Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[LOFIN]

Find whoever works out with Q. Hughes during the summer and abduct to teach Kakko


Then find whoever changed someones skating the most, and hire him. Rangers should be able to do all of this.

 

[NYRangers0723]

At what point is it on the player? Its year 5 for Kakko and his 3rd coaching staff. Chytil and Laf are lightyears ahead of him.

Exactly. I still believe in the kid but some make every excuse under the sun. Sooner or later it’s up to the player. He doesn’t shoot enough, he holds onto the puck way too long, and yes injuries happen but it happens a good amount. Can’t keep blaming the other players and coaches, kid needs to produce more.

 

[gabevh3]

Yes, he is the best defensive forward of his draft class. Which is why many of us know, the offense is there still. He's an impressive young player while being underwhelming points-wise.

I said a couple years ago he will be a defensive specialist much more than an offensive threat.

 

[Rongomania]

I said a couple years ago he will be a defensive specialist much more than an offensive threat.

Well, lucky for us, that book hasn't been written yet.

40 5v5 points as a 21/22 year old.

He's the wrong one to count out. Still.

 

[gabevh3]

Well, lucky for us, that book hasn't been written yet.

40 5v5 points as a 21/22 year old.

He's the wrong one to count out. Still.

With more confidence and speed he can be 1 of the best 2 way forwards

 

[bobbop]

For anyone wondering about injury information, compare the Rangers to how transparent the Devils are. There is no HIPPA issue.

 

[Rongomania]

With more confidence and speed he can be 1 of the best 2 way forwards

YO. Let's go. Get well soon kid, washing my jersey tomorrow to rid it of his injury stink. Have had it out since the season started if you're into superstition, I ironically have a lucky Kakko jersey.

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

In some cases, rentals make sense. The Kane and Tank moves were fine and correct; I blame Gallant more.

Tarasenko move 100% made sense. Kane move only made sense if Kane was going to be depth at even strength and QB PP2.

Their usage was what made the least sense, and as someone who was done with Gallant for his "lines" last year as well as his tactics, style, and who he blamed when things went bad, I largely agree he was a problem.

Tarasenko unfortunately couldn't be fit under the cap, but there's still a need for a player like him on this team. A wing who can really shoot the puck. This team doesn't have anybody like that currently and I think the hope was that Kakko could turn into that sort of player, but it hasn't happened. Wheeler has really been a non-factor. Really disappointed in his play so far. Unfortunately, he completes a couple nice passes, or takes a few shots that are tricky saves, and people seem to want to declare it a "good game." He's two years removed from a near PPG pace and coming off a 60 point season, and he's pacing for...21 points...while playing with two 35 goal scorers. That's abysmal.

In a perfect world, we would have kept Tarasenko and not needed Wheeler, then walked away from Kane.

They've gotten off to a strong start, and with the emergence of Lafreniere and Trocheck really stepping it up, have been much better than I thought they'd be at this point, but top contenders will add on at the deadline, and it's naive to think the Rangers won't need to also.

 

[huerter]

Tarasenko only looked good relative to Kane.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Tarasenko only looked good relative to Kane.

I think he was worse than Kane tbh.

Had a couple of clutch goals and still had that nasty wrister but other than that he was not effective on the ice

 

[NickyFotiu]

I think he was worse than Kane tbh.

Had a couple of clutch goals and still had that nasty wrister but other than that he was not effective on the ice

I felt like Tank was effective from the blue line in but not effective in the other 3/4 of the ice.

Still only 22 so he can still have a very good NHL career but I feel some NYR fans (maybe even some NYR management) are getting tired of waiting for him to become that good player.

 

[will1066]

I felt like Tank was effective from the blue line in but not effective in the other 3/4 of the ice.

Still only 22 so he can still have a very good NHL career but I feel some NYR fans (maybe even some NYR management) are getting tired of waiting for him to become that good player.

I'm worried his game is not translating and he is unable to adapt. Every year the NHL game gets a little faster. It's a skating game, not as much a grinding game.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I'm worried his game is not translating and he is unable to adapt. Every year the NHL game gets a little faster. It's a skating game, not as much a grinding game.

I think Tank could have his good moments but he is not going to move the needle nearly enough for us. I feel we need a faster guy who can carry the mail. Tank is more a guy that will depend on others to get him the puck.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I think Tank could have his good moments but he is not going to move the needle nearly enough for us. I feel we need a faster guy who can carry the mail. Tank is more a guy that will depend on others to get him the puck.

are we talking Tankasenko or Frank the Tank?

 

[NickyFotiu]

are we talking Tankasenko or Frank the Tank?

Sorry I call Tarasenko by the name Tank.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I'd like to know the defensive splits before and after the Kakko injury.

I know he wasnt getting a ton of ice time, playing safe and producing little to no offense, but that safe play cut down on chances against and almost had a calming effect to that line in particular.

Of course its a combination of factors which have lead to this little dip but they have noticeably lost something defensively from the forward group. They've fallen out that structure and that was one of the things Kakko was doing consistently.

 

[RangersFan1994]

I think Kakko has to get stronger and faster. He still gets knocked down to easily off the puck. Everything will fall into place if he does that. Until then he is Marcel Kakko defensive forward with no offense and good down low along the boards although he is weak

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

I’d pay good money to have a closed door sit down with Muse and Peca and ask them what the f*** is up with this kid and what is their plan to unlock him.

Well if they want to get him going it would probably be wise to not have him centered by the biggest anchor on the team

 

[will1066]

Well if they want to get him going it would probably be wise to not have him centered by the biggest anchor on the team

Who should center him who is not currently injured?

Oh yeah, also, he failed to get going being centered by the team's "#1" center.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Who should center him who is not currently injured?

Oh yeah, also, he failed to get going being centered by the team's "#1" center.

Zibanejad, Wheeler, Brodzinsky, me, you

 

[LOFIN]

Oh yeah, also, he failed to get going being centered by the team's "#1" center.

Kakko has to look in the mirror, because this poor start has been mostly on him. But Zibanejad hasn't even got himself going lol.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Kakko has to look in the mirror, because this poor start has been mostly on him. But Zibanejad hasn't even got himself going lol.

It’s not even about placing the blame anywhere. It’s just objectively true that if they want him to produce, it’s not going to happen playing next to the worst player on the team who is impossible to get into the offensive zone with

 

[will1066]

Kakko has to look in the mirror, because this poor start has been mostly on him. But Zibanejad hasn't even got himself going lol.

The man in the mirror, you mean? @Kakko24

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Yeah when players get surgery, teams generally tell you whats going on.

I get the frustration with lack of "transparency" but the org does not owe the fans a f***ing rundown of a player's medical chart.

Guys are hurt and are going to be out a while. Thats all that really needs to be relayed. If injuries are bad enough, they'll tell you whats going on.

 

[LOFIN]

It’s not even about placing the blame anywhere. It’s just objectively true that if they want him to produce, it’s not going to happen playing next to the worst player on the team who is impossible to get into the offensive zone with

He probably wouldn't produce next to McDavid and Draisaitl with the way he played the last number of games before his injury. He started the season decently, actually creating chances but Mika/Kreider couldn't convert on those. He also had some bad luck himself. But the more the season progressed, the worse Kakko became in the offensive zone. Just not trying to get to the goal, not being in the right areas... Eventually even losing puck battles which he has been so good with for almost his entire career here (apart from his rookie year). It has to be mental.

I'm not going to give up on the kid (probably ever, lol), but he has himself to blame for his awful start. And yes, Mika being so off didn't help things, but can't be solely blamed either.