Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[Killem Dafoe]

I agree with much of what you said especially about NYC but I was looking for actual skills like skating, shooting, puck carrying, passing, checking, etc.

He can be an elite puck possession monster with good IQ. He doesn't have crazy speed so the smaller spaces in the NHL kinda threw him off and destroyed his confidence. But in Liiga he was a rising star.

I really feel like he just accepted the fact that he was playing with big boys and wasn't the "guy" and just leaned back and sunk into mediocrity. He lacks that "f*** you, I'm good and I'm going to show you how good I am" attitude. He has more of an "Oh, OK, sorry I got in your way there, here ya go." attitude.

If he wakes up and decides he wants to play, he'll be great.

 

[noncents]

Kakko is the forward version of Lindgren because he is gifted a role that he has never showed he's qualified for based on reputation alone.

still don't know what you're talking about. Consensus #2 pick, is that the reputation or the gifted role?

Played on 3rd and 4th lines with dogshit linemates, told by david quinn to never carry the puck on his backhand, was that the gift?

The role he deserves is bottom 6 cycle line, secondary even strength scoring, and PK. he's paid commensurate with that role.

 

[RangersFan1994]

I remember this game and how excited I was. Then feeling like I got catfished.

In all seriousness, if he gets some confidence, he's capable of being an impactful player.

He only does well in preseason cause the competition is not great that just shows how lack of talented Kakko is. Marcel Hossa 2.0

 

[McRanger92]

still don't know what you're talking about. Consensus #2 pick, is that the reputation or the gifted role?

Played on 3rd and 4th lines with dogshit linemates, told by david quinn to never carry the puck on his backhand, was that the gift?

The role he deserves is bottom 6 cycle line, secondary even strength scoring, and PK. he's paid commensurate with that role.

Still blaming David Quinn lol. Kakko blames himself more than his stans do, at least he's got that going for him. Im fine with him sticking around but if they need to move 2.4 mil for an upgrade to the top 6 or top 4 D, bye bye.

 

[Killem Dafoe]

He only does well in preseason cause the competition is not great that just shows how lack of talented Kakko is. Marcel Hossa 2.0

I wanted Marian.

 

[noncents]

Still blaming David Quinn lol. Kakko blames himself more than his stans do, at least he's got that going for him. Im fine with him sticking around but if they need to move 2.4 mil for an upgrade to the top 6 or top 4 D, bye bye.

i don't blame quinn at all for kakkos down year in 2023-24. at all.

i do however blame quinn for putting Kakko in a poor position to succeed when he was the head coach of the rangers.

I'm trying to engage in good faith with what you wrote, that Kakko was "gifted" a role. I suspect that you simply do not like the player and want him off the team, and have trouble evaluating him because of it.


I like kakko a lot but i wouldn't be torn up if he got moved. What would anger me is if he was moved for nothing, like Buchnevich was. He has value, and if the return isn't worth the value, don't make the move. it's that simple.

 

[McRanger92]

i don't blame quinn at all for kakkos down year in 2023-24. at all.

i do however blame quinn for putting Kakko in a poor position to succeed when he was the head coach of the rangers.

I'm trying to engage in good faith with what you wrote, that Kakko was "gifted" a role. I suspect that you simply do not like the player and want him off the team, and have trouble evaluating him because of it.


I like kakko a lot but i wouldn't be torn up if he got moved. What would anger me is if he was moved for nothing, like Buchnevich was. He has value, and if the return isn't worth the value, don't make the move. it's that simple.

The last 3 seasons the Rangers have ignored RW in the offseason and given opportunities to Kakko (and Kravtsov last year) in the top 6 and both failed to capitalize. All 3 seasons weve traded assets at the deadline for RW help. What does that say? I wish we judged our actual good players with the same leniency of Kaapo Kakko.

 

[SeanAveryTheGreatOne]

The last 3 seasons the Rangers have ignored RW in the offseason and given opportunities to Kakko (and Kravtsov last year) in the top 6 and both failed to capitalize. All 3 seasons weve traded assets at the deadline for RW help. What does that say? I wish we judged our actual good players with the same leniency of Kaapo Kakko.

That MZ and CK suck 5v5

 

[noncents]

The last 3 seasons the Rangers have ignored RW in the offseason and given opportunities to Kakko (and Kravtsov last year) in the top 6 and both failed to capitalize. All 3 seasons weve traded assets at the deadline for RW help. What does that say? I wish we judged our actual good players with the same leniency of Kaapo Kakko.

what it says - about the point you're making - is that you blame Kakko for not being the player you thought or think he should be, or that the Rangers FO thought or thinks he was.

in my mind this is conclusion is an oversimplification (does anyone play well with 20/93??), but honestly that's irrelevant.

The only equation that matters is value relative to cap hit. Kakko provides positive value relative to his cap hit.

 

[McRanger92]

what it says - about the point you're making - is that you blame Kakko for not being the player you thought or think he should be, or that the Rangers FO thought or thinks he was.

in my mind this is conclusion is an oversimplification (does anyone play well with 20/93??), but honestly that's irrelevant.

The only equation that matters is value relative to cap hit. Kakko provides positive value relative to his cap hit.

Zuccarello, Buchnevich did. You know, actual top 6 players.

But I digress. I agree that Kakko provides value for his 2.4 million dollar cap hit, but thats not a high bar to clear. There are also guys who can provide 2.5mil in value for 800K. Ill be fine to see Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko 3rd line next year but I'm also not crying over spilled milk if Kakko goes the way of Andersson and Kravvy.

 

[RangersFan1994]

That MZ and CK suck 5v5

CK did not suck 5v5 with Stepan as his center. Mika is the issue here

 

[noncents]

Zuccarello, Buchnevich did. You know, actual top 6 players.

But I digress. I agree that Kakko provides value for his 2.4 million dollar cap hit, but thats not a high bar to clear. There are also guys who can provide 2.5mil in value for 800K. Ill be fine to see Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko 3rd line next year but I'm also not crying over spilled milk if Kakko goes the way of Andersson and Kravvy.

you keep trying to argue against someone that insists Kakko is a top 6 player. like the man Zimmerman said.. "it ain't me yer lookin for, babe"

andersson and kravtsov are not NHL players. kakko put up 40 ES points as a 22 year old, and was a huge part of the line that carried us to the ECF 2 years ago. you're just revealing ignorance to associate them.

people never talk about the kid line anymore but boy they sure enjoyed "the shift" when it happened.

 

[McRanger92]

andersson and kravtsov are not NHL players. kakko put up 40 ES points as a 22 year old, and was a huge part of the line that carried us to the ECF 2 years ago. you're just revealing ignorance to associate them.

people never talk about the kid line anymore but boy they sure enjoyed "the shift" when it happened.

The Kid line stunk and only looked good because Chytil was red hot in the Carolina series. Laf and Kakko didnt really do anything on it. It also set the organization back because gallant used it as a crunch because he couldnt be bothered to learn his own players strengths and weaknesses.

 

[NickyFotiu]

Sure but a good cycle game requires more than one person, and unfortunately bonino and wennberg were his most common centers. Two players who set nhl records for offensive futility.

In the old days you had a "corner guy" going in and digging the puck out to center it to the crease and slot guys. I just don't think a few cycles here or there is enough for KK to have the kind of career people hope for. I think he needs a great summer to add to his weapons.

 

[NickyFotiu]

He can be an elite puck possession monster with good IQ. He doesn't have crazy speed so the smaller spaces in the NHL kinda threw him off and destroyed his confidence. But in Liiga he was a rising star.

I really feel like he just accepted the fact that he was playing with big boys and wasn't the "guy" and just leaned back and sunk into mediocrity. He lacks that "f*** you, I'm good and I'm going to show you how good I am" attitude. He has more of an "Oh, OK, sorry I got in your way there, here ya go." attitude.

If he wakes up and decides he wants to play, he'll be great.

I hope you are right. I see a guy who hasnt really improved his skills much. I would expect some improvement just from him getting stronger over the years. I have seen some good moments in puck possession but it only turns elite if he can get off the boards and get to the net. Guys like Crosby, Forsberg, Jagr, and Nash did that.

 

[will1066]

The only thing Kakko is good at is not being confident.

Also RIP Donald Sutherland

 

[Killem Dafoe]

I hope you are right. I see a guy who hasnt really improved his skills much. I would expect some improvement just from him getting stronger over the years. I have seen some good moments in puck possession but it only turns elite if he can get off the boards and get to the net. Guys like Crosby, Forsberg, Jagr, and Nash did that.

I hope I'm right too, because I've been a fan of his for years. I honestly thought he was going to be a star in this league. He needs to be more confident. Like you said - go to the net. If he did that more he'd be much, much better.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I hope I'm right too, because I've been a fan of his for years. I honestly thought he was going to be a star in this league. He needs to be more confident. Like you said - go to the net. If he did that more he'd be much, much better.

Back in the old days we did drills where coaches would throw pucks in the corner and see who could go get the puck and get a shot on net. That may be something KK could do this summer. With that said I'd like him to concentrate on other areas as well. He does seem like a good guy. The better he does the better we do so fingers crossed.

 

[bhamill]

Zuccarello, Buchnevich did. You know, actual top 6 players.

But I digress. I agree that Kakko provides value for his 2.4 million dollar cap hit, but thats not a high bar to clear. There are also guys who can provide 2.5mil in value for 800K. Ill be fine to see Cuylle-Chytil-Kakko 3rd line next year but I'm also not crying over spilled milk if Kakko goes the way of Andersson and Kravvy.

Not one winger worked with 20-93 in the last 4 years, and we've tried all of them there... I'm not blaming the under 23yo player for that.

The issue is that Kakko will likely NOT go the way of Anderson or Karvtsov... KK IS an NHL player, the other two are not. The caution is over selling low on him, not on selling him.

 

[McRanger92]

Not one winger worked with 20-93 in the last 4 years, and we've tried all of them there... I'm not blaming the under 23yo player for that.

The issue is that Kakko will likely NOT go the way of Anderson or Karvtsov... KK IS an NHL player, the other two are not. The caution is over selling low on him, not on selling him.

All of them were has beens or never was'. Im not blaming Mika and Kreider for Kakko's failure to launch.

 

[will1066]

Back in the old days we did drills where coaches would throw pucks in the corner and see who could go get the puck and get a shot on net. That may be something KK could do this summer. With that said I'd like him to concentrate on other areas as well. He does seem like a good guy. The better he does the better we do so fingers crossed.

I guarantee that Kakko would get the puck first most of the time and then never get off the wall all of the time

 

[noncents]

All of them were has beens or never was'. Im not blaming Mika and Kreider for Kakko's failure to launch.

the difference is Kakko is being paid a fraction of what the other guys are making. It's not his responsibility to make their line produce at 5v5.

 

[Killem Dafoe]

Back in the old days we did drills where coaches would throw pucks in the corner and see who could go get the puck and get a shot on net. That may be something KK could do this summer. With that said I'd like him to concentrate on other areas as well. He does seem like a good guy. The better he does the better we do so fingers crossed.

Oh he seems like a great guy. And yeah, skating would be the number one thing I'd want him to keep working at. I still have hope for him!

 

[bhamill]

All of them were has beens or never was'. Im not blaming Mika and Kreider for Kakko's failure to launch.

Panarin has even seen some time there, they weren't all has beens and never wases. And even has beens and such can be effective sometimes... just not with those two. I'd like to try Laf there and watch him become less effective as well... they just don't work with anyone anymore. Or maybe just a very specific type?

I didn't say 20-93 were responsible for Kakko's issues, just that putting him with them was NOT putting him in a position to succeed. That has nothing to do with his struggles to score in the bottom six, just as Kakko isn't responsible for 20-93's constant struggles, esp at 5v5, to mesh with anyone else...

 

[mas0764]

Again, this is all the exact same conversation we were having about Lafreniere last year.

It's just that Kakko's is coming two years later in his career. That matters, but it's not too late for him.