Player Discussion Kaapo Kakko

[B17 Apricots]

 

[SeanAveryTheGreatOne]

Look at the difference in plus/minus

 

[I Eat Crow]

View attachment 935805
Look at the difference in plus/minus

If Drury trades this guy for peanuts I'm going to be very unhappy.

He and Cuylle are in untouchable territory for me given that they're two out of like only 4 skaters on this team that have been objectively good 5 v 5.

 

[noncents]

THIS IS WHY YOU SIGN HIM LONG TERM LAST YEAR

 

[SeanAveryTheGreatOne]

THIS IS WHY YOU SIGN HIM LONG TERM LAST YEAR

Said the same thing, brother.

 

[noncents]

Said the same thing, brother.

yep there was a group of us

 

[QJL]

THIS IS WHY YOU SIGN HIM LONG TERM LAST YEAR

Seriously. The Rangers have been paying players for performance and not for potential for as long as I can remember. Shesterkin’s 4 year deal was a huge miss. Lafreniere’s bridge was a huge miss. Kakko year to year is a huge miss. Most Stanley Cup teams have 2+ contracts that are truly forward-looking. We don’t play that game and we can’t make the leap because of it.

 

[bleedblue94]

Seriously. The Rangers have been paying players for performance and not for potential for as long as I can remember. Shesterkin’s 4 year deal was a huge miss. Lafreniere’s bridge was a huge miss. Kakko year to year is a huge miss. Most Stanley Cup teams have 2+ contracts that are truly forward-looking. We don’t play that game and we can’t make the leap because of it.

Shesterkin comment is revisionist history. So many on this board were killing nyr for offering that cap in hit for 4 years. It's also crazy for people to just assume the orgs didn't try to term at cheap. The players have agents for a reason, players that want to bank of themselves aren't signing long term for nothing.

 

[GAGLine]

THIS IS WHY YOU SIGN HIM LONG TERM LAST YEAR

With what cap space? And why would Kakko sign a long-term, low AAV contract?

 

[Raspewtin]

he looked really strong at center. his pivots and need to constantly move has unlocked a side of him i feel like we never see. as @effen elloquently put it, he can't dry f*** the boards anymore in that position and needs to actually take space in open ice. his play at center is one of the only nice things I have to say about last night.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Kakko looks great at center. Keep him there.

 

[McRanger92]

Kakko struggled with some of the positioning at C, but the desire he played with was awesome to see. Transporting the puck and letting his teammates play off him. That's what we've been waiting for. It really feels like he saw the turmoil taking place with the top guys and thought "this is my moment". Keep him at C and dont question it. He's become a core piece of our future.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I gave KK grief about a ridiculously low assist total last season. I'm happy to give him props for already passing that assist total this season. Good job KK.

 

[Kords]

He finally looks ready for a bigger role, he should be a part of the new core. Hope Drury doesn’t mess up with him.

 

[Captain Monglobster]

Kakko has looked way stronger on the boards and is taking it to the net. One of the smartest players on the team does all the little things. Definition of a glue guy. Nice to see him with confidence and shooting the puck more.

 

[I Eat Crow]

he looked really strong at center. his pivots and need to constantly move has unlocked a side of him i feel like we never see. as @effen elloquently put it, he can't dry f*** the boards anymore in that position and needs to actually take space in open ice. his play at center is one of the only nice things I have to say about last night.

Agreed. Out of this shit storm, this is one silver lining if he shows he can stick there. If he's a long term center, this solves a lot of problems moving forward.

 

[noncents]

With what cap space? And why would Kakko sign a long-term, low AAV contract?

with Lindgren or Smiths cap space. He would sign because after a lost season, job security for 4 years would look pretty good.

Guys do it - all the time.

 

[will1066]

He's showing adult strength. He's a bull on the puck.

 

[LionsHeart]

After Cuylle he’s been their best forward. He was one of three or four guys that gave a shit last night.

 

[Kupo]

THIS IS WHY YOU SIGN HIM LONG TERM LAST YEAR

Said the same thing, brother.

yep there was a group of us

Seriously. The Rangers have been paying players for performance and not for potential for as long as I can remember. Shesterkin’s 4 year deal was a huge miss. Lafreniere’s bridge was a huge miss. Kakko year to year is a huge miss. Most Stanley Cup teams have 2+ contracts that are truly forward-looking. We don’t play that game and we can’t make the leap because of it.

As GAG mentioned, with what cap space? Also - it takes two to tango. KK's not going to sign a 7 year deal @4M. Shesty and Laf wouldn't have either. These guys knew the cap would be going up. They banked on that, and themselves.

 

[The Undertaker]

Good orgs would recognize what they have in a #2 OA playing his best hockey in years and force feed him minutes.

The rangers will play him in all 3 forward spots, switch his wingers every night, lose him on the bench in the third period, and force feed us Mika the mental midget instead.