Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[tlk]

doghousesituation

I wholeheartedly agree

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

A big issue with Kakko this season seems to be his off-season training. I don't know if he decided to lose weight to get a step faster, but he has not been his normal strong bull like self in the corners this year. He was getting knocked off the puck and knocked down in the corners with for more regularity than in previous seasons. I don't know if he was already banged up before the injury the other day, but he just didn't seem to be able to keep his feet and protect the puck. The injury itself was another example of him not being as sturdy as usual along the boards. I hope this rehab period allows him to build back some of that missing strength.

I would think however he decided to train this offseason was not quite right. Or he injured himself early in the season and was already playing through some other nagging lower body injury.

I’ve also noticed Kakko falling a lot but I think it’s just because he’s going all out every shift. He looked like he was taking every battle along the wall possible this year, even one’s where he didn’t have favorable body position. Very similar to Kravtsov last year where you have a guy who is very clearly throwing his body on the line doing all the little things to help the team win, and the numbers reflect it, yet everyone hates him.

Meanwhile Micheletti is aggressively riding Boninos cock every time he sprawls out and blocks a shot, limps around for a minute and gives up a high danger chance anyway

 

[RangerBoy]

what else do you need to know? He's injured. He'll be out for some time. Updates will be provided about expected return dates (you can assume). Why are specifics required?

When Fox was injured, it was reported he would be out 2-4 weeks. The Rangers put Fox on LTIR so it became 4 weeks. 24 days and 10 games. Tonight is the end of that period.

The Rangers haven't leaked anything on Kakko. Arthur Staple reported the 2-4 week time period for Fox.

The media and fans won't be asking the questions. Kakko will be out for 10 weeks. 12 weeks. 6 weeks. 8 weeks. Just say it. Nobody will ask Laviolette. People knew the 4 week time period for Fox. Someone leaked it.

 

[Mike in Houston]

From the Post Sports+ paywall:

"At the very least, though, this represents a major setback for the 2019 second-overall pick.

That is on top of the first 20 games of the season in which Kakko lost his grasp on the first-line right wing slot and had been playing on the third line with Nick Bonino as his center for the past 10 matches. He had only two goals and one assist while averaging 13:33 of ice time per.

That complement of ice time represents the lowest of his five-year career, 1:45 below his average a year ago, 44 seconds below the 14:17 he averaged as a rookie playing for David Quinn."

Funny how things get overlooked when the team has the best record in the league. Fire Quinn!

 

[GENESISPuck94]

From the Post Sports+ paywall:

"At the very least, though, this represents a major setback for the 2019 second-overall pick.

That is on top of the first 20 games of the season in which Kakko lost his grasp on the first-line right wing slot and had been playing on the third line with Nick Bonino as his center for the past 10 matches. He had only two goals and one assist while averaging 13:33 of ice time per.

That complement of ice time represents the lowest of his five-year career, 1:45 below his average a year ago, 44 seconds below the 14:17 he averaged as a rookie playing for David Quinn."

Funny how things get overlooked when the team has the best record in the league. Fire Quinn!

This is one of the reasons I wanted him to start getting some PK time. I think he would have done fine on the PK and that could have gotten him some extra ice time.

 

[RangerBoy]

This is one of the reasons I wanted him to start getting some PK time. I think he would have done fine on the PK and that could have gotten him some extra ice time.

The Kings were using Kempe on the PK before he broke out offensively.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

The Kings were using Kempe on the PK before he broke out offensively.

Kempe is like the opposite type of player though. Speedy sniper.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

This is one of the reasons I wanted him to start getting some PK time. I think he would have done fine on the PK and that could have gotten him some extra ice time.

Kakko on one of the top 2 PK lines is an obvious move that they continuously refuse to make. Best defensive forward on the team and he’s barely playing as is.

 

[will1066]

A big issue with Kakko this season seems to be his off-season training. I don't know if he decided to lose weight to get a step faster, but he has not been his normal strong bull like self in the corners this year. He was getting knocked off the puck and knocked down in the corners with for more regularity than in previous seasons. I don't know if he was already banged up before the injury the other day, but he just didn't seem to be able to keep his feet and protect the puck. The injury itself was another example of him not being as sturdy as usual along the boards. I hope this rehab period allows him to build back some of that missing strength.

I would think however he decided to train this offseason was not quite right. Or he injured himself early in the season and was already playing through some other nagging lower body injury.

Hey, welcome back. Hadn't seen you around much.

 

[will1066]

Kakko on one of the top 2 PK lines is an obvious move that they continuously refuse to make. Best defensive forward on the team and he’s barely playing as is.

I get it, however Lavi deploys the Kreider and Zib pair for SHG chances. He's got shot-blocker Bonino in his toolbox. He's got muckers like Goodrow and Vesey, the latter brings a bit of speed -- faster than Kakko anyway. I'm sure there are intricacies to penalty killing that go beyond being just a good defensive forward.

 

[clmetsfan]

The lack of transparency about these injuries is brutal. Fans legitimately have a right to know what’s going on with these players.

Why? What right do we have to know a stranger's medical condition beyond whether or not he's able to play?

 

[NYRFAN218]

Why? What right do we have to know a stranger's medical condition beyond whether or not he's able to play?

I'd make the argument that the league being in bed with all of these gambling partners should mean they should be straight up and transparent about any and every single injury. Just making up an example but if Igor got hurt in practice today and the Rangers were secretive about it and played it off as a short term thing when in reality it's a month plus, that's an incredibly bad look as the leagues partners and networks push you to take a Rangers Presidents Trophy bet. The NFL does it right with their weekly injury reports and fines for non-compliance.

 

[GAGLine]

I'd make the argument that the league being in bed with all of these gambling partners should mean they should be straight up and transparent about any and every single injury. Just making up an example but if Igor got hurt in practice today and the Rangers were secretive about it and played it off as a short term thing when in reality it's a month plus, that's an incredibly bad look as the leagues partners and networks push you to take a Rangers Presidents Trophy bet. The NFL does it right with their weekly injury reports and fines for non-compliance.

Like with most things, the NHL likely doesn't have the ability to change the policy without agreement from the NHLPA.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I'd make the argument that the league being in bed with all of these gambling partners should mean they should be straight up and transparent about any and every single injury. Just making up an example but if Igor got hurt in practice today and the Rangers were secretive about it and played it off as a short term thing when in reality it's a month plus, that's an incredibly bad look as the leagues partners and networks push you to take a Rangers Presidents Trophy bet. The NFL does it right with their weekly injury reports and fines for non-compliance.

Totally and 100% agree with this.

Viewers are literally bombarded with gambling ads every game, every commercial break, amongst every arena and ad-space they can squeeze it into, utilizing high-profile HOF players including Gretzky and Lundqvist as willing spokesmen. Gambling issues can and will ruin peoples lives and the entire partnership is grossly out of touch.

Regardless, if you are OK with willingly pushing this addiction onto your fanbase to improve your bottom line, then there absolutely needs to be some transparency regarding injuries and oversight of it all. You can't have it both ways.

The NFL just investigated one such incident

https://www.si.com/nfl/2023/11/17/nfl-investigating-cincinnati-bengals-joe-burrow-injury-report-failure

And as we know, the NHL recently levied a huge suspension for gambling, while the player and team ironically sported a Bet99 ad on their helmets.

Pinto's Ironic Suspension Shows NHL's Double-Edged Ignorance

Today the Ottawa Senators' Shane Pinto was suspended for gambling. Why is this suspension ironic in terms of NHL promotion of gambling?

nhltradetalk.com

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

I'd make the argument that the league being in bed with all of these gambling partners should mean they should be straight up and transparent about any and every single injury. Just making up an example but if Igor got hurt in practice today and the Rangers were secretive about it and played it off as a short term thing when in reality it's a month plus, that's an incredibly bad look as the leagues partners and networks push you to take a Rangers Presidents Trophy bet. The NFL does it right with their weekly injury reports and fines for non-compliance.

Disagree wholeheartedly...sports betting is dumb, should have never been mass promoted by all the professional leagues, and should certainly never be used a circumvention of HIPAA laws. It's already bad enough we have to sit through 15 sports betting ads every period.

Regardless, if you are OK with willingly pushing this addiction onto your fanbase to improve your bottom line, then there absolutely needs to be some transparency regarding injuries and oversight of it all. You can't have it both ways.

At least according to your definition, that makes me internally consistent, haha. But in all seriousness, I don't quite get the logic here. Gambling is gambling. Teams usually announce the starting lineups far enough ahead of time regarding daily bets. Implying that knowing how long a player is out or the exact nature of an injury somehow allows a gambler to use "skill" to achieve the desired outcome implies that sports betting isn't really usually just a giant crapshoot that exists solely to pass money through as many middlemen as possible so they can take a cut.

 

[Synergy27]

I'd make the argument that the league being in bed with all of these gambling partners should mean they should be straight up and transparent about any and every single injury. Just making up an example but if Igor got hurt in practice today and the Rangers were secretive about it and played it off as a short term thing when in reality it's a month plus, that's an incredibly bad look as the leagues partners and networks push you to take a Rangers Presidents Trophy bet. The NFL does it right with their weekly injury reports and fines for non-compliance.

Exactly this. Also, what if I’m deciding on a ticket purchase and Kakko is my favorite player?

I understand the PHI aspect of this but this is a product I am paying for.

 

[yrrebbor]

The lack of transparency about these injuries is brutal. Fans legitimately have a right to know what’s going on with these players.

Says who? Why do you, or anyone else, need to know about a person's medical history? In my opinion, this falls under HIPAA laws.

 

[SA16]

Says who? Why do you, or anyone else, need to know about a person's medical history? In my opinion, this falls under HIPAA laws.

Has absolutely nothing to do with it

 

[mike14]

Exactly this. Also, what if I’m deciding on a ticket purchase and Kakko is my favorite player?

I understand the PHI aspect of this but this is a product I am paying for.

But you never know the line up until a few hours before game time so you always be running the risk of him being a late scratch or even injured during warm-ups.
Just being told KK is on IR actually gives you more knowledge for ticket buying than when he's in the roster

 

[bobbop]

I am surprised that with all the gambling activity now going on, the NHL hasn’t become more transparent about injuries. Does create some risk for the league.

Watch the replay closely and it’s very likely Kakko broke his ankle/leg on the way down. Surgery, if necessary, would indicate 10-12 weeks.

Like with most things, the NHL likely doesn't have the ability to change the policy without agreement from the NHLPA.

What policy?

 

[GAGLine]

What policy?

The policy regarding the disclosure of player injuries. That information would be protected by Hipaa. The NHL wouldn't be allowed to give out that info without the players' consent.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

I get it, however Lavi deploys the Kreider and Zib pair for SHG chances. He's got shot-blocker Bonino in his toolbox. He's got muckers like Goodrow and Vesey, the latter brings a bit of speed -- faster than Kakko anyway. I'm sure there are intricacies to penalty killing that go beyond being just a good defensive forward.

The team is better if they just give Kakko Goodrows PK minutes.

 

[Profet]

The lack of transparency about these injuries is brutal. Fans legitimately have a right to know what’s going on with these players.

A "right"... really?

An interest in knowing... sure...

But what gives you a "right" to know?

Do you get a rundown of illnesses from your company about your co-workers? How about companies you do business with?

 

[bobbop]

The policy regarding the disclosure of player injuries. That information would be protected by Hipaa. The NHL wouldn't be allowed to give out that info without the players' consent.

Not prohibited by HIPPA. Many teams report accurate information. It’s old school hockey thinking., nothing more.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Not prohibited by HIPPA. Many teams report accurate information. It’s old school hockey thinking., nothing more.

All medical information is technically protected by HIPPA laws. I know it never stopped teams in the past from releasing basic information but maybe it has changed. Players may feel like they won't get as good a contract later in their career if potential teams have a laundry list of each of that players injuries. Just a completely wild guess on my part though.