Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[CasusBelli]

That’s about $1MM too rich for me. You can replace him with a UFA.

 

[McRanger92]

Unless he breaks out like Lafreniere

Any day now

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Any day now

Had a poor season last year with the injury. Year before he was almost a 20G scorer and had 40 points. He doesn't need score 60P, but he's easily capable of putting 45 points next season if he's healthy. 45 points for a 2.4M player would be great, anything extra is a bonus.

I think Lafs breakout will only motivate him this offseason even more to try and do the same.

 

[McRanger92]

Had a poor season last year with the injury. Year before he was almost a 20G scorer and had 40 points. He doesn't need score 60P, but he's easily capable of putting 45 points next season if he's healthy. 45 points for a 2.4M player would be great, anything extra is a bonus.

I think Lafs breakout will only motivate him this offseason even more to try and do the same.

As the 2nd overall pick we need more than that. I think we can put the bed the narrative that the Rangers caused his development to stall. He might've had a point under Quinn but his individual skills and conditioning haven't meaningfully changed over the last 3 years. He should be feeling the pressure to perform now because he's on the Jesse Puljujarvi career arc. It's really sack up time for Kakko, time to take the pampers off, like Lafreniere. Long past time.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

As the 2nd overall pick we need more than that. I think we can put the bed the narrative that the Rangers caused his development to stall. He might've had a point under Quinn but his individual skills and conditioning haven't meaningfully changed over the last 3 years. He should be feeling the pressure to perform now because he's on the Jesse Puljujarvi career arc. It's really sack up time for Kakko, time to take the pampers off, like Lafreniere. Long past time.

At this point, we need to just stop worrying about his draft position. If we get a solid 2nd liner out of him then we should be happy. Puljujarvi was awful at defense, at least Kakko is solid in that part of his game, he'll have a NHL career, whether that is as a 3rd liner or better.

 

[McRanger92]

At this point, we need to just stop worrying about his draft position. If we get a solid 2nd liner out of him then we should be happy. Puljujarvi was awful at defense, at least Kakko is solid in that part of his game, he'll have a NHL career, whether that is as a 3rd liner or better.

Draft position is probably the only reason he wasnt trade for Eichel or Tkachuk(or Guentzel or any number of actual good players who couldve helped us). We can ignore it from a trade value standpoint certainly, but in terms of on-ice play its just an excuse to let Kakko off the hook for being a big disappointment and holding the team back quite frankly

 

[Hunter Gathers]

Glad we got it done. Now Kakko just needs to take the next step. I think he can.

He better. This is a prove-it deal.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Draft position is probably the only reason he wasnt trade for Eichel or Tkachuk(or Guentzel or any number of actual good players who couldve helped us). We can ignore it from a trade value standpoint certainly, but in terms of on-ice play its just an excuse to let Kakko off the hook for being a big disappointment and holding the team back quite frankly

I can agree of course he has been a disappointment, from where he was drafted (duh), but I don't think he's holding the team back. His playoffs were disappointing but a lot of players ended up holding the team back more than he did.

 

[McRanger92]

I can agree of course he has been a disappointment, from where he was drafted (duh), but I don't think he's holding the team back. His playoffs were disappointing but a lot of players ended up holding the team back more than he did.

We don't have enough in our top 6 to compete with the true contenders because our 2nd overall pick turned into a breakeven 3rd line possession winger. If Kakko fulfilled his destiny in a timely manner like Laf, we might still be playing. But instead we need to trade for a RW every year at the deadline. Its not sustainable. Now we are at the point that its decision time on Kakko and we still have no clue what his upside even is. Him muddying the roster dynamics post Buch trade is an underdiscussed problem. A lot of talk on the board has been about how the core "choked" but at least those guys are, you know, actually good players, regardless of whether they are overpaid. Kakko has never done anything to think he will become an impact player and the Rangers are kind of wasting Igor's cheap years hoping a solution comes up organically.

 

[HockeyBasedNYC]

I s’pose. But for grins, name me 3 teams that would pay that price…

Im not a GM so i dont know, but several "reclamation project" trades are made every season.

Kakko isnt even in that group. He's 23 years old.

I think several teams would take flyer on a 2.4m deal for a guy with size, plays great defense and has the ability to top 40 points if put with the right linemates.

The issue is the return. To make it worth it for the Rangers it would likely be in a package deal, maybe to move up in the 1st round or something or bring in a top 6 piece to help win a Cup.

But for me personally, for what he provides and at that Cap hit I stick with the kid.

 

[will1066]

Jesus and Moses would go scoreless playing on a line with Kakko.

 

[McRanger92]

Jesus and Moses would go scoreless playing on a line with Kakko.

To be fair the Devil would as well if Hell was matching lines

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Jesus and Moses would go scoreless playing on a line with Kakko.

A unfortunate result of him playing with Kreider and Mika. Gretzky's offense would dry up playing with those two at ES. KK was doomed from the start of the season and could never recover.

 

[will1066]

To be fair the Devil would as well if Hell was matching lines

That's Maurice.

 

[UnSandvich]

We don't have enough in our top 6 to compete with the true contenders because our 2nd overall pick turned into a breakeven 3rd line possession winger. If Kakko fulfilled his destiny in a timely manner like Laf, we might still be playing. But instead we need to trade for a RW every year at the deadline. Its not sustainable. Now we are at the point that its decision time on Kakko and we still have no clue what his upside even is. Him muddying the roster dynamics post Buch trade is an underdiscussed problem. A lot of talk on the board has been about how the core "choked" but at least those guys are, you know, actually good players, regardless of whether they are overpaid. Kakko has never done anything to think he will become an impact player and the Rangers are kind of wasting Igor's cheap years hoping a solution comes up organically.

We don't have enough in our top 6 to compete with the true contenders because our "1C" forgot the game is played at 5v5 too, and not just at special teams.

 

[McRanger92]

We don't have enough in our top 6 to compete with the true contenders because our "1C" forgot the game is played at 5v5 too, and not just at special teams.

Our 1C was Trocheck and he was one of our better players all playoffs. Mika sucked and had a down year but can we see him with an NHL caliber RW before we ride him out of town on a rail?

 

[UnSandvich]

Our 1C was Trocheck and he was one of our better players all playoffs. Mika sucked and had a down year but can we see him with an NHL caliber RW before we ride him out of town on a rail?

The last time Zibanejad looked good at 5v5 was with Buchnevich. He's been bad with Kakko, Vatrano, Wheeler, Roslovic, Kane, Vesey, Tarasenko, the list goes on. At this point, maybe it's not the RW that's the problem mate

 

[Gordon Bombay]

Am I ready for life post-Kakko? You bet.

I guess “Do Something, Kakko” isn’t getting renewed

 

[McRanger92]

The last time Zibanejad looked good at 5v5 was with Buchnevich. He's been bad with Kakko, Vatrano, Wheeler, Roslovic, Kane, Vesey, Tarasenko, the list goes on. At this point, maybe it's not the RW that's the problem mate

You made my point for me. None of those guys is a top 6 player lol, more than half are guys they picked up off the scrap heap. The Wonder twins played with Zucc before Buch and were very good as well. Both those guys could pass the puck and enter the zone with possession. Mika said in his exit interview he needs a good passer on his wing. We can whine that we'll never win with Zibanejad, (which is inherently false because we win a shitload with him), or we can actually ice a competent top 6 and see what happens. I prefer option 2.

 

[UnSandvich]

You made my point for me. None of those guys is a top 6 player lol, more than half are guys they picked up off the scrap heap. The Wonder twins played with Zucc before Buch and were very good as well. Both those guys could pass the puck and enter the zone with possession. Mika said in his exit interview he needs a good passer on his wing. We can whine that we'll never win with Zibanejad, (which is inherently false because we win a shitload with him), or we can actually ice a competent top 6 and see what happens. I prefer option 2.

Kakko put up 40 points before last year playing on the third line
Wheeler had 55 points and 39 assists before last season
Kane finished 2nd on CHI in points last year despite being injured and then traded to NY
Vatrano led the Ducks this year in points
Tarasenko was a multiple time 30+30 scorer and had 10+19 in 38 games before his trade here.

He's had options, and he's disappointed every time.

 

[Atax]

Kakko put up 40 points before last year playing on the third line
Wheeler had 55 points and 39 assists before last season
Kane finished 2nd on CHI in points last year despite being injured and then traded to NY
Vatrano led the Ducks this year in points
Tarasenko was a multiple time 30+30 scorer and had 10+19 in 38 games before his trade here.

He's had options, and he's disappointed every time.

Theres always excuses for Mika.

Sure, we need a top 6 RW since Kakko is about to leave the NHL, but the defense needs to be the priority. We're likely going to go with a rookie or a year prove it type of contract/player.


Kreider is streaky, but he seems to be able to score at ES with these supposedly bad wingers.

 

[DanielBrassard]

The last time Zibanejad looked good at 5v5 was with Buchnevich. He's been bad with Kakko, Vatrano, Wheeler, Roslovic, Kane, Vesey, Tarasenko, the list goes on. At this point, maybe it's not the RW that's the problem mate

Truthfully Zibanejad has never been good at 5v5. He’s a passenger in the truest sense of the word. His wingers have to do the heavy lifting for him.

 

[McRanger92]

Kakko put up 40 points before last year playing on the third line
Wheeler had 55 points and 39 assists before last season
Kane finished 2nd on CHI in points last year despite being injured and then traded to NY
Vatrano led the Ducks this year in points
Tarasenko was a multiple time 30+30 scorer and had 10+19 in 38 games before his trade here.

He's had options, and he's disappointed every time.

Points schmoints. None of those guys are needle movers at the point in their career they became Rangers (Tarasenko was the closest but we screwed that with how we used Kane). Congrats to them on being productive in big roles on the worst teams in the league though.

 

[Atax]

Points schmoints. None of those guys are needle movers at the point in their career they became Rangers (Tarasenko was the closest but we screwed that with how we used Kane). Congrats to them on being productive in big roles on the worst teams in the league though.

So if Vatrano is putting up more points with lesser players, why cant Mika with better players around him?

 

[McRanger92]

So if Vatrano is putting up more points with lesser players, why cant Mika with better players around him?

Did you want Vatrano back at the deadline? I sure as hell didnt. He's the triggerman on the Ducks top powerplay, of course he is putting up points. He sucks 5v5 too.