Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[Rongomania]

Swap Troch and Chytil. That line has earned staying together.

Troch and Kreids gel, it's been proven. And though it was a small sample size, Chytil worked well in the middle there with bread / Laf.

I think it works if Chytil comes back and we upgrade 3RW. Troch will stay on PP1 and I think that outweighs his 5v5 spot as I believe Chytil can match that production there maybe even more. This team needs healthy Chytil badly.

Troch has been great and I think having Chytil back healthy, this will turn into a good problem to have re: line construction.

*Good to have Kak back now let's get some points kid. I think watching Laf shut up the haters will help him in the long run. He's got it in him.

 

[mas0764]

Yeah they have to figure out a way to get Kakko producing on offense.

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I'm actually fine with what Kakko brings, i realize the hype with his draft position and i understand the frustration but the guy works his ass off. He competes, and imo is only going to get better. Lucky for us we have a guy that eventually could be a star on a mediocre contract for now. He obviously needs to figure out how to score at the nhl level, but we're getting our moneys worth from him

 

[Levitate]

(quote is from Laviolette)

Coaches know that line was "good" but not producing. Kakko has a role in both sides of that coin...he does help facilitate better possession and at least at the start of the year he was setting up chances, but the lack of production fell on all three of them. In theory maybe Kakko could have been the guy to put the puck in the net if he was more aggressive about that! but he didn't...I'd like to see him trying to get into position for more shots and just keep ripping the puck, and I'd like to see his linemates do more than just watch him try to hold puck possession along the boards. I'd also like to see Kreider and Zibanejad not just play with each other and instead involve the third member on their line a bit better.

 

[bl02]

That's awesome their analytics are so great but it's very simple. Dave Maloney put it best the other day on the radio when comparing them to the Trocheck line. Those guys don't get the puck to net enough. Maybe they can't? Maybe they just rather play the permieter?

 

[Raspewtin]

That's awesome their analytics are so great but it's very simple. Dave Maloney put it best the other day on the radio when comparing them to the Trocheck line. Those guys don't get the puck to net enough. Maybe they can't? Maybe they just rather play the permieter?

honestly it's that but also they're all bad passers (yeah i'm including Zib in that sorry) that's the bigger issue.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Lets not forget that Mika did not have a great start to the year.

Hes not exactly on fire right now, but he's definitely hit the gas since then and he has had a couple hot stretches.

Kreider is Kreider. He usually plays the same game, for the most part. He'll take some games off but what you get from him is fairly consistent.

I'd stick with this 3-some for a while. Wheeler had his opportunity while Kakko was out and blew it. There is no one else that should be up there other than giving Cuylle or Vesey an extended look but one of those scenarios puts Kreider on his opposite wing. The other has had some time in the past and it was just ok.

Give Kakko the keys to that spot. Hes the most defensively aware RW on the team and since thats a line getting minutes you want to at least have a group who can keep the puck out of the net and go out there and execute the system shift to shift. It was noticeably better in the regard in the one game we've seen Kakko play and it has a trickle down effect to the rest of the lines IMO

Hopefully the production comes around - but it wasnt there with anyone else anyway.

 

[Levitate]

Panarin's line can create some chances off the rush by changing their speed of attack or moving laterally, or if it's not there then they'll at least try to move the puck around. Kreider and Zibanejad tend to try to just execute a cross ice pass to...someone on the rush and it's not often successful, and they both have been pretty mediocre at puck retrieval and winning board battles. So lots of their possessions are skate up the ice, try to fling a pass, turn it over, skate back.

That's where theoretically Kakko could help retrieve some pucks and create turnovers but he still needs somewhere to go with the puck. Zibanejad and Kreider need to be moving a bit more and Kakko needs to keep his head up, or start trying to come off the boards and challenge the middle of the ice better.

I mean, just trying to bullshit about what it looks like versus Panarin's line. Panarin, Trocheck, and Laf are pretty dogged on the puck while Kreider and Zibanejad don't have that fight in them to get it back, though Kreider did look more lively last game.
That is mayybe why splitting Kreider and ZIbanejad up and putting Laf or Panarin on Zibanejad's wing along with Kakko might stir things up positively but when the current Panarin line is carrying the team offensively I think there's strong incentive to not mess with it

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Thats a biggie for him and the line, should buy him at least 3 games before they think about changing it up lol

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Thats a biggie for him and the line, should buy him at least 3 games before they think about changing it up lol

Crazy how Kakko makes that line look so much more in sync. We really missed him, despite him not really putting up much offense the first 20 games.

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

So many bad takes about how losing Kakko was no big deal. This is a different team with him. Will anyone admit they were wrong? Unlikely. Probably criticize how he is .5ppg since he’s been back. That’s not a #2 pick.

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

.

 

[Whoot Whoot]

Kid is a difference maker

 

[Jauffre]

.

This

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Yeah sure he's not playing like a #2 overall pick but he's not a pick he's a player at this point and Kakko the player is a very important depth player for us. It's like night and day with him on that line.

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

Yeah sure he's not playing like a #2 overall pick but he's not a pick he's a player at this point and Kakko the player is a very important depth player for us. It's like night and day with him on that line.

If someone can make Mika and Kreider work at 5v5, forget 2oa. That's Gretsky stuff.

 

[NYR Viper]

The line looks A LOT better with Kakko able to control the play and make small little plays to spring the other two with speed.

 

[will1066]

So many bad takes about how losing Kakko was no big deal. This is a different team with him. Will anyone admit they were wrong? Unlikely. Probably criticize how he is .5ppg since he’s been back. That’s not a #2 pick.

I admit I was wrong

 

[Rongomania]

 

[Mugless]

I like the version of Kakko who doesn't dilly dally and just fires one timers.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

So many bad takes about how losing Kakko was no big deal. This is a different team with him. Will anyone admit they were wrong? Unlikely. Probably criticize how he is .5ppg since he’s been back. That’s not a #2 pick.

I mean, he's a very good, cost-effective 2nd/3rd liner. Not sure why anyone would think he's not a valuable asset for this team.

 

[ecemleafs]

he looks much quicker and faster in the 2 games hes played since coming back then ive seen so far in his career. idk what he does over the summer, but it seemed to me the rangers just had him skating his ass off since he got back on the ice after the injury.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

He comes back and helps so well defensively and that line needs that. It really helps the transition game and gets the other two into space.

All of the whiffs and bad positioning in the defensive and neutral zone by Wheeler would lead to more zone time against. And the other two would need to compensate and put themselves out of position, because he wasnt fleet of foot to recover. Kakko is no burner, but hes got fresh legs and and his positioning is masterful.

His reads and spacing is timed so well and allows Mika and Kreids to stay in their routes, which is important considering the bromance they have on the ice, especially when the puck is turned the other way.

Kakko broke up plays in the high slot last night and got the puck out of the zone and onto his teammates sticks on spring passes or clears to get out of danger several times. Also saw a lot of break ups on back checks by him the past two games.

These are simple little things that can get lost in the game, but if you solo in on him and watch you'll notice not only the attention to detail on the defensive side, but his success rate of turning the puck the other way. You cannot underestimate the value of this as there arent a ton of players in the league who do it so effectively and consistently. They slowly pile up and result in a higher success rate all over the rink.

This is such a positive for this team and like I've said several times his play seems to have a trickle down affect for the forward lines. Something with his presence and where he is every shift. But especially for this line. He helps solidify it and again, its so important to have someone like that out there considering its a top line getting minutes against the other teams best.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

With Kakko: 17-4-1 .772
Without Kakko: 11-10-1 .500

 

[will1066]