Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[LOFIN]

It's fair to look at Kakko and say his start to the season has been very poor. It's also fair to say we should be far more concerned about Zibanejad and Kreider, this team needs those two to perform. Once they start to come around we can shift our focus to Kakko.

 

[NickyFotiu]

At some point we need our young guys to lead the front of the pack not take the rear. Mika and CK may not be 24-28 year old type players that will carry their line at even strength anymore.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

It's fair to look at Kakko and say his start to the season has been very poor. It's also fair to say we should be far more concerned about Zibanejad and Kreider, this team needs those two to perform. Once they start to come around we can shift our focus to Kakko.

Why should I be concerned about a guy who has 8 goals in 11 games? His play has been fine. Zibs play has not but been good but he generally starts slow and picks it up. In any case why can't Kakko do something when he is on the ice. He's doing relatively nothing to generate scoring chances. Lavy has been patient but maybe a shakeup in lines may help.

 

[LOFIN]

Why should I be concerned about a guy who has 8 goals in 11 games? His play has been fine. Zibs play has not but been good but he generally starts slow and picks it up. In any case why can't Kakko do something when he is on the ice. He's doing relatively nothing to generate scoring chances. Lavy has been patient but maybe a shakeup in lines may help.

Because PP points are irrelevant in this discussion about 5v5 play. Guess what? We need to be able to score 5v5. You may be able to stay afloat with your special teams during the regular season (which we have done so far), but that's not going to fly in the playoffs. That's the biggest reason Edmonton fell to Vegas, they could not be bailed out by their godly PP.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Because PP points are irrelevant in this discussion about 5v5 play. Guess what? We need to be able to score 5v5. You may be able to stay afloat with your special teams during the regular season (which we have done so far), but that's not going to fly in the playoffs. That's the biggest reason Edmonton fell to Vegas, they could not be bailed out by their godly PP.

This discussion is not only about 5v5 play. This discussion is about why Kakko has performed so poorly early in the season. Kreider's play has been fine and he leads the team in scoring. Kakko is in his 4th year and his play shouldn't be predicated only on what his linemates do or don't do. Should they be holding his hand on the ice also? He needs to be doing something to maintain possession or drive play. He has done very little so far in this regard.

 

[LOFIN]

This discussion is not only about 5v5 play. This discussion is about why Kakko has performed so poorly early in the season. Kreider's play has been fine and he leads the team in scoring. Kakko is in his 4th year and his play shouldn't be predicated only on what his linemates do or don't do. Should they be holding his hand on the ice also? He needs to be doing something to maintain possession or drive play. He has done very little so far in this regard.

No, it really hasn't been.

If you really can't differentiate between point totals and 5v5 points, it's useless to continue this discussion.

 

[will1066]

This discussion is not only about 5v5 play. This discussion is about why Kakko has performed so poorly early in the season. Kreider's play has been fine and he leads the team in scoring. Kakko is in his 4th year and his play shouldn't be predicated only on what his linemates do or don't do. Should they be holding his hand on the ice also? He needs to be doing something to maintain possession or drive play. He has done very little so far in this regard.

Are you ok?

 

[PuckLuck3043]

Are you ok?

Great. Why?

 

[PuckLuck3043]

No, it really hasn't been.

If you really can't differentiate between point totals and 5v5 points, it's useless to continue this discussion.

It still doesn't absolve Kakko of his shitty play. He needs to actually do something to make the line better. He never drives play, he never goes to middle of the ice, and he constantly loses possession of the puck when he dipsy doodles near the boards but gets nothing accomplished.

 

[will1066]

Great. Why?

I just expected you to defend him.

 

[PuckLuck3043]

I just expected you to defend him.

I'll defend him when he does something this year. I defend the team because they win.

 

[LOFIN]

It still doesn't absolve Kakko of his shitty play.

Totally agree, he has been very bad to start the season and he has to look in the mirror. But I still maintain that at this point we should be far more concerned about how Mika and Kreider have looked, and not to absolve their horrible play because of PP points. Once they get their shit together, we can pick apart Kakko more.

 

[TGWL]

Totally agree, he has been very bad to start the season and he has to look in the mirror. But I still maintain that at this point we should be far more concerned about how Mika and Kreider have looked, and not to absolve their horrible play because of PP points. Once they get their shit together, we can pick apart Kakko more.

It's hard to do anything when your entire line and backend, generates less than 1.5 shots a game each. (5 on 5) Better make those shots count.

Now I think hits are poorly tracked as you never know if a bump will count as a hit or not, but according to the tracked stats, outside of Kreider that line has 2 hits, and 2 rebound created. They're 1 and done.

But yeah, individually he hasn't found success and hasn't looked very noticeable accept when protecting the puck.

 

[OrlandK]

Kakko cannot play with Kreider and Zibby. He has no role other than to hang by the boards. He can't skate well enough and he can't get to the net since Kreider goes there. He needs to get on another line. Sticking ones head in the ground and saying he needs to be on the first line and get first line minutes regardless of how he plays on this particular first line is ridiculous. Watching the actual game (vs analytics) he clearly doesn't even know what to do with himself on ice. His only really effective play in his entire time here was with Chytil and Laf when he was unencumbered and just playing his own game. No amount of time is likely to change that and blaming Kreider and Zibby is not going to change that. He is set up for failure. Taking a square peg and trying to fit it into a round hole is what we are doing here.

 

[haohmaru]

Unfortunately if his production continues like this it’s going to spur the Rangers pursuit of Kane further.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Fun Fact: Kaapo Kakko still has more 5v5 points than Mika Zibanejad

 

[mrmovies779]

KK now dropped to the 3rd lne..the writing is on the wall.Unless he gets it going,I can see him moved at the TDL

 

[Fitzy]

Unfortunately if his production continues like this it’s going to spur the Rangers pursuit of Kane further.

Probably, yes.

Our best hope now is that Kakko settles back into his groove on the 3rd line and turns it into a 35-45 point season, and that Wheeler is able to step up in the top 6 and do something.

With players missing from the lineup it's a good time to experiment with these new combinations.

If Wheeler, Laf, Kakko can settle in to the 1-2-3 on the right side, we won't feel the need to plug Kane in. So IMO the Kane question is more about what Wheeler can do than Kakko at this point.

 

[haohmaru]

Fun Fact: Kaapo Kakko still has more 5v5 points than Mika Zibanejad

And Vesey has more than both of them.

 

[OthmannOut]

poor kakko, but the right move.

 

[EdJovanovski]

It's fair to look at Kakko and say his start to the season has been very poor. It's also fair to say we should be far more concerned about Zibanejad and Kreider, this team needs those two to perform. Once they start to come around we can shift our focus to Kakko.

Kreider has 8g 10pts in 11gp. If Kakko had that Ranger fans would be boasting all over the main boards about how he broke out. I’m as big a critique of Mika as anybody, but those 2 guys are stars who have earned the benefit of the doubt when having a cold stretch. Kakko has never shown anything. It’s his D+5 and he’s been stapled to the top 6 this whole time and is on pace for the worst season of his career. He should be traded yesterday

 

[will1066]

Kakko cannot play with Kreider and Zibby. He has no role other than to hang by the boards. He can't skate well enough and he can't get to the net since Kreider goes there. He needs to get on another line. Sticking ones head in the ground and saying he needs to be on the first line and get first line minutes regardless of how he plays on this particular first line is ridiculous. Watching the actual game (vs analytics) he clearly doesn't even know what to do with himself on ice. His only really effective play in his entire time here was with Chytil and Laf when he was unencumbered and just playing his own game. No amount of time is likely to change that and blaming Kreider and Zibby is not going to change that. He is set up for failure. Taking a square peg and trying to fit it into a round hole is what we are doing here.

At 5v5, I've seen Kakko going to net more than Kreider does. He's gone to the net after he's dished the puck off or back to the point from the wall. The puck just never gets to the front of the net, though, with that trio.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

I just don’t get how the takeaway from this situation is “demote Kakko” and not “how is a theoretical cup contender generating fewer scoring chances per 60 than the San Jose Sharks and Chicago Blackhawks”. Thats not an advanced stat

 

[mrmovies779]

And Vesey has more than both of them.

Panda Pandy GIF - Panda Pandy Mr Pandy Bear - Discover & Share GIFs

Click to view the GIF

tenor.com

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Id like to see Cuylle with Kakko, but Bonino between them? Ugh.

Kakko had a real pedestrian set of games leading to this. Only himself to blame

Guess they are trying to get him some sheltered minutes and try to balance out the lines with the loss of Chytil. But man. This isnt good