Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[SeanAveryTheGreatOne]

Kakko f***ing KILLED IT last night and will continue to do so all season!

 

[noncents]

we kakko stans are magnanimous. all heretics and betrayers are welcome back into the flock.

 

[Grifter3511]

Did he look as good as the box score indicates?

Edit: and how did pp2 get a goal? Was it in pp garbage time or was top unit out right before pp and needed a break?

 

[bl02]

Amazing what playing with probably our most underrated player in Fil can do.
He literally can't do shit with any other center but I'm fine with them forming this kind of chemistry

 

[Rongomania]

Amazing what playing with probably our most underrated player in Fil can do.
He literally can't do shit with any other center but I'm fine with them forming this kind of chemistry

Mika has blown when not playing on the pp, brodz/bonino/Wennberg were offensive black holes.

It’s not like we’ve seen him play with another stud C, ever.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

Kakko up to 4 assists, had 6 all of last season. Some bad luck evening out

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Mika has blown when not playing on the pp, brodz/bonino/Wennberg were offensive black holes.

It’s not like we’ve seen him play with another stud C, ever.

Mika has blown on the PP too

Did he look as good as the box score indicates?

Edit: and how did pp2 get a goal? Was it in pp garbage time or was top unit out right before pp and needed a break?

PP1 miraculously got off after about a minute or so

 

[Rangerboy030]

It would be just our luck if Kakko broke out at the exact point we can't afford him, wouldn't it?

C'est la vie. This year is an all-or-nothing year in my eyes.

 

[NickyFotiu]

And just like that Kakko now has 5 points in the first 6 games of the season and has not been on the ice for an ES goal against (whole line).

Kaako Gretzky... Who else sees it?

 

[bhamill]

This is Kakko finally playing with some confidence. He’s decisive. He’s bulling to the tough areas. He’s pushing back, and looks stronger than almost every dman he engages with. The most visible difference is going to be in his offensive stats. I really believe he hits 50pts. And could even hit 60 if this line continues to play like this and get minutes, or he sees significant pp time (which is less likely). 50-60 points won’t get him a monster contract, but he will be a monster 2 way, 200 foot player. An excellent value.

 

[rangerlp]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1848876266365325362

 

[Cuckoo4Kakko]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1848876266365325362

Gotta give the coaches some credit. They clearly had a plan for him. He can still help cycle and maintain possession but he will also be a net front presence. If that video tells us anything, he's a more physical Kreider but without the scoring touch.

 

[IDvsEGO]

Gotta give the coaches some credit. They clearly had a plan for him. He can still help cycle and maintain possession but he will also be a net front presence. If that video tells us anything, he's a more physical Kreider but without the scoring touch.

Kakko has great hands, I wouldn’t be surprised if he gets much better at that in time.
He does need to work on other parts of his game but Kakko as net front can easily work.

 

[80shockeywasbuns]

https://x.com/i/web/status/1848876266365325362

If kakko had 2 points rn this would be labelled “getting pushed around”

 

[Harbour Dog]

The only reason that battle escalated as much as it did was because Evans couldn't do a frigging thing to budge Kakko, so he had to resort to slashing and cross-checking, and STILL failed to stop a grade A scoring chance from happening.

Net front Kakko eats babies.

 

[mrmovies779]

The most engaged the kid has ever been.More confidence too and now he's starting to get results because of it

 

[NickyFotiu]

Gotta give the coaches some credit. They clearly had a plan for him. He can still help cycle and maintain possession but he will also be a net front presence. If that video tells us anything, he's a more physical Kreider but without the scoring touch.

I think CK lowered the physicality in his game for a few reasons over the years as he aged but when he actually decides to be physical he is probably the strongest guy on this team.

 

[McRanger92]

We're finally seeing it with Kakko. Not a moment too soon. Take it too the net young man, 3rd pair D-men can't deal with him and Cuylle.

 

[dshea19]

Hopefully he keeps up the aggressive play. I still think Fil and Will are the primary drivers on that line. I am not sure Kakko does this well on another line. However, it also may be just the thing that gets him going as a significant player. We will see how this progresses over the season, but his growing mean streak is a good thing.

 

[will1066]

This is a make or break season and he knows it. Just keep riding shotgun with Chytil.

 

[jerseyjinx94]

If Kakko plays like he did last night for 60% of the games this year he will score 40 pts easily at 5v5. Forget the point totals, just be that engaged and the points will come.

Then it will be up to Drury to figure out a way to fit all these guys in under the Cap

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

27 year old Kakko is gonna be Buchnevich on steroids