Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[LokiDog]

OK, I'll bite.

Which line has been better?

I mean, Zib, Kreider and Vatrano are 1, 4 and 5 on the team respectively in 5v5 points per 60… so that’s kind of an easy question considering the matchups Zib gets as well. Fox is also top five. Laf is the other.

Harder matchups? Check. More defensive responsibility? Check. More production? Check.

The kid line is a nice concept. It makes everyone feel warm and fuzzy about them having bright futures. They’ve been an average-to-good third line.

 

[Chaels Arms]

I mean, Zib, Kreider and Vatrano are 1, 4 and 5 on the team respectively in 5v5 points per 60… so that’s kind of an easy question considering the matchups Zib gets as well. Fox is also top five. Laf is the other.

So the kid line is our second best line after the Zibanejad line?

 

[LokiDog]

So the kid line is our second best line after the Zibanejad line?

Arguably. I misspoke. Fox isn’t top 5, he’s 6th in points 5v5 per 60.


Copp is 2nd.
Laf is 3rd.
Chytil is 7th.
Strome is 8th.
Panarin is 9th.
Kakko is 14th.

2, 8 & 9 vs 3, 7 & 14.

Imagine if our third line was actually just our third best line? and the fawning over the kids was just that?

Not saying the Panarin line has been good. Just saying the kids are clearly not #1 and they’re kind of arguable at best for #2.

 

[Chaels Arms]

Arguably. I misspoke. Fox isn’t top 5, he’s 6th in points 5v5 per 60.


Copp is 2nd.
Laf is 3rd.
Chytil is 7th.
Strome is 8th.
Panarin is 9th.
Kakko is 14th.

2, 8 & 9 vs 3, 7 & 14.

Imagine if our third line was actually just our third best line? and the fawning over the kids was just that?

Not saying the Panarin line has been good. Just saying the kids are clearly not #1 and they’re kind of arguable at best for #2.

Do we care at all about points scored against these lines or just pure output?

 

[LokiDog]

Do we care at all about points scored against these lines or just pure output?

I mean… the kid line was tied all 3 for the worst +/- on the team going into the game. Now Chytil is still tied for the worst and Laf and Kakko are each one behind. Any other narratives you want me to check on instead of doing it yourself?

We’ve gone from best line to maybe second best line, to maybe second best line with the most goals given up. Let’s continue.

 

[Chaels Arms]

 

[LokiDog]

View attachment 553413View attachment 553414View attachment 553415View attachment 553416

Quality of competition? These numbers, without context wouldn’t make them our best line and with context, certainly don’t. I never said they’ve been bad. Not once.

I said, as has been my stance all along, every time they show any sort of pulse we cream our pants over them and start throwing around phrases like “best line hands down” and “needs to be our second line next year”. This isn’t doing anyone any good; it’s just pumping tires and keeping expectations unrealistically high for what the kids have shown to be so far. That’s really all I’ve said throughout.

 

[LionsHeart]

Total 5v5 points/60

1. Svechnikov - 1.69
2. Patrick: - 0.64
3. Laine - 1.35
4. Eichel - 2.04
5. Reinhart - 1.44
6. Barkov - 2.31
7. Landeskog - 2.36
8. Seguin - 1.97
9. JVR - 1.94
10. J. Staal - 1.94
11. Ryan - 1.92

Kakko - 1.58

I would rather Kakko be a bust and just be a better Jesper Fast on our 3rd line than trade him to a team that knows how to develop prospects and watch him become Mark Stone. I don't want to be the Senators looking at Zibanejad

That last point is exactly what I’m afraid of and what I think would happen.

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

The Rangers are in game 7 of round 2. If you're not all that happy with the kid line, what Rangers have met/exceeded your expectations during the playoffs?

Igor, Mika, KAM?

Legit wondering. Not trying to continue a fight.

 

[Leonardo87]

So wait, does Shesty have more points than Kakko now in the playoffs? Damn! At least Laf and Chytil are producing somewhat. 2 out of 3 ain’t bad.

 

[Inferno]

Quality of competition? These numbers, without context wouldn’t make them our best line and with context, certainly don’t. I never said they’ve been bad. Not once.

I said, as has been my stance all along, every time they show any sort of pulse we cream our pants over them and start throwing around phrases like “best line hands down” and “needs to be our second line next year”. This isn’t doing anyone any good; it’s just pumping tires and keeping expectations unrealistically high for what the kids have shown to be so far. That’s really all I’ve said throughout.

Yes Mr buzz Killington, some of the expectations are too high .. but some are warranted.

They're a line made up entirely of kids that have more or less carried the play during the playoffs

They've scored huge goals, they've never looked disinterested or pulled up on a 50 50 puck. They get almost no power play minutes or penalty kill minutes, and yet every time they're on the ice we, the ridiculously biased announcers, and the rest of the team take notice.

A line where a 22 year old is be far the most experienced player on that line shows the ability to play a speed game, a transition game, a board game and the ability to defend and no fear whatsoever of the moment.

So you keep being you. The rest of us will be thoroughly impressed by them.

 

[LokiDog]

The Rangers are in game 7 of round 2. If you're not all that happy with the kid line, what Rangers have met/exceeded your expectations during the playoffs?

Igor, Mika, KAM?

Legit wondering. Not trying to continue a fight.

There’s a difference between being content with the kid line’s play and being wowed by it. Obviously last night was good, but in general, all I have said was that they’ve been fine and that I haven’t seen any “whoa, the kids are breaking out” moments happening, nor do I feel like they’ve been our “best” line or that it’s a necessity for them to stay together and become our 2nd line next year. This thread has been about Kakko, but this applies to all of them. Laf has been given a break because he’s the least experienced, plays the most physically engaged brand of hockey and almost hit 20 even strength goals as a sophomore. Last night was encouraging for the group.


Igor
Mika
Miller
Lindgren
Copp good despite injured
Fox for the most part despite injured
Goodrow when he’s played
Braun is fine in his role
Schneider is fine for his experience
Reaves is fine for what he is, shouldn’t dress
Rooney is fine for what he is
Lafreniere has been fine + engaged
Vatrano has been fine
Chytil has been fine
Kakko has been fine

Kreider is missing
Panarin is trash
Strome is trash
Trouba is 50/50 but makes back breaking mistakes


Rooney and Reaves and even Vatrano, you can’t really expect them to be better. They are what they are. Braun and Schneider aren’t perfect but for one rookie and one who was brought in as a 7D, they’re fine.

I think that obviously, as it was all year, Igor is the main reason we are where are. Mika has been big. Fox playing hurt is still good. Copp playing hurt is still pretty good. We’re already in the ECF if Kreider or Panarin were playing 50% as well as usual.

 

[Row I Goon]

The kid line could discover the cure for cancer and some blokes here would still complain that they’ve put oncologists out of work……

FFS lighten up, were at game 7 of the second round - !

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

There’s a difference between being content with the kid line’s play and being wowed by it. Obviously last night was good, but in general, all I have said was that they’ve been fine and that I haven’t seen any “whoa, the kids are breaking out” moments happening, nor do I feel like they’ve been our “best” line or that it’s a necessity for them to stay together and become our 2nd line next year. This thread has been about Kakko, but this applies to all of them. Laf has been given a break because he’s the least experienced, plays the most physically engaged brand of hockey and almost hit 20 even strength goals as a sophomore. Last night was encouraging for the group.


Igor
Mika
Miller
Lindgren
Copp good despite injured
Fox for the most part despite injured
Goodrow when he’s played
Braun is fine in his role
Schneider is fine for his experience
Reaves is fine for what he is, shouldn’t dress
Rooney is fine for what he is
Lafreniere has been fine + engaged
Vatrano has been fine
Chytil has been fine
Kakko has been fine

Kreider is missing
Panarin is trash
Strome is trash
Trouba is 50/50 but makes back breaking mistakes


Rooney and Reaves and even Vatrano, you can’t really expect them to be better. They are what they are. Braun and Schneider aren’t perfect but for one rookie and one who was brought in as a 7D, they’re fine.

I think that obviously, as it was all year, Igor is the main reason we are where are. Mika has been big. Fox playing hurt is still good. Copp playing hurt is still pretty good. We’re already in the ECF if Kreider or Panarin were playing 50% as well as usual.

And I don't disagree with most of that.

 

[RagFinMet]

How about we agree dollar for dollar the kid line has been the best
Or they been the best when it comes to expectations
I love the line in the o zone
Not so much in the d zone

 

[tlk]

How about we agree dollar for dollar the kid line has been the best
Or they been the best when it comes to expectations
I love the line in the o zone
Not so much in the d zone

They did the D against the Crosby line

 

[RagFinMet]

Need your best captions please



"Maybe those losers down in Carolina prefer Taco Bell. But not me"
Kaapo Kakko Taco coming to a Chipotle near u soon

 

[TheDirtyH]

LoL, what a handful of games on the 2nd line and 20 seconds of PP a game?

He absolutely has not had good opportunities. The time he did play with Panarins he was scoring points, then he got injured or whatever happened.

Generally don't want any part in this Convo anymore but came to just point the same thing out. Last time Panarin was on his other wing he was wrapping up an 8 game point streak (all at 5v5).

Yes Mr buzz Killington, some of the expectations are too high .. but some are warranted.

They're a line made up entirely of kids that have more or less carried the play during the playoffs

They've scored huge goals, they've never looked disinterested or pulled up on a 50 50 puck. They get almost no power play minutes or penalty kill minutes, and yet every time they're on the ice we, the ridiculously biased announcers, and the rest of the team take notice.

A line where a 22 year old is be far the most experienced player on that line shows the ability to play a speed game, a transition game, a board game and the ability to defend and no fear whatsoever of the moment.

So you keep being you. The rest of us will be thoroughly impressed by them.

GOAT post.

 

[jerseyjinx94]

There’s a difference between being content with the kid line’s play and being wowed by it. Obviously last night was good, but in general, all I have said was that they’ve been fine and that I haven’t seen any “whoa, the kids are breaking out” moments happening, nor do I feel like they’ve been our “best” line or that it’s a necessity for them to stay together and become our 2nd line next year. This thread has been about Kakko, but this applies to all of them. Laf has been given a break because he’s the least experienced, plays the most physically engaged brand of hockey and almost hit 20 even strength goals as a sophomore. Last night was encouraging for the group.


Igor
Mika
Miller
Lindgren
Copp good despite injured
Fox for the most part despite injured
Goodrow when he’s played
Braun is fine in his role
Schneider is fine for his experience
Reaves is fine for what he is, shouldn’t dress
Rooney is fine for what he is
Lafreniere has been fine + engaged
Vatrano has been fine
Chytil has been fine
Kakko has been fine

Kreider is missing
Panarin is trash
Strome is trash
Trouba is 50/50 but makes back breaking mistakes


Rooney and Reaves and even Vatrano, you can’t really expect them to be better. They are what they are. Braun and Schneider aren’t perfect but for one rookie and one who was brought in as a 7D, they’re fine.

I think that obviously, as it was all year, Igor is the main reason we are where are. Mika has been big. Fox playing hurt is still good. Copp playing hurt is still pretty good. We’re already in the ECF if Kreider or Panarin were playing 50% as well as usual.

I don’t understand why you qualify Schneider and Braun’s play with for a rookie and a guy brought in to be a 7D, but you refuse to qualify the kid line, which was expected to be run over in the playoffs and has been consistently stealing pucks in the neutral zone and generating scoring chances.

 

[bleedblue94]

I don’t understand why you qualify Schneider and Braun’s play with for a rookie and a guy brought in to be a 7D, but you refuse to qualify the kid line, which was expected to be run over in the playoffs and has been consistently stealing pucks in the neutral zone and generating scoring chances.

My guess is Schneider paid half an NHL season and the "kid line" has a 5th year nhler, and 3rd year nhler, and a 2nd year nhler on it. It literally has 10 years of NHL experience on is and while Braun is a vet Schneider has 43 regular season games to his credit and has been the only one on the 3rd pair that has been there all playoffs

 

[egelband]

Need your best captions please

View attachment 553521

"Maybe those losers down in Carolina prefer Taco Bell. But not me"
Kaapo Kakko Taco coming to a Chipotle near u soon

Kari Takko is disappointed.

 

[LokiDog]

I don’t understand why you qualify Schneider and Braun’s play with for a rookie and a guy brought in to be a 7D, but you refuse to qualify the kid line, which was expected to be run over in the playoffs and has been consistently stealing pucks in the neutral zone and generating scoring chances.

As @bleedblue94 already summed it up. I was asked why I was disappointed with the kids. I said I wasn’t disappointed - I simply wasn’t wowed as some people are acting either. I was asked how I could be content with the play of other guys. It’s because there are different expectations for each player. Do I love Rooney or Braun? No, but I have limited expectations of them and the roles they play and they’re playing them adequately. Same for Schneider. He has barely 50 games of NHL experience. I have different expectations for the kid line - and for each of the kids - and similar to how Braun has been “fine for a vet depth D” or Schneider has been “fine for a rookie” I simply feel that Chytil has been “fine for a fifth year 1st round pick” and that Kakko has been “fine for a third year 2nd overall pick” which is actually generous for KK since he has 1 goal and 1 assist in 13 games, but I will give him credit for being part of a line that has played well. I have never said they haven’t. I simply said that those saying they’ve been “fantastic” and “hands down our best line all playoffs” may be wearing blue tinted glasses.

If I had the same expectations for Rooney and KK or Laf, that would be pretty damning of our 2nd/3rd year bluest blue chip prospects. When I say Rooney has been fine for his role and Chytil has been fine for his, it’s not because they’re playing the sanr,it’s because they, rightly, have different expectations. Both have played their roles well enough. I don’t think either has been exceeding expectations, but that doesn’t mean I think Rooney and Chytil are interchangeable.

 

[bleedblue94]

As @bleedblue94 already summed it up. I was asked why I was disappointed with the kids. I said I wasn’t disappointed - I simply wasn’t wowed as some people are acting either. I was asked how I could be content with the play of other guys. It’s because there are different expectations for each player. Do I love Rooney or Braun? No, but I have limited expectations of them and the roles they play and they’re playing them adequately. Same for Schneider. He has barely 50 games of NHL experience. I have different expectations for the kid line - and for each of the kids - and similar to how Braun has been “fine for a vet depth D” or Schneider has been “fine for a rookie” I simply feel that Chytil has been “fine for a fifth year 1st round pick” and that Kakko has been “fine for a third year 2nd overall pick” which is actually generous for KK since he has 1 goal and 1 assist in 13 games, but I will give him credit for being part of a line that has played well. I have never said they haven’t. I simply said that those saying they’ve been “fantastic” and “hands down our best line all playoffs” may be wearing blue tinted glasses.

Zibs play has been massively underappreciated on this board. With how bad panarin has been teams have been able to just zone in on zibs and he has still been scoring and playing terrific 200' hockey. All this bullshit of zibs not being a 1c should be laid to rest. He's a net positive while other teams are zeroing in on him and game planning to stop him, that makes everyone else's job easier bc they have softer matchups, including panarin, and including the kid line

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

I mean....they were pretty damn good again! 4 shots for Chytl and a goal, 3 for Kakko and an assist. Laf with the PP point.

Best corsi on the team by a good amount. Continues to outperform line 2 in this regard, this time by 24%!

I think we spend a lot of time focusing on what they are not, and instead we need to think about what they are. On a team that is analytically awful, they continuously hold more than their own.

22, 21 and 20 years old. It's impressive. It just is.

 

[LionsHeart]

Nice turnover to set up the Chytil goal.