Confirmed with Link: Kakko resigned 2yr/2.1AAV

[eco's bones]

To add—-Kaapo wasn’t ready for the NHL his first year. His defensive play was abysmal, he was too easily knocked over and there were lots of shifts he’s come back to the bench gassed. It wasn’t like he was a 2OA on a completely depleted roster like happens quite often such as in the cases of Jack Hughes or Tim Stutzle. He’s had the time and the space to develop a more rounded game and has improved in both seasons two and three.

 

[Chaels Arms]

Honestly though this feels kinda dumb. Like...you're still handicapping that line with a player who's gonna flub chances and kill plays when the puck gets to them versus another skilled player

I know there's more leaning towards having "pairs" of players that work well in some ways but it shouldn't be pairs that want to only play with each other and not utilize a skilled 3rd player in the mix.

There's no reason why Kakko can't play on that line and be successful

I don't disagree that that's how it should be ideally but I never got the feeling that's what was happening in reality with Panarin and Strome.

It always seemed to me that either by coaching design or due to the nature of how Panarin and Strome operated together that the third player on that line essentially was asked to be a third defenseman.

That changed for a short time when Copp arrived but I also think that was partially due to Copp having established himself independently with Panarin while Strome was injured. I also think we saw Copp start to struggle on that line as time went on and he continued to be asked to do more "grindy" Hunt type things by the pond hockey twins.

This is why I hope the line dynamic around Panarin is changed with the removal of Strome and addition of Trocheck. Panarin should be the type of player who makes younger players like Kakko, Lafreniere or Kravtsov better during these growing years, not someone you just staple to a point leetch like Strome and let them do whatever they want.

 

[Filip Chytil]

We locked up @EdJovanovski favorite player for 2 more years!

 

[Quinnisinoverhishead]

So glad he got signed. Expecting big things next year!

 

[Leonardo87]

Didn’t take long for Devils fans to crap on the main signing thread. Lol.

 

[LORDE]

So… no offer sheet then?

 

[Rongomania]

So… no offer sheet then?

Nah but apparently that means he blows and is a bust.

 

[Baby Punisher]

So… no offer sheet then?

There was one. Drury sent out his version of Ray Donovan to fix it.

 

[egelband]

Good #. Now it's time to earn that big money Kappo.

Exactly. I hope he makes the next contract a problem for the rangers. Go on, son!!

 

[RangerBlues]

Didn’t take long for Devils fans to crap on the main signing thread. Lol.

debbie fans and crap go hand and hand.

 

[LOFIN]

A quick overview of his comments to Finnish media. Was obviously happy about the deal and said there was not stress because there's still lots of time before the season starts. Said the first years have been a bit of a mess because of Covid, injuries last season but also stressed that those are not excuses and he has not been happy with his level of play so far. Acknowledged that he has improved but still ways to go to get to the level he was expecting and wants to get with production. Happy that he has two more years to prove that he belongs to the top lines.

Run it through google translate if you want more, though beware, translating from Finnish to English usually leads into shall we say interesting details... Kaapo Kakko, 21, teki jatkosopimuksen – näin hän arvioi NHL-uraansa tähän asti: ”Ei mitään selityksiä”

 

[Circus86]

A quick overview of his comments to Finnish media. Was obviously happy about the deal and said there was not stress because there's still lots of time before the season starts. Said the first years have been a bit of a mess because of Covid, injuries last season but also stressed that those are not excuses and he has not been happy with his level of play so far. Acknowledged that he has improved but still ways to go to get to the level he was expecting and wants to get with production. Happy that he has two more years to prove that he belongs to the top lines.

Run it through google translate if you want more, though beware, translating from Finnish to English usually leads into shall we say interesting details... Kaapo Kakko, 21, teki jatkosopimuksen – näin hän arvioi NHL-uraansa tähän asti: ”Ei mitään selityksiä”

He is also going to the Stanley cup party from Rantanen on the weekend. Party hard.

 

[ThirdEye]

People forget the guy is still only 21 years old. He just played 19 high octane playoff games where he contributed and did not look totally out of place. People also forget that he's 6'-3" and will probably be a 215lb bull in his prime. By far his biggest issue so far has been his lack of confidence and that will improve over time. Like others I see him as a 25 goal 30-35 assist guy who can be trusted to shutdown other top players in big spots. Not the most ideal outcome for a 2OA but that's still valuable as hell to have. Not to mention we might actually have a chance of retaining him after Laf, Miller, Schneider and others eventually get their pay day.

 

[TheGortonConspiracy]

 

[pld459666]

If in his prime, Kaapo Kakko is a poor man's Jere Lehtinin, with 40-50 point average seasons and a few outlier seasons with greater than 25 goals, I'll be happy.

My acceptance of him not being a 30+goal and 60+ point RW'er has set in. If he can develop into a better than average defensively aware RW'er that can slot up and down the line up, I'm good with that.

So long as his best seasons don't start until AFTER he signs his long-term low base salary, I'm good.

 

[NickyFotiu]

I am in agreement on the 70 games. If he scores only 20 points in 70 games, considering that he has already outpaced that at his worst, that would be a huge let down. If he can play 70 games, there is no reason for him to not get 30-35 points.

I really hope for more than that. That is setting the bar fairly low.

 

[Levitate]

I don't disagree that that's how it should be ideally but I never got the feeling that's what was happening in reality with Panarin and Strome.

It always seemed to me that either by coaching design or due to the nature of how Panarin and Strome operated together that the third player on that line essentially was asked to be a third defenseman.

That changed for a short time when Copp arrived but I also think that was partially due to Copp having established himself independently with Panarin while Strome was injured. I also think we saw Copp start to struggle on that line as time went on and he continued to be asked to do more "grindy" Hunt type things by the pond hockey twins.

This is why I hope the line dynamic around Panarin is changed with the removal of Strome and addition of Trocheck. Panarin should be the type of player who makes younger players like Kakko, Lafreniere or Kravtsov better during these growing years, not someone you just staple to a point leetch like Strome and let them do whatever they want.

Yeah agree, that line couldn't play the kind of hockey they got away with for a lot of the regular season once it became playoffs time. Panarin's analytics have been trending down and I don't think it's just "he's getting older", intentionally or not his style of play changed playing with Strome
They need to be able to generate more pressure than just a prayer of a pass on the rush that gets turned the other way 95% of the time

 

[Shesterkybomb]

I think he'll get there, power forwards always take longer. He needs to be quicker out the gate and faster in general and when that happens its gonna unlock for him, he's got the defensive part of the game already.

 

[TheDirtyH]

can't believe I had to wait five pages for this

 

[Levitate]

I really hope for more than that. That is setting the bar fairly low.

well, if he gets 3rd line minutes and no PP time then he's not going to score a ton of points

 

[Shesterkybomb]

well, if he gets 3rd line minutes and no PP time then he's not going to score a ton of points

2rw and maybe even 1rw is open for him but he has to come to camp ready. His opportunities are always there, his rookie year he was hand fed the top line rw and couldn't hold on to it so its totally up to him to get faster this offseason. There should be no reason other than him not being capable of being a top 6 player holding him back this year, we're capped out...our team is what it is. Laf, Kakko and Kravy are the top 9 rw....who wants it more?

 

[NickyFotiu]

well, if he gets 3rd line minutes and no PP time then he's not going to score a ton of points

He played over 15 mpg last season. That isnt much less than minutes Zooks played on 3rd line when he led team with 59 points. KK will get more minutes if he produces. Its hard to give a guy more than 15 if he is only at 30. I really hope he is at least a 20-20 guy.

 

[mas0764]

He played over 15 mpg last season. That isnt much less than minutes Zooks played on 3rd line when he led team with 59 points. KK will get more minutes if he produces. Its hard to give a guy more than 15 if he is only at 30. I really hope he is at least a 20-20 guy.

To be fair Zucc played the power play and had 17 PP points. Take that away and Zucc at 26 years old netting 42 even strength points isn’t TOO much different than Kakko’s 35 even strength point pace at age 20.

Give Kakko 6 more years and he will pass 42 even strength points, I guarantee it.

 

[NickyFotiu]

To be fair Zucc played the power play and had 17 PP points. Take that away and Zucc at 26 years old netting 42 even strength points isn’t TOO much different than Kakko’s 35 even strength point pace at age 20.

Give Kakko 6 more years and he will pass 42 even strength points, I guarantee it.

Do not know that KK will be a Ranger after 9 years in the NHL. We should be realistic but setting the bar at 30 points in a 4th year for the #2 pick in the draft is a mistake imo.

 

[mas0764]

Do not know that KK will be a Ranger after 9 years in the NHL. We should be realistic but setting the bar at 30 points in a 4th year for the #2 pick in the draft is a mistake imo.

I mean, yeah, if it takes that long for him to get going and if all he ever becomes is Zuccarrello, that’s far from ideal and he probably doesn’t stay here.

Just saying with those minutes, his even strength production at 20 years old is hardly an embarrassment and it’s certainly still projectile to 70 points or more once he starts getting PP time and gets older.