Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[leetch99]

Kakko’s playing smarter along the boards. He’s finally realized he can’t bull though the majority of NHLers unless he’s got an advantageous angle or position. Instead he’ll buy an extra second along the boards using shiftiness and then quickly dish the puck to an open guy or keep the cycle going instead of hanging on to the puck too long thinking he can power through everyone.

I think he’s seeing the ice much better as well (due to confidence), he’s slinging cross ice passes to open teammates, and quite frankly has looked the best out of everyone on PP2, even Laf, who often tries to force seam passes through defenders while on the PP.

Yup...." confidence" !

 

[gump116]

Kakko somehow becoming a middle 6 two-way center would be a game changer for this organization long-term.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

The one good thing yesterday night was trying Kakko at center. If any of Chytil/Mika/Tro get injured it's nice to know he can step in there.

 

[McRanger92]

Kakko somehow becoming a middle 6 two-way center would be a game changer for this organization long-term.

Just his ability to take faceoffs and play there in a pinch. It's not like he has to completely change positions but its good insurance without having to deal assets, if Chytil is missing time consistently

 

[mas0764]

Just his ability to take faceoffs and play there in a pinch. It's not like he has to completely change positions but its good insurance without having to deal assets, if Chytil is missing time consistently

Kakko becoming a permanent center would be awesome for us.

It would really allow us to probably have to find just one more top-line center once we clear off Panarin/Kreider/Trouba/Mika's cap hit, and then have awesome center depth down the middle.

As a placeholder name, I'll just throw out, say, Jack Eichel.

Lafreniere - Eichel - Perrault
Cuylle - Kakko - Othmann
Berard - Chytil - Sykora

 

[will1066]

Kakko becoming a permanent center would be awesome for us.

It would really allow us to probably have to find just one more top-line center once we clear off Panarin/Kreider/Trouba/Mika's cap hit, and then have awesome center depth down the middle.

As a placeholder name, I'll just throw out, say, Jack Eichel.

Lafreniere - Eichel - Perrault
Cuylle - Kakko - Othmann
Berard - Chytil - Sykora

Jonny Brodzinski is just as good a placeholder name.

Reading this thread's last couple pages is like the Miller Lite commercial. Tastes great, less filling. It's confidence. No, it's skating. It's multiple factors contributing to Kakko's better play.

 

[Hunter Gathers]

I'm here for the Kakko center redemption arc.

 

[will1066]

 

[LOFIN]

I do wonder about his ability to play 200ft hockey as a center, his skating just might not cut it. He's very good defensively on the wing, yes. But defending as the center requires a lot more skating. And if he commits to that defence, is that taking away from his commitment to deep board battles on the offensive zone? If you can give him very good defensively responsible wingers, who are willing to do a bit of extra work I think it could work.

But you know what? Him just taking faceoffs as a winger is an option too. No rules say that the guy who is the nominal center has to take the faceoff. Kakko seems very good at it, so might as well let him have it.

 

[McRanger92]

I do wonder about his ability to play 200ft hockey as a center, his skating just might not cut it. He's very good defensively on the wing, yes. But defending as the center requires a lot more skating. And if he commits to that defence, is that taking away from his commitment to deep board battles on the offensive zone? If you can give him very good defensively responsible wingers, who are willing to do a bit of extra work I think it could work.

But you know what? Him just taking faceoffs as a winger is an option too. No rules say that the guy who is the nominal center has to take the faceoff. Kakko seems very good at it, so might as well let him have it.

Speed matters less at C. Derek Stepan is one of our best centers post lockout and he couldnt outskate anyone. Positionally, Kakko is solid enough to do it.

 

[DanielBrassard]

I would trust Kakko at center if it was necessary like last night, I don’t think he should be moved there permanently but if there’s an injury for a period of time it’s fine.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

LAV IS A GENIUS

 

[will1066]

Speed matters less at C. Derek Stepan is one of our best centers post lockout and he couldnt outskate anyone. Positionally, Kakko is solid enough to do it.

Fil has the speed and power that push back the opposition to gain the zone. Kakko won't be able to do that.

 

[Harbour Dog]

No issue with trying Kakko at centre and having the option in our back pocket when we need it. He's so freaking good along the boards though; it won't be easy for him to be a better centre than he is a winger.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Panarin - Chytil - Laf
Cuylle - Kakko - Zibanejad
Kreider - Trocheck - Smith
Edstrom - Carrick - Rempe

Miller - Fox
Schneider - Mancini
Jones - Trouba


Quick
Igor

go to this lineup and starting booking the parade route

 

[RangersFan1994]

The one good thing yesterday night was trying Kakko at center. If any of Chytil/Mika/Tro get injured it's nice to know he can step in there.

Will Cuylle would be another option. He did play some center in juniors and took faceoffs. Hope Laviolette gives him a look if needed, but considering he is on fire, don’t change anything unless needed. He is gonna be an important piece this year I believe.

 

[RangersFan1994]

Panarin - Chytil - Laf
Cuylle - Kakko - Zibanejad
Kreider - Trocheck - Smith
Edstrom - Carrick - Rempe

Miller - Fox
Schneider - Mancini
Jones - Trouba


Quick
Igor

go to this lineup and starting booking the parade route

Vesey has been playing well. I rather see him play over Carrick and try Rempe or Edstrom at center. Rempe was drafted as a center. Tired of the Rangers drafting centers and moving them to wing, and they wonder why they lack depth. Cant wait until Roobroeck or Bryce McConnell-Barker is playing wing in a few years after being drafted as centers.

 

[Fitzy]

Speed matters less at C. Derek Stepan is one of our best centers post lockout and he couldnt outskate anyone. Positionally, Kakko is solid enough to do it.

Kind of depends on the role they play but yes. Anisimov, Nylander, Stepan, we've had a lot of very good posession centers who don't have good straightaway speed. Good edges, all of them however.

Kakko's speed I don't think is a deal breaker as long as the line he plays on does a lot of dump-and-chase with an emphasis on good defensive posture. Either way, this is the right time to experiment in case there's another center injury at an inauspicious point in the future.

 

[hella rights]

If Kakko can be an effective center it’s even more mystifying to me why he’s never tried out on the PK.

 

[Crease]

Did he play the whole game at center or just a few shifts? How did he look?

 

[IDvsEGO]

Did he play the whole game at center or just a few shifts? How did he look?

Most of the third.

 

[noncents]

Did he play the whole game at center or just a few shifts? How did he look?

looked good in the face off circle