Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[dangsLITE]

Lost on the bench by yet another coach lol

 

[Raspewtin]

he's playing very well lately. please for the love of god keep it up.

 

[NYR Viper]

Tale of 2 seasons:

First 20 games before injury
3 points in 20 games
All even strength

Next 15 games since returning from injury
8 points in 15 games
All even strength and 5v5

Updated these stats above for current

All while playing LESS time per game than last season.

That 8 points over 15 games is a 44 point pace. ALL AT 5v5

 

[bleedblue94]

The only plus from this is that through the process of healing nyr will be able to send him to the AHL for a stint prior to playing in the NHL again without a bunch of crazy negative attention. This kid would get a chance to build some offensive confidence without the scrutiny. Sucks for him though in general but might be a career reset for him.

He didn't get the AHl stint, but it does appear that the break has been a reset for him. The other thing is that while his knee was healing I wonder how much upper body and core work he did with the actual NYR staff. Not suggesting he doesn't put the time in during the summer, but we all know that these players use their own people for offseason training with suggested plans from their NHL org. They dont have to follow those plans though. For the past several weeks he was actually with the NHL staff working out. I wonder if this was a bit of a turning point in his training as well. We all see how he can work the boards and protect the puck using his lower body strength, but I wonder now if he has added some additional strength elsewhere that has made him more confident and effect with his core and upper body.

 

[Mugless]

When he plays with established vets, he defers. When he plays with other guys, he attacks.

 

[mas0764]

Play him on the frickin' penalty kill, idiots.

 

[NYR Viper]

When he plays with established vets, he defers. When he plays with other guys, he attacks.

I think this is possible, yes, but I also think he is deferring to the veterans on this team because of playing style. He isn't comfortable playing a game where he never has the puck.

I actually think he wouldn't defer to someone like Kreider or Trochek. Panarin and Zibanejad always want the puck

 

[will1066]

Really inexcusable for him to play 12:21 when Goodrow is getting 15 minutes.

Double-shift him in 3rd periods with Zib and Kreider, using a platoon with Vesey. Since Rempe is most likely going to sit the majority of third periods, Vesey is going to slot back into Rempe's spot. It can be similar to a 11-forward rotation situation after an injury.

 

[will1066]

Agreed. Its not poor development, its impatience with the fan base. How many of you were killing it at their jobs at 21-23- and im not talking about at popeyes- i mean a professional job.

I was pretty good at my first job out of school writing at a manufacturing industry magazine.

 

[NickyFotiu]

KK has been pretty good since I started applying the fat shaming strategy. Should I keep it up? Yes? Ok.

Keep shooting the puck you greasy fat bastard. Pretend the puck is a fried chicken sandwich coming straight at your mouth, but in reverse.

Does KK look fat to you? I was thinking he looked like he could use more muscle/bulk if he thinks his game is power.

 

[bhamill]

1000%. Sick of the ignorance- people like flashy names.

Yup. And I LIKE Zegras, I'd love to buy low on him if ANA is there, it's just the trade suggestions for him are WILD IMO.

 

[NYR94]

He's playing a full 2 minutes fewer per game this year than he did last year.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

Lost on the bench by yet another coach lol

Ill give it to Lav, that he had him and Brodz out on that 4 on 4 when he scored , in a 1-0 game - but it was mainly because they had so many PP & PKs going on prior to that. Was kinda suprised to see him out there and then boom, he makes a play.

I was really disappointed that he wasn't used more last night after his goal. Send him out on the PK and at the end of the game with the empty net. Especially when it was a 2 goal lead. You have Igor skating out and going for empty netters and you are rolling with Goodrow & Vesey. Either take Goody off after the faceoff or give Kakko a shot to show some appreciation. He's more than fine in either role. Give him a shot at an easy one.

I know Goodrow eats pucks, but I was expecting a little more PK time for Kakko now since Bonino was waived. Thats where you need to find him some more ice time. Goodrow got 15 min last night. Dude has 1 goal in 54 games. Hasnt scored since before Thanksgiving.

If they want to go places Kakko is the type of player they need to invest in. Build up his confidence and put him into positions to succeed. Since the 3rd line is meshing well and you dont want to put him back with Mika and Kreids (other than an occasional double shift) they have to have more faith in giving him more minutes in different roles. Goodrow isnt the future.

 

[Synergy27]

Does KK look fat to you? I was thinking he looked like he could use more muscle/bulk if he thinks his game is power.

Yeah. He’s a real fat f***. Disgusting.

 

[Unpredictable1]

Ill give it to Lav, that he had him and Brodz out on that 4 on 4 when he scored , in a 1-0 game - but it was mainly because they had so many PP & PKs going on prior to that. Was kinda suprised to see him out there and then boom, he makes a play.

I was really disappointed that he wasn't used more last night after his goal. Send him out on the PK and at the end of the game with the empty net. Especially when it was a 2 goal lead. You have Igor skating out and going for empty netters and you are rolling with Goodrow & Vesey. Either take Goody off after the faceoff or give Kakko a shot to show some appreciation. He's more than fine in either role. Give him a shot at an easy one.

I know Goodrow eats pucks, but I was expecting a little more PK time for Kakko now since Bonino was waived. Thats where you need to find him some more ice time. Goodrow got 15 min last night. Dude has 1 goal in 54 games. Hasnt scored since before Thanksgiving.

If they want to go places Kakko is the type of player they need to invest in. Build up his confidence and put him into positions to succeed. Since the 3rd line is meshing well and you dont want to put him back with Mika and Kreids (other than an occasional double shift) they have to have more faith in giving him more minutes in different roles. Goodrow isnt the future.

Great post - totally agree. I'm here for the Taco Taco renaissance.

Lavi has done it with Laf, and he is seemingly assessing how to force feed Kakko the same - I think someone mentioned it in another thread that he's gellin better on that 3rd line and putting him with Mika and Kreider might take away what he's recently built. Try and find other spots for him, pk and double shifting if a winger is needed due to someone getting repairs/gone to dressing room or coincidental penalties where a line is disrupted.

Either way lots goes into that which is beyond my expertise and why I'm on the couch lol

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

Am I the only one who notices the people who are hard on Kakko but also show up when things are going well compared to another person who is waiting for a bad game to post a laugh emoji on the first negative post they can find?

 

[ReddestRum]

Great post - totally agree. I'm here for the Taco Taco renaissance.

Lavi has done it with Laf, and he is seemingly assessing how to force feed Kakko the same - I think someone mentioned it in another thread that he's gellin better on that 3rd line and putting him with Mika and Kreider might take away what he's recently built. Try and find other spots for him, pk and double shifting if a winger is needed due to someone getting repairs/gone to dressing room or coincidental penalties where a line is disrupted.

Either way lots goes into that which is beyond my expertise and why I'm on the couch lol

Seconded. Keep him where he is and let his confidence build. It takes the pressure off of him of having to perform on the 1st line. On the 3rd, he can be a line leader and just do this thing.

 

[Harbour Dog]

That was a beauty of a shot on his goal. Disguised the timing and release point of his shot, and still got enough behind it to not give the goalie much chance. Reminded me a lot of how Getzlaf used to surprise goalies with his wrist shots all the time.

 

[NickyFotiu]

The only reason the Kakko trade rumors made any sense is that he’s an RFA with arbitration rights next summer and we have a plethora of young wingers and prospects: Lafreniere, Cuylle, Edstrom, Berard, Othmann, Perreault, Sykora. Not all of them will be able to play for the Rangers.

There’s no point in trading Kakko unless we get full value. He’s just 23 and still has a lot of promise.

I do not think the trade rumors were any big deal for a few reasons.

1. When a guy is in a slump trade rumors are not unusual from teams looking for a reclamation.
2. His low salary contract and high draft position attracts some potential people.
3. If people called about him that is a good thing. Shows he has some value.

 

[DoingItCoolKiwi]

I think someone mentioned it in another thread that he's gellin better on that 3rd line and putting him with Mika and Kreider might take away what he's recently built. Try and find other spots for him, pk and double shifting if a winger is needed due to someone getting repairs/gone to dressing room or coincidental penalties where a line is disrupted.

Does anyone have stats how many of Mika/Kreids lines 5v5 goals come of the cycle? Feels to me like it's almost none. 90% seem to come off the rush or right after faceoff. Kakko offense is all about puck possession and cycle, so I honestly dont think Kreider-Ziba-Kakko will ever work out offensively

 

[007]

Does anyone have stats how many of Mika/Kreids lines 5v5 goals come of the cycle? Feels to me like it's almost none. 90% seem to come off the rush or right after faceoff. Kakko offense is all about puck possession and cycle, so I honestly dont think Kreider-Ziba-Kakko will ever work out offensively

Someone who knows more about actually playing the game better than I do: could, in theory, adding Kakko to that line introduce an element of scoring off the cycle?

Or are Mika and Kreider just too much their own thing and whoever their wing is forced to merely complement what they do?

(Feel free to call me out on this post being unintelligible, too.)

 

[Jaromir Jagr]

I will give Lav some time to use him more. KK wasn't great when he got back from injury but is hitting his stride lately.

Lav drives me nuts with how slowly he adjusts, but he's making the right decisions in the end (cutting Bonino & Pitlick are top of mind). Are there things I'd like him to do differently, yes, but I have faith that KK can earn more ice time and (I'm praying) penalty kill time, as he continues to show he's worthy.

 

[Harbour Dog]

Someone who knows more about actually playing the game better than I do: could, in theory, adding Kakko to that line introduce an element of scoring off the cycle?

Or are Mika and Kreider just too much their own thing and whoever their wing is forced to merely complement what they do?

(Feel free to call me out on this post being unintelligible, too.)

I don't really know either, but that would be my guess.

Kakko and Cuylle are fully committed to the cycle, and Brodzinski is pretty quick to step in when he has to.

Kreider is pretty quick to step in, but Zibanejad avoids cycling as much as he can; and they both try to turn it to the slot as quickly as possible, whereas the two kids are ready and willing to grind it out on the perimeter for an entire shift if no opportunity presents itself. It would be up to Kakko to change his play style to fit their's, which goes against his strengths.

With the way that Kakko has been creating and finding space with and without the puck while that line is cycling, there isn't a chance in hell that I'd move him away now. He's starting to figure out how to be an offensive threat with all that zone time he helps sustain.

 

[bhamill]

I do not think the trade rumors were any big deal for a few reasons.

1. When a guy is in a slump trade rumors are not unusual from teams looking for a reclamation.
2. His low salary contract and high draft position attracts some potential people.
3. If people called about him that is a good thing. Shows he has some value.

Exactly.

 

[DoingItCoolKiwi]

In 2024, Kakko is 2nd in even strength p/60. He may not be a perfect fit for the current rangers top 6, but trading him might make Drury look a bit silly since he'll have the value of a 30-40 point player. Tough spot for management to be in.