Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[ICanMotteBelieveIt]

Kakko's spirit animal is Ferdinand The Bull.

 

[Albatros]

Can we perhaps stop saying that this guy is anything remotely special defensively? I really couldn't care less what the advanced stats say about his defensive game when three separate coaches think he's not good enough to PK.

There are plenty of defensively solid forwards that don't play PK. Just means the team has other players more suitable for that particular situation. In this case a PK specialist in Goodrow and an SH threat in Kreider.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

How much is he going to get realistically?

His QO is $2.4M. I don't see what he brings to the table to be worth that, here.

There are plenty of defensively solid forwards that don't play PK. Just means the team has other players more suitable for that particular situation. In this case a PK specialist in Goodrow and an SH threat in Kreider.

Oh, God. No. We aren't even going to go, here. Kakko is nothing special defensively. The only reason people say he's decent defensively is because he's a f***ing gaping black hole offensively and they are trying to justify his roster spot.

The idea that Kakko is a good defensive player is just silly. He's not. He's a floater who has some decent puck protection. He's, as said like 45 times, a modern-day Marcel Hossa. Just a much bigger bust.

 

[noncents]

Kakko's spirit animal is Fernando The Bull.

you mean ferdinand??

 

[ICanMotteBelieveIt]

you mean ferdinand??

Lmao, yeah.

 

[noncents]

Lmao, yeah.

shame be upon you


also.. kakko throws hits and uses his body. he just doesn't score enough

 

[Albatros]

Oh, God. No. We aren't even going to go, here. Kakko is nothing special defensively. The only reason people say he's decent defensively is because he's a f***ing gaping black hole offensively and they are trying to justify his roster spot.

The idea that Kakko is a good defensive player is just silly. He's not. He's a floater who has some decent puck protection. He's, as said like 45 times, a modern-day Marcel Hossa. Just a much bigger bust.

You're free to be as low on him as you wish, regardless his defensive results have reliably been good. This regular season + playoffs combined he was on ice for only 29 goals against in 76 games and 992 minutes of hockey. That's 1.75 goals against per 60 minutes. And 2.18 goals for which isn't a lot, but anyhow a clear net positive in this case.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

You're free to be as low on him as you wish, regardless his defensive results have reliably been good. This regular season + playoffs combined he was on ice for only 29 goals against in 76 games and 992 minutes of hockey. That's 1.75 goals against per 60 minutes. And 2.18 goals for which isn't a lot, but anyhow a clear net positive in this case.

Cool! He can be a "clear net positive" elsewhere. I really don't give a flying f*** about the analytics on Kakko since the eye test is incredibly clear.

He's ass. He's an over-drafted Marcel Hossa.

 

[DanielBrassard]

Kakko is a good defensive forward, there’s no question. Whether that’s because of actual defensive talent or because he’s good at wasting time protecting the puck in the offensive zone, spinning around and then doing nothing dangerous with it is another story but the results are good.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Kakko had a fantastic d-1 offensive season in Finland. He had better numbers (adjusted) than barkov.

Even blind chicken finds a seed sometimes.
But nothing change that Kakko hasn't done jack-shit
to assure rangers of that he was a worth of 2nd overall pick.
And being brutally honest taking Kakko 2nd overall in 2019 draft looks a total joke right now.

 

[Albatros]

Cool! He can be a "clear net positive" elsewhere. I really don't give a flying f*** about the analytics on Kakko since the eye test is incredibly clear.

He's ass. He's an over-drafted Marcel Hossa.

If you find better value elsewhere, by all means. You can get a David Kämpf or a Jesper Fast with the same money.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Kakko is a good defensive forward, there’s no question. Whether that’s because of actual defensive talent or because he’s good at wasting time protecting the puck in the offensive zone, spinning around and then doing nothing dangerous with it is another story but the results are good.

Well, it's most definitely the latter.

444th in takeaways (17 takeaways vs 16 giveaways this year).

216th in expected goals against

314th in shot attempts against

226th in high danger shot attempts against

His expected goal differential is 1.9 (Lmfao wow)

So, yeah. The guy does nothing special defensively. He's far from some good defensive forward. He's just there. He holds onto the puck. That's literally all he does. I think you nailed it with the bold.

When you look at his high danger chances, it shows you that he does nothing with the puck, too. 429th this year with 6 of them.

I think the wild thing is that no one can really point to anything specific that he does well other than hold onto the puck. Like, you hear these vague platitudes about how he's some really good defensive forward. OK. What aspect of his game is good? He's awful with takeaways. He's mid as can possibly be in every other defensive metric. So what is he doing that's "good" defensively? Can anyone be specific? What else, other than holding onto the puck, is he good at?

If you find better value elsewhere, by all means. You can get a David Kämpf or a Jesper Fast with the same money.

What specifically is he good at defensively other than holding onto the puck in the offensive zone?

I'm not even trying to be a dick (I know, it comes naturally), here. I am flabbergasted when people post this stuff because there is never anything specific. Just vague-posting.

 

[ChicagoBullsFan]

Kakko is better suited for Euro leagues. He needs space to make things happen. He will be out of the NHL in the next few years. Maybe things would be different if he stayed in Europe for another year or 2, after his draft year. Marcel Hossa 2.0 but with less talent

That same was said on Jesse Puljujärvi too and still he's into NHL.
If Puljujärvi got one more chance after that huge double hip surgery then why not Kakko cannot get that.

 

[Albatros]

What specifically is he good at defensively other than holding onto the puck in the offensive zone?

Reads the plays well, good forechecking and generally mistake-free 200ft game doing what he should. More of a Swiss army knife player than he gets credit for.

 

[SeanAveryTheGreatOne]

KK played through injury all year. He will be a 50-point player next year for whatever team he's on.

 

[noncents]

Even blind chicken finds a seed sometimes.
But nothing change that Kakko hasn't done jack-shit
to assure rangers of that he was a worth of 2nd overall pick.
And being brutally honest taking Kakko 2nd overall in 2019 draft looks a total joke right now.

this doesn't make him an nhl asset without value

 

[RangersFan1994]

KK played through injury all year. He will be a 50-point player next year for whatever team he's on.

If he was that banged up that did not produce much cause of that, well he was not helping the team and being selfish. His stats suffer cause of that. If he was really hurt, Rangers should have called up Edstrom Othmann or Berard if that was the case. Kakko needs better conditioning like the rest of the team. Panthers are well conditioned and the playoffs proved that. Rangers need to be up to that standard of conditioning to actually be able to compete in the 3rd. That is on the players and management for not getting the players into better conditioned shape. Keep taking shortcuts.

 

[Paulie Walnutz]

Another Statboy Steve bust. Krapsoft, Lisa Andersson, and Suckvist.

 

[Jagr676]

What about the Othmann?

 

[dshea19]

Keeping him or trading him is going to be based on what they can do with him. If he is a consistent 50 point player, he isn't a bust, but he is a disappointment. However, his value to the team might be more about how they can use him to improve the team to be a cup contender. The Rangers traded Weight and Amonte to get a cup. Kakko will never be either one of those guys at this point and keeping him is not going to be the thing that puts them over the top. So, if they can turn him into something that improves the team you do it 100 out of 100 times. If they can't get anything to improve the team, you keep him. You don't trade him just to trade him and the Rangers aren't going to do that. There is one goal: the cup. Everything has to serve that end. There are times when it hurts to do the thing that furthers the ultimate goal.

 

[NickyFotiu]

You're free to be as low on him as you wish, regardless his defensive results have reliably been good. This regular season + playoffs combined he was on ice for only 29 goals against in 76 games and 992 minutes of hockey. That's 1.75 goals against per 60 minutes. And 2.18 goals for which isn't a lot, but anyhow a clear net positive in this case.

Just to play devils advocate is the 1.75 goals against usually going against other teams top line players or against bottom 6 line players?

 

[SA16]

Just to play devils advocate is the 1.75 goals against usually going against other teams top line players or against bottom 6 line players?

It doesn't really matter because even against bottom 6 those are great numbers.

 

[NickyFotiu]

It doesn't really matter because even against bottom 6 those are great numbers.

Just for discussion sake I will take the other side of this stats based debate. Are those great defensive numbers if going against Alex Wennberg type scorers? If they are great numbers shouldn't other teams be breaking down our door with great trade offers.

 

[SA16]

Just for discussion sake I will take the other side of this stats based debate. Are those great defensive numbers if going against Alex Wennberg type scorers? If they are great numbers shouldn't other teams be breaking down our door with great trade offers.

Yes, that's why I said it doesn't matter. In Wennberg's three years in Seattle his team scored 2.15, 2.36, 2.71 GF60 with Wennberg on the ice. They are great numbers against anyone. 1.75 GF60 is roughly what Ryan Reaves has averaged in his career.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Yes, that's why I said it doesn't matter. In Wennberg's three years in Seattle his team scored 2.15, 2.36, 2.71 GF60 with Wennberg on the ice. They are great numbers against anyone. 1.75 GF60 is roughly what Ryan Reaves has averaged in his career.

Well going by what you say shouldn't other teams recognize KKs great play and give us very good trade offers?