have to pay closer attention and even then it's not much.

They are both drastically underperforming. Lafreniere has been better but he hasn’t be good. This isn’t anything new

 

[LokiDog]

Chytil has had some really good stretches last couple of years, but 21-22 was just not there for him. Know he's potted a couple of goals, but to me it feels like he's gone backwards.

With Kakko, if you’re not a fanatic who posts at HF, it’s:

Is Kakko playing?

Dude, he’s playing, trust me bro.

 

[bouds]

With Kakko, if you’re not a fanatic who posts at HF, it’s:

Is Kakko playing?

Dude, he’s playing, trust me bro.

He's had stretches of good hockey, lots of injuries, but his foot speed is a big issue. Yeah, he's big and can protect the puck, but when he stops starts down low he doesn't separate. What good is protecting the puck with your body when you can't get separation from the defender, he's just going to pin you up against the wall eventually.

I know KK is tonight's whipping boy, but at least he back checked his ass off a few times and caused a few turnovers, not like he could do much else on that line.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Chytil leads the team in CF% and xGF% and shot rate, his problem is he just isn't that skilled unfortunately. But he's played well for the most part. At this point he is what he is.

 

[bouds]

Chytil leads the team in CF% and xGF% and shot rate, his problem is he just isn't that skilled unfortunately. But he's played well for the most part. At this point he is what he is.

Not sure what to say, he's certainly on the ice for some chance when the 3 of them were/are together, but I just don't see it with any of the young forwards. Maybe they'll be late bloomers, but that's usually the rare exception. Frustrating.

 

[mas0764]

They are both drastically underperforming. Lafreniere has been better but he hasn’t be good. This isn’t anything new

Nobody has done anything this series except Zibanejad.

 

[McRanger92]

I don't say this lightly, but Kakko's problem is that he's soft. He's got the size and skill to play a heavy game because we've seen it in flashes, but he gets taken out of the play far too easily.

And before anyone says anything, its not a European or a youth thing. Lafreniere & Chytil have been getting their noses dirty all playoffs and have played their games well despite their production not being great.

 

[Whoot Whoot]

he's not only playing badly he is regressing
what a disappointment so far

 

[B17 Apricots]

Some people just seem to be actively rooting against him, and although Kakko does do some things really well, he hasn’t shown that “wow factor” that Laf or even other players from his draft class have shown.

I still think he winds up a good player, and I don’t think this franchise did him any favors in his first 2 years, but he’s just not shown anything to live up to his draft position.

Idk I think people are just taking a narrative and running with it. The kid played 8 minutes tonight, maybe what 10 or less shifts? 3 shifts a period.. the kid that played 8 minutes is the one to point at?

I can't agree with the takes, he's looked solid on that kid line. KK was the unfortunate causality to get Motte more ice time. Mottes been a good spark plug, energetic, fast.. someone had to get bumped and KK was the one, really that simple. Neither of those lines have looked good since so it hasn't really worked out as hoped.

Kakkos ability to protect the puck and shield off defenders is incredibly impressive. Kreider has the physical tools to do it but the hands don't really match. The last player we had that's shown that ability was Hayes. KK has the hands, he's got good vision. The talents all there.

It's really as simple as getting these young dudes the minutes. Until then your just prolonging dealing with the growing pains and giving them experience they need. And it's tough, we haven't been like a traditional rebuild. Normally you can take kids like this feed them minutes, theres no expectations, let them deal with growing pains. Not here, even under this "rebuild", they're trying to win games in NY. They weren't committed to dealing with the growing pains. Take Laf, Kakko, Chytil.. whoever, stick them on some bottom team like Ottawa where they can play on the PP and get 18 minutes a night. The numbers will be there.

So for me I'm not worried about the numbers as much. Do I wish these guys were lighting it up, sure. Do I take the proper context with how this organization has been an outlier compared to how just about any prospect has been developed, 100%. We have guys ahead on the depth chart and its impacted how these guys have been developed.

End of the day Laf is one of the best kids to come outta Juniors in a few years, likewise Kakko is in the top tier of Finns to come out in a few years, these young guys time will come.

 

[mas0764]

I don't say this lightly, but Kakko's problem is that he's soft. He's got the size and skill to play a heavy game because we've seen it in flashes, but he gets taken out of the play far too easily.

And before anyone says anything, its not a European or a youth thing. Lafreniere & Chytil have been getting their noses dirty all playoffs and have played their games well despite their production not being great.

Some truth there … I think it’s his confidence

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I don't think he's been world beater but the 4th line isn't any better with Kakko and the 3rd line is noticeably worse without him. WTF is Gallant doing?