Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[Amazing Kreiderman]

I mean.... I agree with you, but you were super super pumped for him before the season.... Mostly for how he handles kids...

He was the best coach available. He's a good coach, but not perfect.

 

[LoveGoons]

Kakko if healthy will score 20-25 goals.. but putting him on the 4th line is a disservice.. the only way to improve the 4th line was moving up goody and putting hunt in the 4th line.. strome playing was the reason that kakko sat. GG needed a back up plan at center..

 

[Charlie Conway]

Yeah, the instant gratification thing is overwhelming. Lots of players take a while to develop, especially big power forward types. He will still be 21 when next season starts.
Kakko will be a very good NHLer at the least. He’s certainly not untradeable, but if they do they had BETTER get value for him or we will be regretting it for a decade.

This is the point I have been belaboring.

With Laf and Kakko, we did not draft guys with those high-caliber skill sets or speed like a McDavid or MacKinnon.

It’s kind of been the Rangers m.o. the last few drafts, and it so happens the 1st and 2nd overall picks in those years fit those types.

We drafted two players that rely more on a different kind of game. It’s not so much finesse and speed as IQ and physicality.

I personally think it’s harder for those players to adjust to the NHL because size and work ethic is more consistent across NHL players, and it takes these players a bit more time to grow into their adult size as well as adjust to the speed of the NHL game.

The upside is that they may be ready to step right into the NHL faster since their game tends to be on the complete side, but the risk is that it takes them longer to develop their overall games and offense in the NHL instead of in juniors.

I think we’re seeing this with most of our young forwards. I think they’re getting there, but it’s taking time. The kid line’s playoff performance was a very big step forward.

 

[Kords]

Really wanna see him train with CK and the rest of the Rangers that go to Prentiss in the off season. Work on his speed and bond with his team mates. What he has done in Finland hasn't really translated on the Ice from what we've seen so far.

 

[AIexisLafreniereNYR]

You can see why we can never develop young guys into stars. I mean Lias wasn’t great but there was drama with him. Kravstov drama, and now Kaapo drama.

I would’ve had Laf and Kakko STAPLED on the top 6 since their rookie season. Instead of being buried on the 3rd and 4th line.

I just can’t believe Kakko was scratched. I’d imagine Chris Drury is NOT happy with Gerard Gallant for that move. Not only did he likely severely affect Kakko’s relationship with the rangers, but his value could be worsened by that move.

Can’t get over this move

 

[bleedblue94]

I mean im sure dallas said the same thing about Nichushkin.
Sometimes kids arent immediately world beaters.
But Ive seen flashes to know that kakko has upside that we're not getting yet.
Any move for kakko that doesn't bring back a clear 1c is a move we're going to absolutely regret.

If nichushkin was drafted 2nd overall with fans split over he and a player of Jack Hughes impact than they would've been disappointed as well. Cal was drafted 9th or 10th oa and he's has one better than good season to his career and it's this year which is his ufa contract year. If kakko follows nichushkin career ark it is a blown pick and blown development. There no spin to that. You don't draft val nichushkin 2oa

 

[Crease]

Feels like Kakko is about to get Porzingis’d.

 

[bleedblue94]

Stupidity.

Stupidity is jumping to conclusions without knowing what happened. Let's wait and see...

Feels like Kakko is about to get Porzingis’d.

Porzingis was actually good

You can see why we can never develop young guys into stars. I mean Lias wasn’t great but there was drama with him. Kravstov drama, and now Kaapo drama.

I would’ve had Laf and Kakko STAPLED on the top 6 since their rookie season. Instead of being buried on the 3rd and 4th line.

I just can’t believe Kakko was scratched. I’d imagine Chris Drury is NOT happy with Gerard Gallant for that move. Not only did he likely severely affect Kakko’s relationship with the rangers, but his value could be worsened by that move.

Can’t get over this move

If you think Drury didn't know that turk was planning to do that than you don't understand how coach and gm relationships have evolved over the past couple decades. No coach has that autonomy now on such a high profile decision for reasons exactly like what's happened the last 16 hours. Again, wait and see the reasoning, we don't have the fully picture yet...

 

[SA16]

There’s no drama. It’s just the coach being rude to the media as usual. That and the fanbase getting pissed off anytime Laf/Kakko aren’t in the top six getting big mins let alone a scratch. Lundell was scratched. Burakovsky was scratched for multiple games. No drama there. Those guys are even more important to their teams.

 

[djzbad]

It’s all speculation but it appears it was down to Kakko and Hunt for that last spot and maybe Kakko had first dibs but didn’t take kindly to being on the 4th line so Hunt went in? Just trying to understand where the potential issue was to spark any fallout if there indeed was one

 

[Kords]

There’s no drama. It’s just the coach being rude to the media as usual. Lundell was scratched. Burakovsky was scratched for multiple games. No drama there. Those guys are even more important to their teams.

100% agree

 

[Mac n Gs]

Some of y’all trying to manifest situations with him leaving is pretty weird, but I guess this offseason is gonna be full of a million posts related to moving Kakko.

There were pages and pages of posts this year talking about how Drury irreparably damaged the relationship with Kravtsov and how we pissed away an asset for nothing and he just signed an extension.

 

[LOFIN]

It’s all speculation but it appears it was down to Kakko and Hunt for that last spot and maybe Kakko had first dibs but didn’t take kindly to being on the 4th line so Hunt went in? Just trying to understand where the potential issue was to spark any fallout if there indeed was one

Kakko has had no issues playing the 4th line before

 

[haohmaru]

Honestly, I'd have little to no problem with Kakko being scratched last night if Strome weren't as gimped as he was. He had no business playing unless he tweaked something early on that I missed.

 

[Cmox]

Im pretty sure the presser was like that bc it was minutes after they just lost the series after a great run.

 

[McRanger92]

I would’ve had Kakko in but he is slow and has been weak on the puck. Using the scratch as a reason to say Gallant is a terrible coach or should be fired is comical.

As for Kakko, I’ve been saying all year, I don’t see the offensive upside with him unless he changes his game to play a more net front style. He’s got the size and skill for it but he’s too soft.

 

[Calad]

Kakko needed to show more this postseason. He was a one trick pony and once Tampa adjusted to the trap he was invisible. Kakko was also pretty invisible vs Carolina.

 

[djzbad]

More than half of your posts are speculative bullshit about what happened with Kakko. Nothing happened. Gallant went galaxy brain and played a gimp Strome.

If something did happen and it comes out, then we can discuss the situation. Until then, take off the tinfoil hat.

Nah I’ll keep executing my right to speak freely as I please like everyone else, funny how my posts are such trash yet they get plenty of likes? Maybe you guys should try not flexing internet tough guy mob tactics on anyone you feel like picking a meaningless fight with

The whole board and every thread on it is full of speculation and opinions some of which belong to the lot of you trying to throw stones from your glass houses

Always gotta start a problem for no reason

 

[DuneGoon84]

Kakko needed to show more this postseason. He was a one trick pony and once Tampa adjusted to the trap he was invisible. Kakko was also pretty invisible vs Carolina.

You are wrong on so many levels. Kk was the only player with any semblance of puck control in the offensive zone. We sucked severely in that department last night. Blinders and narrative is all I read here.

 

[Calad]

You are wrong on so many levels. Kk was the only player with any semblance of puck control in the offensive zone. We sucked severely on that department last night. Blinders and narrative is all I read here.

LOL. The rangers weren't able to get to the puck in the bolts zone. Trap made it impossible to skate in with possession so we had to play dump and chase. Kakko showed no chase so we weren't able to control the puck. I said he was a one trick pony. He was able to control the puck below the goal line all postseason, that was it. But we weren't able to get there. We needed speed and a heavy forecheck to be able to break the trap and Kakko was doing none of that

 

[DuneGoon84]

LOL. The rangers weren't able to get to the puck in the bolts zone. Trap made it impossible to skate in with possession so we had to play dump and chase. Kakko showed no chase so we weren't able to control the puck. I said he was a one trick pony. He was able to control the puck below the goal line all postseason, that was it. But we weren't able to get there. We needed speed and a heavy forecheck to be able to break the trap and Kakko was doing none of that

We all saw how successful hunt , Rooney and strome were at it...

 

[Calad]

We all saw how successful hunt , Rooney and strome were at it...

Kakko 100% should have played over Strome. Doesn't mean Kakko has played well.

 

[GENESISPuck94]

Look what Kakko did at the World Championship right before we drafted him.

When he matures, gains his man strength, grows more confidence in himself, he is going to be hard to contain. He's already hard to get off the puck when he's cycling down low. He's still an awkward early 20s kid that's not 100% sure of himself yet.

Kovalev was a lot like that. Got a lot of shit from this fan base and from coaches like Keenan. "Enigmatic", "lazy", "selfish", "soft Euro" all the typical cliche nonsense was thrown at Kovalev also. "With his talent he should be scoring 120 points every season". Doesn't change the fact he was huge part of a Cup winning team and IMO should be in the HOF.

Kakko is getting the same shit from this fan base and coach. Maybe put him in position to succeed and let him grow and learn and not have to walk on egg shells that every mistake he makes means benching or scratches and we won't be having these conversations. That's not how you develop players. That's why this organization has been garbage at developing forwards. Because of some self diluted holier than thou sense of pride that over glorified grinding junk like Glass, Hunt, Goodrow, and dare I say it going back to Callahan are more important because they run around like chickens with their damn heads cut off, but they lack any sort of high end ability.

This organization will NEVER develop those high end forwards because they kick them out tye door long before they have a chance to develop into what they can and they're not given the same fair shake.

 

[Kupo]

Nah I’ll keep executing my right to speak freely as I please like everyone else, funny how my posts are such trash yet they get plenty of likes? Maybe you guys should try not flexing internet tough guy mob tactics on anyone you feel like picking a meaningless fight with

The whole board and every thread on it is full of speculation and opinions some of which belong to the lot of you trying to throw stones from your glass houses

Always gotta start a problem for no reason

First you think Kakko’s In hot water cause of the way Gallant responded in the presser.

Then you said he wasn’t liked by his teammates and he’s an awkward loner.

You then assume a situation happened that shook up the locker room because the players were angry in the presser.

You then assume it was up to Kakko or Hunt for that last spot on the 4th line and Kakko didn’t take kindly to it.

You’re literally just making stuff up. I’m not trying to censor you. I’m pointing out that nobody knows if anything happened, and throwing out random situations is pointless.

 

[DuneGoon84]

Look what Kakko did at the World Championship right before we drafted him.

When he matures, gains his man strength, grows more confidence in himself, he is going to be hard to contain. He's already hard to get off the puck when he's cycling down low. He's still an awkward early 20s kid that's not 100% sure of himself yet.

Kovalev was a lot like that. Got a lot of shit from this fan base and from coaches like Keenan. "Enigmatic", "lazy", "selfish", "soft Euro" all the typical cliche nonsense was thrown at Kovalev also. "With his talent he should be scoring 120 points every season". Doesn't change the fact he was huge part of a Cup winning team and IMO should be in the HOF.

Kakko is getting the same shit from this fan base and coach. Maybe put him in position to succeed and let him grow and learn and not have to walk on egg shells that every mistake he makes means benching or scratches and we won't be having these conversations. That's not how you develop players. That's why this organization has been garbage at developing forwards. Because of some self diluted holier than thou sense of pride that over glorified grinding junk like Glass, Hunt, Goodrow, and dare I say it going back to Callahan are more important because they run around like chickens with their damn heads cut off, but they lack any sort of high end ability.

This organization will NEVER develop those high end forwards because they kick them out tye door long before they have a chance to develop into what they can and they're not given the same fair shake.

KK will be a beast in a couple of years. Once he works on his skating and gains confidence he will be a puck controlling machine. People don't have foresight to see this. He has already shown signs of this.