Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[E-Train]

This is “we should trade Laf+ for Zegras while he’s still got any value left” all over again.

Or Laf for Podkolzin and his 24 pts in the A or Laf for 32 year old Evander Kane.

I’m not opposed to buying low on Zegras but not at the premium Verbeek will demand.

 

[bhamill]

Or Laf for Podkolzin and his 24 pts in the A or Laf for 32 year old Evander Kane.

I’m not opposed to buying low on Zegras but not at the premium Verbeek will demand.

Agreed.
I’m NOT anti Zegras, I’m anti overpaying for Zegras. Or anyone else.
And I do not think Kakko is untouchable. Frankly, we don’t have the best player in the league, so literally no one on this team is untouchable. Hell even Gretzky was traded. There is no such thing as untouchable.

 

[tlk]

Agreed.
I’m NOT anti Zegras, I’m anti overpaying for Zegras. Or anyone else.
And I do not think Kakko is untouchable. Frankly, we don’t have the best player in the league, so literally no one on this team is untouchable. Hell even Gretzky was traded. There is no such thing as untouchable.

That mindset should lend us Eichels. And VGK fleeced Buffalo, to shove a cup into the Internet idiots fanboys faces.
If Zegras is really tired of circus hockey, we should go for it. If it's possible to get him without forking out - it's gotta be this time.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Because he’s done the Michigan a few times people think he’s some one trick pony and forget he had back to back 60+ pt seasons. Kakko has got over 23pts once in his career.

Lets be real, he wouldn't be on your radar if he wasn't doing flashy shit.

His strengths kind of already align with what this team is pretty good at and his weaknesses are.... exactly what this team already sucks at.

If this were a team heavy on the plumbers and ginders it would make sense, but hes just another one dimensional rush forward who wouldn't sniff pp1 time here.

Could he help Zibanejad? Sure, but there are a bunch of players who could help him.

 

[NickyFotiu]

That mindset should lend us Eichels. And VGK fleeced Buffalo, to shove a cup into the Internet idiots fanboys faces.
If Zegras is really tired of circus hockey, we should go for it. If it's possible to get him without forking out - it's gotta be this time.

Its quite possible we are overestimating both KK and Zegras current trade value. Some fans still look at them as new cars but GMs may look at both as 4-5 year old cars with dings and check engine lights on.

 

[jerseyjinx94]

Kakko needs to figure out what’s going on mentally with him. When he bullrushes and plays in the corners he’s extremely effective offensively. He’s too timid with the puck and that screams confidence to me. Rangers need to figure out how to unleash this kid

 

[Raspewtin]

I think Kakko has actually had a nice streak lately, not really in terms of points but his overall game. he's one of the only players I concur that needs to play more physical to be effective. he doesn't have much NHL level offensive skill but his in tight puck control is great and his edges are strong. absolutely no reason he shouldn't be bullrushing the slot and net front every single time. I think he's been doing it more lately but not enough.

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

It's amazing to me this thread keeps getting updated with negativity. Since moving down to line 3, that's been the line that has had the least to worry about. Cheapest line we have, most reliable to play sound defensively and chip in on offense.

Kakko with Mika and Kreider is still top 10 statistically. How have Mika and Kreider looked recently? The main things this team needs to be worried about is Igor, and Mika/Kreider. Not Kakko.

 

[surlysailor]

I think Kakko has actually had a nice streak lately, not really in terms of points but his overall game. he's one of the only players I concur that needs to play more physical to be effective. he doesn't have much NHL level offensive skill but his in tight puck control is great and his edges are strong. absolutely no reason he shouldn't be bullrushing the slot and net front every single time. I think he's been doing it more lately but not enough.

For a guy playing 10-12 min a night since being put w/Cuylle he's had 4 points in 6 games. Overall the season hasn't been great but he started off w/the notorious slow starters in KZ, then got injured. I think he was ready to play but needed time to use to the pace of the game. That line has been great and 4 points in 6 games w/hardly any ice time and basically 0 pp time is pretty good imo. Would I like him to get points like Panarin? Yes, but I still think it's coming along nicely esp playing guy like Cuylle & Brodz who are just starting to be full time NHLers and are starting to add up some points since KK has been placed with them.

 

[NYR Viper]

I'll just reiterate, Kakko since returning from a major injury on January 14th, after missing almost 2 months with a very serious knee injury, has 5 points in 12 games. That doesn't seem that impressive until you look deeper into the numbers:

1) All of those points came at 5v5
2) His average ice time has hovered around 12:30 a game
3) Reiterating, he is coming back from a pretty serious injury
4) He was mainly playing with Bonino as his center for a good portion of this time

I realize it's bad practice to extrapolate too far out from a smaller sample here but if we just look at that pace, that's a 34 5v5 points over an 82 game season pace (5/12 * 82).

If we look at last year, he had 32 5v5 points over his 82 game season. So if we liked his season last year, he's playing pretty well since returning.

I see no reason to rush him out of town.

GET THIS MAN ON THE PK!!!!!

 

[Kocur Dill]

Kakko needs to figure out what’s going on mentally with him. When he bullrushes and plays in the corners he’s extremely effective offensively. He’s too timid with the puck and that screams confidence to me. Rangers need to figure out how to unleash this kid

He's too timid when playing with Bro-Duo's that pond hockey to each other and don't involve him in the play or care to cycle which he is rather good at. Zib/Kri and Bread/Stome come to mind.

He's been Aces with Laf/Chytil and now Cuylle with Brodz playing a support role to those two.

Definitely a confidence thing. Seems to come out of his shell when playing with contemporaries than with vets.

Is it Stargazing? Is he the 3rd wheel in others bromance? IDK. But, I don't think it's too hard to see a developing pattern.

 

[Kocur Dill]

I think Kakko has actually had a nice streak lately, not really in terms of points but his overall game. he's one of the only players I concur that needs to play more physical to be effective. he doesn't have much NHL level offensive skill but his in tight puck control is great and his edges are strong. absolutely no reason he shouldn't be bullrushing the slot and net front every single time. I think he's been doing it more lately but not enough.

Watching tape of and emulating Franzen in his prime would do wonders if KK is willing and capable.

 

[McRanger92]

Watching tape of and emulating Franzen in his prime would do wonders if KK is willing and capable.

Good comp but hopefully Kakko keeps his head up more

 

[dangsLITE]

Do we think he's never been considered as a legitimate option on the PK due to concerns about his (generally) average - below average conditioning over the years or what? To me, he could have been a regular in the rotation for several seasons now with his good defensive position/stick but those are hard minutes. Given he's only getting 12-14 in ES min per game right now and very little PP, seems like he should able to handle being the 4th-5th guy?

 

[Gordon Bombay]

There’s a couple things with Kakko as to why he’s not on the PK

One is his first step is very slow. He would basically have to be stationary up on the point making it very easy to pass/shoot/whatever

The other thing is he’s missed considerable time in 2 seasons, missing any chance to practice and get incorporated.

If his skating gets better I think he could really excel in the role though

 

[Peltz]

Kakko needs to figure out what’s going on mentally with him. When he bullrushes and plays in the corners he’s extremely effective offensively. He’s too timid with the puck and that screams confidence to me. Rangers need to figure out how to unleash this kid

You see a guy that needs to figure things out. I see a player who is doing exactly that coming off an injury as a 23 year old. He makes every line he plays with better analytically. He keeps doing what he’s doing and the puck has to go in for his line more.

They literally won the last game together due exactly to the way he plays.

Yes, it’s his 5th year, but this kid was rushed into the NHL on the wrong roster for him to explode out of the gate. And each of the three coaches has been too impatient with him in my opinion.

He’s going to break out exactly like laf has this year, maybe even as soon as the post-season. But Kakko will do so with less elite passing and shooting, and more jam around the net.

My issue with trading him is that he is a two way guy you need in the post-season. Trading him for a RW that Zib and Kreider could play with just sits so wrongly with me. He really is the guy who will fix the top line if the coach gives him some leeway to dictate play and make some mistakes.

 

[Guyute]

There’s a couple things with Kakko as to why he’s not on the PK

One is his first step is very slow. He would basically have to be stationary up on the point making it very easy to pass/shoot/whatever

The other thing is he’s missed considerable time in 2 seasons, missing any chance to practice and get incorporated.

If his skating gets better I think he could really excel in the role though

Goodrow’s first step is extremely slow and it doesn’t stop Lavvy from throwing him out there on every PK.

Goodrow is a classic case of “we committed many years and dollars to this guy so we need to play him”. If he didn’t have that contract, he would be in the same boat as Bonino and Pitlick.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

2 points tonight

 

[doomscroll]

23-7-2 with Kakko in the lineup, including the loss where he was injured and played less than 7 minutes.

 

[SeanAveryTheGreatOne]

23-7-2 with Kakko in the lineup, including the loss where he was injured and played less than 7 minutes.

MVP

 

[NickyFotiu]

I think Kakko has actually had a nice streak lately, not really in terms of points but his overall game. he's one of the only players I concur that needs to play more physical to be effective. he doesn't have much NHL level offensive skill but his in tight puck control is great and his edges are strong. absolutely no reason he shouldn't be bullrushing the slot and net front every single time. I think he's been doing it more lately but not enough.

The coach said the 3rd line is playing well. Now he often says that about most the lines but I think he meant it over the last handful of games.

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

Points in 5 of the last 7 games. Let’s complain that his goal was at the end of a blowout. Gotta complain about something.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

He’s looked way better since coming back.

Unfortunate Chytil got hurt bc he’s the perfect compliment to that line.

 

[bhamill]

You can see Kakko starting to come around. His confidence is getting up. We would be idiots to sell low on him.

 

[bl02]

He’s looked way better since coming back.

Unfortunate Chytil got hurt bc he’s the perfect compliment to that line.

Wouldn't people complain that we formed kid line #2?