NYR Viper
Registered User
I'd go long term if he'd take it. 7 years @ $4.25-$4.5m
Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko
- Thread starter Leonardo87
- Start date
I'd go long term if he'd take it. 7 years @ $4.25-$4.5m
So I say this over the summer. And absolutely get laughed at , we’re less than 10 games in. And now everyone is saying it.
NYR Viper
Registered User
I didn’t disagree with it, although waiting until 30-40 games into the year made sense. He was coming off a bad season and I’m sure any contract offering would have been undervalued in his eyes. I still have faith that he is a good player.
SeanAveryTheGreatOne
Registered User
- Jul 4, 2021
- 744
- 1,489
f***ing SICK assist by Kakko last night. He was one of our few bright spots in that loss.
If I'm Pete, I'm starting the Kakko line every game's opening draw! They've earned it!
will1066
Registered User
- Oct 12, 2008
- 48,271
- 67,449
Kid is trending to be a playmaker rather than a goal scorer. It's a hot take.
HockeyBasedNYC
Feeling it
Hes got the strength to score goals, Either they’ll be in close, or he works on his release.
He needs to get his shot off a lot faster than he does, but he’s a very talented player.
This is the Kakko I’ve seen for years, that everyone forgets about.
Big guy, not the fastest but fantastic edges which work down low.
Give him a legit center who can open space and he’s exactly what you want in the playoffs
LOFIN
Registered User
- Sep 16, 2011
- 16,897
- 23,957
TBH before his draft year, he was known more as a playmayker. He became a goalscorer during his draft year, when nobody else on the TPS team could put it on the net.
NYR Viper
Registered User
His game has been to pull guys to him and dish the puck off. It's why he has excelled with linemates who are okay with him having the puck. It's why he flat out doesn't work with Panarin.
It’s why I wanted us to make a play for laine.
Finnish, and absolutely would love to just get open and rifle one timers.
I had to pull up a quote from last year
Can't see a way to post it. I replied back to QJL in January last season when KK was "down and out".. had to agree with him, I said I would've gave KK the deal that Kotkaniemi got in Carolina. When the salary cap rises and we get past 90 million and then 95 million, good 3rd liners could be making +4Mil per. So at bare minimum Kakko is already there, but there was plenty of untapped talent still remaining.
Kakko has made beautiful little plays since he's been here. A lot of times they didn't result in points. He's been the king of almost. We saw a nice little break out for these guys when they had the kid line together a couple years ago. They each brought their own thing, that line worked together well. Then last year he spent a ton of time with CK and Mika, that line didn't really gel. We've started to see that maybe he wasn't just a weak link there but that the bromance has gone completely sour.
The Crypto Guy
Registered User
- Jun 26, 2017
- 28,307
- 36,915
He matched his assist total from last year with that assist yesterday 
6 assists in 9 games, last year he had 6 assists in 61 games.
6 assists in 9 games, last year he had 6 assists in 61 games.
I mean playing with these following centers last yearHe matched his assist total from last year with that assist yesterday
6 assists in 9 games, last year he had 6 assists in 61 games.
Bonino
Brodzinski
Wennberg
That’s really it.
Not that surprising
I sometimes wonder if that is why Kakko has not worked with Mika and Kreider when he got that chance.
Yup. And those little plays are actually important for a winning team.
It’s those things that you want to see guys do.
It’s why I defended him for so long. He may not score at the same rate as say Laf, but he has enough talent to easily be a 70 pt guy with the right line and pp time, while also providing mark stone level defense.
Having watched the games, there were a bunch of beautiful opportunities that he created that they couldn’t take advantage of.
It wasn’t till late last year that I realized it was that Mika was just getting bad though.
NYR Viper
Registered User
Yes it is, and it was evident last year. The only offense that line generated was from Kakko winning a board battle and springing those two for an odd-man chance. It just so happened that at that time, those guys couldn't finish it. But in the offensive zone, it's like Kreider and Zibanejad just don't know how to cycle or find space to create chances consistently.
Yup. The best example was when Kakko literally stripped a defender at the offensive blue line, gave a gorgeous back pass to Mika, who had a 2-0 with the goalie, and he tried passing to Ck and the pass didn’t connect.
UnSandvich
Registered User
- Sep 7, 2017
- 5,589
- 8,278
Zibanejad & Kreider (especially Zibanejad) don't play in the offensive zone unless it's a PP or a rush chance. Kakko is built to be a cycle engine. It was just never gonna work
DanielBrassard
It's all so tiresome
Good on Kakko, he’s been more involved and certainly having Chytil back has been a big benefit. Hes always looked his best when they are linemates.
007
You 'Orns!
I'll add to that: he also isn't that great at gaining the zone (though I think he's a lot better than when he arrived in that sense). Chytil is, however, so with Chytil gaining the zone, Kakko having the puck down low, Cuylle able to finish from the dots on in and Chytil ready to finish anywhere in the zone, they're an interesting group.
Kakko is the King of Almost in part because he really waits until the last second before popping a pass right out in front of the net. He draws defenders to him along the boards or behind the net, and waits until they're fully committed before passing. I'm not sure which is more common, but sometimes the play is gone by the time he passes, and sometimes the receiving player doesn't realize the puck is still going to come to him. He catches everyone off guard, but I wonder if they're getting more points in the last few games because Cuylle in particular is starting to get his timing.
Peltz
Registered User
- Oct 4, 2019
- 3,760
- 5,273
Chytil scored on the rush last game off a pass from Kakko.
Kreider and Zib don't even do that anymore at 5v5,
KirkAlbuquerque
#WeNeverGetAGoodCoach
One thing we haven't really mentioned much here, unfortunately we're in a tricky spot with Kakko. Despite the fact that he's still only 23, next year will already be his 7th season. That means that next year's off-season he's already going to be a UFA. So a cheap bridge deal for him this summer is off the table. Of course we could... but then he could walk freely the following summer. So we're kinda in a spot here now where we either lock him up with term, give him something short and risk losing him for nothing, or trade him
On top of that... we have young forward prospects knocking on the door. Othmann, Perreault, and Berard all look to have NHL futures. Panarin and Kreider's deals will expire within the next couple years. Lots of variables here
On top of that... we have young forward prospects knocking on the door. Othmann, Perreault, and Berard all look to have NHL futures. Panarin and Kreider's deals will expire within the next couple years. Lots of variables here
GAGLine
Registered User
- Sep 17, 2007
- 24,325
- 21,247
Yeah, it's going to be tough. A lot will depend on how much we clear by trading Trouba and how much we plan to spend to replace Lindgren. I hope we can keep him.
