Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[GbgRanger]

He tends to be very streaky. Maybe his conditions in combination with intense NHL schedule is wearing him down at times.

 

[Peltz]

With Kakko: 17-4-1 .772
Without Kakko: 11-8-1 .550

I've said this for 3 years now. I don't care if Kakko scores as much as other high draft picks. He is the type of player you win with. Period. He is a 200 foot player who will develop the scoring touch in time.

 

[LOFIN]

With Kakko: 17-4-1 .772
Without Kakko: 11-8-1 .550

It's actually 11-10-1 without Kakko...

 

[LORDE]

Looked good last night.

Too much to ask for him to keep going like this?

 

[Foxy]

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.

100% this. Yet our genius coaches never put him out there to close out games despite him being our best defensive forward. Even last night, he benches Kakko when Seattle pulls it goalie so fricking Wheeler can get a shift with Mika and Kreider. So annoying. Kakko should be our go to closer yet it seems he still hasn't gained the trust of the coaches. Really would like that to change before the playoffs start.

 

[haveandare]

100% this. Yet our genius coaches never put him out there to close out games despite him being our best defensive forward. Even last night, he benches Kakko when Seattle pulls it goalie so fricking Wheeler can get a shift with Mika and Kreider. So annoying. Kakko should be our go to closer yet it seems he still hasn't gained the trust of the coaches. Really would like that to change before the playoffs start.

You don’t need a brilliant defensive player on ice with an empty net when you’re up by 3.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

Kakko is a very frustrating player sometimes even when not taking into account his draft position but if he's a bigger more talented Fast that's an extremely useful player. When we lost Fast we were not at all happy about that and it definitely hurt.

 

[Foxy]

You don’t need a brilliant defensive player on ice with an empty net when you’re up by 3.

We were only up 2. Still, why bench him in the first place even if we were up 3. He did nothing in the game that would warrant being sat out for the final minutes.

 

[Rongomania]

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.

And that's partly why he's been the young 3rd assist KING.

The points will come. For real this time. Laf blowin' up and staying consistent, I truly think will prove to be a huge factor in Kaks growth here. No more high picks quasi-underperforming to take *some* heat off of him. Let's see that consistency. He's never looked out of place on that line.

 

[Peltz]

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.

This is 100% on point. And he's been doing it for years I might add. Kakko is a turnover machine (in the good way).

When he's on the ice, he's either getting the puck or helping the team hang onto the puck. That helps the team no matter the scoresheet.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

This is 100% on point. And he's been doing it for years I might add. Kakko is a turnover machine (in the good way).

When he's on the ice, he's either getting the puck or helping the team hang onto the puck. That helps the team no matter the scoresheet.

Most fans just look at stat lines for a forward, especially if they are on one of the top 3 scoring lines and assess a player solely based on that.

Yes, those players need to produce and theres an importance to that.

And Yes - Kakko has - despite his slumps and snakebitteness at times. He's a 40 point player who's maturing into a 50 point, mainly even strength guy who is a well rounded, defensive, takeaway and possession wizard.

Of course, yes, hes a 2nd overall pick. That argument will never go away because it shouldnt. But you need these types of guys if you want to win championships. I'd much rather have a Kakko than a one dimensional shooter who can score 25-30 and provide nothing else.

And who knows, Kakko may get to that point too. Also think he should be given time on the PK.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

100% this. Yet our genius coaches never put him out there to close out games despite him being our best defensive forward. Even last night, he benches Kakko when Seattle pulls it goalie so fricking Wheeler can get a shift with Mika and Kreider. So annoying. Kakko should be our go to closer yet it seems he still hasn't gained the trust of the coaches. Really would like that to change before the playoffs start.

This is a good point and it goes with him getting some PK time as well. Goodrow will eat pucks but Kakko covers so much more territory with his angles and stickwork. He'd be more than fine out there and it would give him some confidence to grow his game. Wheeler gets and empty netter and two on the night to make the vet feel good but I agree - it shouldve been him after that performance.

Maybe theyll see it after watching the tape. Fom Lavs perspective he hasnt seen the best from him consistently since he came in. Kakko had a good camp, but the past two games are more in line from what we saw him for long stretches last year under Gallant, while under Lav he really fought it early on before his injury. He was just out of sorts.

I think he's reassessed his game and maybe the time off the ice has been a blessing in disguise. Im hoping he will continue this for a stretch and the coaching staff notices it and rewards him similar to how Laf was - and we see how that has turned out.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

It's actually 11-10-1 without Kakko...
View attachment 805092

Thanks for confirming. I updated the other post

 

[romba]

He looks rejuvenated, love to see it. Quicker, not making decisions after the puck is on his stick but knowing where he's going with it before, and finding/shooting from prime areas.

Don't love sitting him with the empty net, but I do give Lavy credit for putting him back on the 1st/2nd line in place of a vet which we all know is not easy for an NHL coach to do

 

[Chytilmania]

I admit I was wrong

It's about time someone cut the hubris around here.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

It was also interesting to hear in his pregame interview yesterday how seeing the game from up top helped him learn some things.

This tells me he was really studying the flow of the game and looking for areas where he can improve.

Thats a really professional and cerebral approach and a really good use of that time

 

[will1066]

It was also interesting to hear in his pregame interview yesterday how seeing the game from up top helped him learn some things.

This tells me he was really studying the flow of the game and looking for areas where he can improve.

Thats a really professional and cerebral approach and a really good use of that time

The time off could've given him a reset. Maybe he comes back energized, motivated, and doesn't try to carry the weight of the world.

I called this, that the time off would allow him to reset himself.

 

[Sisu4ever]

I called this, that the time off would allow him to reset himself.

Hopefully it sticks this time, and he keeps it up, and continues improving. I feel quite confident about his NHL career, despite the ups and downs.

 

[JCProdigy]

It's about time someone cut the hubris around here.

HERE, HERE! SO TRUE!!!

I called this, that the time off would allow him to reset himself.

Whelp, that didn't last long....

 

[Sisu4ever]

Although the VGK game was quite a loss, don't you think Kakko played fairly well, at least in the beginning before the whole team tanked?
I mean, he wasn't worse than the rest of the team.

 

[FlyguyOX]

5th game back from a high ankle sprain and Lavi already trying his hardest to not play the kid.

Can we please trade him and let him flourish elsewhere already? He doesn’t deserve this.

Wheelchair floundered on the top line for months with no consequence and now this bullshit last night? F that

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

When he scored the other night I said it would buy him 3 games.

It turned out to be 2 and a half.

Its the same story on repeat, let the kid play for christssakes

 

[McRanger92]

Still waiting for Kakko to start playing angry. Clock is ticking

 

[NickyFotiu]

5th game back from a high ankle sprain and Lavi already trying his hardest to not play the kid.

Can we please trade him and let him flourish elsewhere already? He doesn’t deserve this.

Wheelchair floundered on the top line for months with no consequence and now this bullshit last night? F that

Nobody wants KK to flourish more than our management and coaches. What would they gain by him not producing? Why would they be out to get him but not out to get Laf, Chytil, Will, Fox, Schneider, or KAM?

 

[Amazing Kreiderman]

Nobody wants KK to flourish more than our management and coaches. What would they gain by him not producing? Why would they be out to get him but not out to get Laf, Chytil, Will, Fox, Schneider, or KAM?

So it's not unwillingness, it's incompetence. Good to know nothing changed.