Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[NickyFotiu]

Kakko is in bail out/damage control mode a lot more than most of us would like, but the reality of that is that at 0.5 P/GP, he'd be one of the absolute best third liners in the league. Like, right now.

As much as I want him to get consistent top6 time to figure out that side of the game, I understand Lavi's predicament. ZBad's line doesn't need help defensively, Panarin-Laf are too dynamic to split up, AND Kakko is the ideal third liner right now.

I just wish that if this is what we're commiting to, we'd start working him in on the PK, or getting him out there on some extra shifts when we're defending leads or the opponent's have pulled their goalies.

I'd like to try KK on the PK as well. I think the open ice may give him some confidence. With that said how KK plays is largely on KK. We really need to stop trying to find the perfect linemates and the perfect excuse. His play in the summer tournament was not much different. Good players find a way. Crosby is still dangerous double shifting on the 4th line. Zooks started on the 4th line. CK spent some time on the 4th line. I want KK to succeed as much as anyone but the person that ultimately has that control is KK. He is a puzzle in a way like former Ranger Marcel Hossa. Marcel had some legit skills but he would only flash them. Sjostrom was another former Ranger. He had really impressive skills but could never consistently show them. KK has outproduced both of them so that is a positive.

 

[Synergy27]

I don't think a competent agent lets him sign that.

I don’t know. The kid should have legitimate concern about how good he will ever be at the NHL level. He clearly has confidence issues and I wouldn’t be shocked to see him being down on himself in general.

$32M is a very nice pay day/career, and he’s young enough that he’d sign another lucrative contract at the end of it.

I wouldn’t be shocked at all if he prioritized security.

 

[Harbour Dog]

I'd like to try KK on the PK as well. I think the open ice may give him some confidence. With that said how KK plays is largely on KK. We really need to stop trying to find the perfect linemates and the perfect excuse. His play in the summer tournament was not much different. Good players find a way. Crosby is still dangerous double shifting on the 4th line. Zooks started on the 4th line. CK spent some time on the 4th line. I want KK to succeed as much as anyone but the person that ultimately has that control is KK. He is a puzzle in a way like former Ranger Marcel Hossa. Marcel had some legit skills but he would only flash them. Sjostrom was another former Ranger. He had really impressive skills but could never consistently show them. KK has outproduced both of them so that is a positive.

Not sure what this has to do with my post?

If anything, I agree that Kakko has to shape his game better for a top6 role, to force Lavi's hand, if he wants to get those minutes. And he's taken a positive step in that direction since returning from injury.

I'm not going to shit on the kid. He's a good player, and that third line plays playoff hockey every shift they're on the ice.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Not sure what this has to do with my post?

If anything, I agree that Kakko has to shape his game better for a top6 role, to force Lavi's hand, if he wants to get those minutes. And he's taken a positive step in that direction since returning from injury.

I'm not going to shit on the kid. He's a good player, and that third line plays playoff hockey every shift they're on the ice.

If that continues KK should have more production in the next couple of months and NYR fans will be satisfied.

 

[hella rights]

Yah, he's definitely not a playmaker. He is not fast. I don't hate the suggestions that he become a defensive forward but it seems like giving up. He should try to make his living in front of the net. Get a little speedier of course.

Although i’d like to see him be more of a net front guy too, seems like he would much rather have the puck behind the net. He’s good at keeping the puck from defenders and stick handling in tight, if he could get better at deflections I think that could be a good new dimension of his game.

OTOH I don’t know if he has the right mentality/personality to succeed in that kind of role. Seems he’s fine with the physicality when cycling, but he’s usually fighting to keep the puck to evade the defense, not bullying his way through them to get to the net. Maybe it would come with confidence and getting stronger, but I don’t see the aggression or assertiveness for those battles.

 

[TopShelfSnipes]

I'd like to try KK on the PK as well. I think the open ice may give him some confidence. With that said how KK plays is largely on KK. We really need to stop trying to find the perfect linemates and the perfect excuse. His play in the summer tournament was not much different. Good players find a way. Crosby is still dangerous double shifting on the 4th line. Zooks started on the 4th line. CK spent some time on the 4th line. I want KK to succeed as much as anyone but the person that ultimately has that control is KK. He is a puzzle in a way like former Ranger Marcel Hossa. Marcel had some legit skills but he would only flash them. Sjostrom was another former Ranger. He had really impressive skills but could never consistently show them. KK has outproduced both of them so that is a positive.

Hossa and Kakko actually have some similarities in their game, and I've used him as a comp for "current Kakko" as well.

Hossa had hands or could skate fast, but not both together. He could be physical in the corners, but wasn't mean, and like Kakko couldn't use that to take the puck to the net.
Although, obviously, Kakko is way ahead of where Hossa ever was defensively.

I'd really like to see Kakko tap into more of, say, Jake Voracek or Jagr in terms of playstyle. Do things faster and meaner, while being a little more deliberate about taking the puck to scoring areas, even if it gets knocked off his stick.

He absolutely deserves a look on the PK, if nothing else, just so this narrative of "BaRcLaY gOoDrOw PrOvIdEs SoMeThInG iRrEpLaCeAbLe BeCaUsE oF hIs Pk MeTriCs!" can finally die and the Rangers can actually run their best 12 skaters out there, which in the long run means Goodrow in the press box or as someone else's cap headache.

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

He had an assist yesterday. He has 3 points in the last 5 games and he’s off a major injury. You gonna post this crap again if he gets an assist in the next game?

Only 3 assists. Blah blah blah.

It’s weird man. There are a ton of guys more deserving of your complaints after yesterday. He’s playing fine in a limited role.

Let’s keep this going. 4 points in his last 6 games and he’s off major injury.

After the next game are you gonna say only 4 assists blah blah blah?

 

[NickyFotiu]

Let’s keep this going.

After the next game are you gonna say only 4 assists blah blah blah?

Hope to say he has 4-5-6 assists after next game. I like when he produces. With that said are you really bragging about 3 assists on the season? Im happy he got 1 but lets not set the brag bar at 3 assists. That would be showing a real lack of faith wouldn't it? Hopefully its double digits soon.

 

[will1066]

Keep it going. He's been stickhandling less lately and moving the puck more for continuation of play

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

hes a point producing machine!

 

[mas0764]

He's capable of putting up points like Laf is (about a half a point per game with no PP time). He doesn't have the flash that Laf does, but he gets involved and chips in, in ways that should be generating more points.

But he gets too cold, goes way longer without contributing, and doesn't drive the offense even when he's hot like Laf does.

Again, I think there's a mental issue in here and it's really disappointing that 3 coaching staffs haven't gotten it out of him. Not ready to give up yet. But would accept a hockey trade built around something like Kakko for Zegras, with other assets involved to balance it all out.

 

[dshea19]

The best thing about his assist last night was that he was going for the goal. He drove the net and tried to make a play. THAT is what he needs to be doing consistently. Previously, he would have been looking to force a pass. He needs to embrace the power forward thing and just be a more skilled Cuylle. Cuylle is a wrecking ball, Kakko needs to be a more surgical sledghammer. Stop trying to be a Craig Janney and be a Cam Neely/Brendan Shananhan. He won't be as tough as those guys, but he needs an identity shift. That will create the space for more assists.

 

[Rongomania]

The best thing about his assist last night was that he was going for the goal. He drove the net and tried to make a play. THAT is what he needs to be doing consistently. Previously, he would have been looking to force a pass. He needs to embrace the power forward thing and just be a more skilled Cuylle. Cuylle is awrecking ball, Kakko needs to be more surgical sledghammer. Stop trying to be a Craig Janney and be a Cam Neely/Brendan Shananhan. He won't be as tough as those guys, but he needs an identity shift. That will create the space for more assists.

It was a great play. He's a big dude and can be so damn smooth sometimes. Consistency is the only big knock on him. That's not a deal breaker for a kid who we all know has shown a lot of talent in his past. And he's just turning 23. The final stretch + playoffs I feel like he and Cuylle are really going to get moving together. Dru must get them a 3C who can dish and catch and score on a pass.

 

[Guyute]

He made a really impressive self-pass off the boards in the D-zone last night under extreme pressure, which bought him some time and space to clear the zone.

 

[Harbour Dog]

I must be on an island here, because I think that even if we swapped Kakko for Zegras straight up, the team would be worse this season. Long term, sure I can see an argument, but for god's sake if there's actually something going on behind the scenes (very doubtful), please wait until the summer.

We're playing some good playoff-style hockey right now, the last thing we should be doing is adding a defensive liability who won't be getting half the opportunities here to put up offense that he does on his bottom feeder club. While subtracting the best defensive forward on the team, who looks to have started a change in style that is going to benefit his offense.

 

[IDvsEGO]

I must be on an island here, because I think that even if we swapped Kakko for Zegras straight up, the team would be worse this season. Long term, sure I can see an argument, but for god's sake if there's actually something going on behind the scenes (very doubtful), please wait until the summer.

We're playing some good playoff-style hockey right now, the last thing we should be doing is adding a defensive liability who won't be getting half the opportunities here to put up offense that he does on his bottom feeder club. While subtracting the best defensive forward on the team, who looks to have started a change in style that is going to benefit his offense.

Nope. I think alot of people really can’t see how important his play is right now.

 

[dshea19]

I must be on an island here, because I think that even if we swapped Kakko for Zegras straight up, the team would be worse this season. Long term, sure I can see an argument, but for god's sake if there's actually something going on behind the scenes (very doubtful), please wait until the summer.

We're playing some good playoff-style hockey right now, the last thing we should be doing is adding a defensive liability who won't be getting half the opportunities here to put up offense that he does on his bottom feeder club. While subtracting the best defensive forward on the team, who looks to have started a change in style that is going to benefit his offense.

If they even trade him, it won't be until the offseason. Trade deadlines for aspiring champions are not about roster shuffling but about filling holes. If he becomes a consistent contributor and has a reasonable contract negotiation, I don't see them trading him unless they do a hockey trade that makes the team objectively better. So many of these conversations are people venting and saying nonsense. I just don't pay attention to it. Drury doesn't have a long track record, but there is nothing that he has shown to suggest anything other than filling holes.

 

[EdJovanovski]

He had an assist yesterday. He has 3 points in the last 5 games and he’s off a major injury. You gonna post this crap again if he gets an assist in the next game?

Only 3 assists. Blah blah blah.

It’s weird man. There are a ton of guys more deserving of your complaints after yesterday. He’s playing fine in a limited role.

Imagine telling someone in 2019 that we’d be excited about Kakko for having 3 assists in a 5 game span in his 5th NHL season.

 

[McRanger92]

Imagine telling someone in 2019 that we’d be excited about Kakko for having 3 assists in a 5 game span in his 5th NHL season.

Rich to troll the Kakko thread after your years of Kravtsov BS

 

[NYR Viper]

He JUST missed a beautiful redirect goal in the 3rd as well. He's coming around. You can tell that his line is starting to click. They know where eachother are.

Since coming back from a major injury, he has 5 points in 12 games, all at even strength. It's a small sample size, but if you extrapolate that out, that's a 35 point pace over 82 games, all happening at 5v5. And I would say he's improving as time moves on and his legs get back under him.

This is going to be a tale of 2 seasons for Kakko I think. Before and after the injury

 

[will1066]

Rich to troll the Kakko thread after your years of Kravtsov BS

If Ed was recruited to do a commercial promoting Kratvsov, it would probably look something like the Michael Cera CeraVe ad, offering Kravtsov as a gift to hockey and with scrolling words like "HOCKEY," "FLOWING LOCKS," and "SMOOTH".

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

Imagine telling someone in 2019 that we’d be excited about Kakko for having 3 assists in a 5 game span in his 5th NHL season.

Imagine telling someone in 2024 that they spend all their time on a Rangers message board complaining about the Rangers. I'm imagining this right now. It's you Ed.

 

[DanielBrassard]

I think he’s in the right role for his skill set and his linemates are good compliments for him.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

I think he’s in the right role for his skill set and his linemates are good compliments for him.

I'd love to see Cuylle - Trochek - Kakko as a line.

 

[eco's bones]

If something works it works. We haven't had enough bottom 6 scoring this year. Finally now Cuylle, Brodzinski and Kakko seem to be creating some chemistry together and knocking in some goals the last few games. They all bring something different to the line and if they can keep it going that's great.