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Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

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dshea19 said:
The biggest problem for Kakko is that he needs other cycle guys to work with. However, this also exposes his inability to create his own offense or to be the driver of a line. If a player needs very specific pieces around him to produce, that player is not the guy you can consistently count on to do things. I really want him to succeed, but at this point he is a complimentary player at best, not a difference maker. He was supposed to be a difference maker. High draft picks are drafted high because of the expectation of being a real difference maker, regardless of who they are playing with.
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KK has played with Kreider, Zibs, Strome, Bread, Chytil, and Laf. It can't always be everyone elses fault. When KK produces he deserves the credit. When he doesn't he needs to look in the mirror.
 
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The more I think about Kakko, the more I think he needs to see a sports pyschologist.

Im not saying this in a mean or judgemental way. His skills and confidence with the puck seem to be diminishing rather than improving and to me thats a sign he is very unsure of himself and its becoming a mental block.

If you think back to last year he was noticeable every game where he would control play. And while he would seldom get to the middle to get a scoring chance, he would often be creative enough and strong on the puck both ways to lead to high danger chances and goals resulting in 3rd assists and great possession metrics.

He almost looks like a different player at this point. The puck is on and off of his stick. Hes getting knocked down easily. He looks very slow. We all know hes not the swiftest of players, but he's not this bad. The kid had a solid 40 point season last year and probably could have approached 50 with a little luck, mainly 5 on 5.

I wonder if he's just become timid and very doubtful of his abilities. The injury didnt help but he started off the season that way as well. Its not that he doesnt have the drive and will to compete, thats not what it is, its the freedom of trusting yourself. That confidence in his game is all but gone. And I can relate to that. Listen. Some people are just mentally weaker and thats the thing they need to address and improve upon. Some players just dont think out there and even with less skill can be more successful because they arent killing themselves and hindering their own play. It's easy to read that body language with Kakko.

Personally I dont want to give up on him and I dont think the Rangers should either, but he just seems to be spiraling into a weak state of mind in NY. It can be debated why that is but it doesnt matter. Maybe a new start in a new city would be the best for him. Over the last year or so I've kinda expected that he will be moved and find another level somewhere else.
 
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KirkAlbuquerque said:
Not calling you out, just an observation that he never really plays "bad", he just kind of exists, and defends well.
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Oh, I know. I'm just joking.

Sad that Brodzinski had to get his goal with Kreider and Wheeler.
 
Kakko missed 21 games and came back about 3 weeks ago that included the ASG break. I've noticed on a few occasions when he returned he tried ripping a shot vs stickhandling himself through the zamboni doors and out into the parking lot.

I'm not going to pile on him at this point, hopefully he gets his footing. I think he will.
 
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The Crypto Guy said:
He was fine with Laf and Chytil.

And Kreider and Zib suck with everyone.
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He had some good and some bad with Chytil and Laf. Maybe just maybe Chytil and Laf would have been better without KK at times. I like KK but I do not believe the coaches, management, and linemates all hold KK back nonsense.

Didn't KK play in a tournament last summer? Did he score a bunch there?

I keep hearing Blake Wheeler is so bad yet he outproduces KK while he plays with CK and Zibs.

We all want KK to produce but the time for excuses is running short imo.
 
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NickyFotiu said:
He had some good and some bad with Chytil and Laf. Maybe just maybe Chytil and Laf would have been better without KK at times. I like KK but I do not believe the coaches, management, and linemates all hold KK back nonsense.

Didn't KK play in a tournament last summer? Did he score a bunch there?

I keep hearing Blake Wheeler is so bad yet he outproduces KK while he plays with CK and Zibs.

We all want KK to produce but the time for excuses is running short imo.
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That's because Wheeler gets a free pass to do nothing on that line for 10 game clips at a time, then has a game where he gets a few assists, Kakko has 2 games doing nothing and he immediately removed from the line for...Wheeler.

Rather just keep Kakko there, for better or for worse and play out the season that way. At least we will have better defensive coverage with Kakko there over Wheeler if anything.
 
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The Crypto Guy said:
That's because Wheeler gets a free pass to do nothing on that line for 10 game clips at a time, then has a game where he gets a few assists, Kakko has 2 games doing nothing and he immediately removed from the line for...Wheeler.

Rather just keep Kakko there, for better or for worse and play out the season that way. At least we will have better defensive coverage with Kakko there over Wheeler if anything.
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I agree, I think Kakko should be stapled into the top 6 like Laf and basically force fed to figure it out.
 
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The Crypto Guy said:
That's because Wheeler gets a free pass to do nothing on that line for 10 game clips at a time, then has a game where he gets a few assists, Kakko has 2 games doing nothing and he immediately removed from the line for...Wheeler.

Rather just keep Kakko there, for better or for worse and play out the season that way. At least we will have better defensive coverage with Kakko there over Wheeler if anything.
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I like KK and I'm not pushing to trade him. With that said I do not believe the endless stream of excuses. Why didn't KK score much in his summer tournament? Was that our coaches fault or his linemates fault as well? Sometimes the most probable reason is the best reason. KK is the reason KK does not score. By the same token if KK starts scoring as well as we all hope then KK should get that credit.
 
Kakko needs to believe in himself. If he doesn't believe in himself, no one else would.
 
Kakko could end up being one of those guys who never manages to score a lot of points. Question becomes whether there is still a place for him in the lineup. I would say yes.
 
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Crease said:
Kakko could end up being one of those guys who never manages to score a lot of points. Question becomes whether there is still a place for him in the lineup. I would say yes.
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Or....or....hear me out here: The Rangers could trade him for something that doesn't end up being anything, then mid-season next year, realize "We're short a guy in the middle six that's defensively responsible and is a net positive on play even if he's a secondary scorer" and then trade away multiple picks to grab a guy that was once those things but none of them anymore....or just sign said player for way too much in FA the following summer.

....this is the way
 
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I still believe in the kid...Laf is a perfect example of sticking with a kid until they figure it out.I have confidence kk will eventually figure it out.
 
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I just hope he doesn't have a Drouin like career where every once in a while he has some production to tease people in to thinking he is going to become a big producer but it never really happens consistently. Id love for KK to become the real deal but until he does Im not going to plan on it anymore in my heart and head.
 
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NickyFotiu said:
I just hope he doesn't have a Drouin like career where every once in a while he has some production to tease people in to thinking he is going to become a big producer but it never really happens consistently. Id love for KK to become the real deal but until he does Im not going to plan on it anymore in my heart and head.
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Kk doesn't need to become a big producer.Even if he tops out as a 50 point 2 way foward,there is plenty of value in those types of players.Sure it would be a bit disappointing for a 2nd overall pick to top out there,but he still brings value.
 
mrmovies779 said:
Kk doesn't need to become a big producer.Even if he tops out as a 50 point 2 way foward,there is plenty of value in those types of players.Sure it would be a bit disappointing for a 2nd overall pick to top out there,but he still brings value.
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I agree that KK brings some value. Most NHL players bring some value. Jimmy Vesey has 11 goals as a fourth liner. That brings value but as you implied our hopes were much higher for KK.
 
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Synergy27 said:
My “Laf is a fat bastard” campaign over the summer seemed to work wonders for him so I’m turning my fat shaming towards Kakko now.

Someone get this fat f*** a protein shake and tell him to lay off the gabagool ok?
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you must not be familiar with the specimen that is phil kessel. he and the other guy that broke the consecutive games played record recently both have bodies like a bag of milk. if anything kakko needs to continue acquiring mass.

also you better make sure there's no sugar or extra sugar or whatever diabetic people eat is in that protein shake or you might kill him.

sidenote is it possible for someone to have both the regular diabetes and fatabetes? i mean he's not in that territory yet but....maybe thats a record he can break one day.
 
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HockeyBasedNYC said:
The more I think about Kakko, the more I think he needs to see a sports pyschologist.

Im not saying this in a mean or judgemental way. His skills and confidence with the puck seem to be diminishing rather than improving and to me thats a sign he is very unsure of himself and its becoming a mental block.

If you think back to last year he was noticeable every game where he would control play. And while he would seldom get to the middle to get a scoring chance, he would often be creative enough and strong on the puck both ways to lead to high danger chances and goals resulting in 3rd assists and great possession metrics.

He almost looks like a different player at this point. The puck is on and off of his stick. Hes getting knocked down easily. He looks very slow. We all know hes not the swiftest of players, but he's not this bad. The kid had a solid 40 point season last year and probably could have approached 50 with a little luck, mainly 5 on 5.

I wonder if he's just become timid and very doubtful of his abilities. The injury didnt help but he started off the season that way as well. Its not that he doesnt have the drive and will to compete, thats not what it is, its the freedom of trusting yourself. That confidence in his game is all but gone. And I can relate to that. Listen. Some people are just mentally weaker and thats the thing they need to address and improve upon. Some players just dont think out there and even with less skill can be more successful because they arent killing themselves and hindering their own play. It's easy to read that body language with Kakko.

Personally I dont want to give up on him and I dont think the Rangers should either, but he just seems to be spiraling into a weak state of mind in NY. It can be debated why that is but it doesnt matter. Maybe a new start in a new city would be the best for him. Over the last year or so I've kinda expected that he will be moved and find another level somewhere else.
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he’s been taking a lot of random ass shots from Narnia as if the coaches told him he shouldn’t hang onto the puck too much
 
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2014nyr said:
you must not be familiar with the specimen that is phil kessel. he and the other guy that broke the consecutive games played record recently both have bodies like a bag of milk. if anything kakko needs to continue acquiring mass.

also you better make sure there's no sugar or extra sugar or whatever diabetic people eat is in that protein shake or you might kill him.

sidenote is it possible for someone to have both the regular diabetes and fatabetes? i mean he's not in that territory yet but....maybe thats a record he can break one day.
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Kessel was a quick fast skater despite not being in great shape in some seasons. Also had that wrist/snap shot.
 
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NickyFotiu said:
Kessel was a quick fast skater despite not being in great shape in some seasons. Also had that wrist/snap shot.
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exactly. being shaped like an oversized oompa loompa didn't stop him from skating fast or sniping. not a fan of the gravity influencers....but just saying...often isn't a big deal in hockey, which wouldn't seem possible if there weren't so many ham planets around the league proving it.
 
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