LW/RW Kaapo Kakko (2019, 2nd, NYR) Part 8

[Kiekura]

5vs5 his been mainly playing with 3rd line, but he has been on 1PP and his been good on it.

 

[Boom Boom Apathy]

According to Natural Stat Trick, here is a list of his 5v5 TOI with each forward (out of 340 min total):

Howden: 155 min with, 184 without
Lemieux: 143 with, 185 without
Strome: 76 with
Kreider: 76 with
Panarin: 73 with
Zib: 73 with
Buch: 20 with
Chytl: 19 with
Fast: 15 with

On the PP, here's the numbers (out of 79 min. total):
Kreider: 54 with
Panarin: 54 with
Strome: 52 with
Zib: 16 with
Lemieux: 15 with

So 5v5 looks like about half his time is on the 3rd line with Howden and Lemieux and the other half is split between the 1st/2nd lines. Looks like he's mainly been on the #1 PP though.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He’s been terrible for a while now, but I think this attitude is exactly why he’s going to be a very good player. He knows he’s not good enough and hasn’t earned more ice time. Different from Andersson and Kravtsov. I have a feeling next season he’s going to be much better. For now, I still say send him to the AHL. I think keeping him in the NHL was the wrong decision by the team.

 

[tellermine]

He’s been terrible for a while now, but I think this attitude is exactly why he’s going to be a very good player. He knows he’s not good enough and hasn’t earned more ice time. Different from Andersson and Kravtsov. I have a feeling next season he’s going to be much better. For now, I still say send him to the AHL. I think keeping him in the NHL was the wrong decision by the team.

Yeah. Wrong league for sure.
Should be playing big minutes in farm. Or Europe.
Year to early to NA.

 

[Hokinaittii]

As long as he isn't liability on the ice, I don't see it as a problem that he is still playing in the NHL. AHL won't fix his glaring problems which are speed and strength levels compared to everyone else on the ice. Despite not scoring, he is getting the NHL experience and is bonding with the team.

He will be a good one eventually. All the skills and determination are still clearly there. Just gotta be patience.

 

[ijuka]

AHL would be better, yeah. Would have been as soon as his level of play sunk significantly some 15 games ago. Unfortunate for him that his Liiga team's a dumpster fire so it's not really a viable option.

 

[Halla]

5vs5 his been mainly playing with 3rd line, but he has been on 1PP and his been good on it.

He definitely isn't on PP1 anymore.

 

[Kaako Kappo]

He definitely isn't on PP1 anymore.

That's an old post bruh

 

[QJL]

As long as he isn't liability on the ice, I don't see it as a problem that he is still playing in the NHL. AHL won't fix his glaring problems which are speed and strength levels compared to everyone else on the ice. Despite not scoring, he is getting the NHL experience and is bonding with the team.

He will be a good one eventually. All the skills and determination are still clearly there. Just gotta be patience.

Kakko is without a doubt a liability in the defensive zone.

He’s going to be an incredible player but I can understand the calls for time in the AHL. However, the Rangers don’t currently have suitable top 9 replacements if he and Kravtsov are in Hartford. As long as the Rangers are a competitive team, Kakko stays. I don’t think it’s the worst thing for his development to be with the big club, but its not a no brainer.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

He’s just not NHL ready, no part of his game is NHL ready aside from his hands. I can’t believe all the scouts and “experts” had him pegged as the most NHL ready prospect in years , why, because he’s big? Everyone knows these power forward types always take longer to develop than speed guys. Can’t send him back to Finland obviously but some AHL time couldn’t hurt

 

[Lays]

Kakko’s been fine in the NHL. I expected a little more production but he’s in line with Hughes and Dach. Prospects develop differently, Svech “only” had 37 points last year. I’m not worried about Kakko and if anyone is, they don’t know how prospects work. I expect Kakko to finish around Svech’s total. Hes still a skinny kid but his frame made him look even more NHL-ready than he is. He’s developing nicely and has shown flashes of dominance, AHL wouldn’t do much for him but I wouldn’t mind giving him a conditioning stint. His main problem is his endurance, he’s clearly more dynamic early in the shift and has a quick first step but he gets tired very quickly

 

[FinPanda]

He’s just not NHL ready, no part of his game is NHL ready aside from his hands. I can’t believe all the scouts and “experts” had him pegged as the most NHL ready prospect in years , why, because he’s big? Everyone knows these power forward types always take longer to develop than speed guys. Can’t send him back to Finland obviously but some AHL time couldn’t hurt

Who said he is the "most NHL ready playet in years"? His legs needed a ton of work. Not that close.

 

[Ippenator]

Sad to say, but at the moment it looks like his hockey IQ is worse than what I thought in the first place. I got attacked here before this season started because I dared to say that I think that he doesn’t have great hockey IQ. I didn’t say that it’s bad or anything like that, just that it’s not on exceptional level or even close to it, and that by itself will most probably prevent him from ever becoming an over 100 points per season true superstar forward. Even for saying that I had to take some really rude attacks here, and claims about how I don’t understand anything about hockey. I clarified that I still saw his hockey IQ as even pretty good, but not even close to exceptional.

Now after watching him play in most of his NHL games, I have to say that my thoughts on his hockey IQ before were after all kind of optimistic. Seeing him play now in the NHL he honestly looks like a player with only quite average hockey IQ. He just simply doesn’t seem to have too much of it.

The worst thing about his hockey IQ is how bad he is in general in getting his linemates more involved in the play by using them much more proactively and in also making himself available after passing the puck to teammates. Part of this kind of problems can come from him being so young and probably also selfish and immature, but if that’s the case, it is still a sign of not really having even potential to ever have exceptional level hockey IQ. Players with exceptional hockey IQ through their hockey careers have always shown excellent hockey IQ already quite consistently at the NHL level, even if they have started as young as Kakko has started.

I’m not claiming that he can’t still become a good NHL player, at least at some point. But it might not really happen even that soon yet. And I definitely see even less of true superstar potential, than what I saw before this season. More likely that he will become a puck controlling beast with 50-70 points per season, which would be perfectly fine, at least for me.

 

[TrufleShufle]

Who said he is the "most NHL ready playet in years"? His legs needed a ton of work. Not that close.

Nobody, most said he was more NHL ready than Hughes, but that wouldn't have made his post as dramatic. So just let him have it, it's almost a requirement to making a point on HFboards that you use crazy hyperbole and state it as fact. Don't take that away from him.

 

[Hokinaittii]

Sad to say, but at the moment it looks like his hockey IQ is worse than what I thought in the first place. I got attacked here before this season started because I dared to say that I think that he doesn’t have great hockey IQ. I didn’t say that it’s bad or anything like that, just that it’s not on exceptional level or even close to it, and that by itself will most probably prevent him from ever becoming an over 100 points per season true superstar forward. Even for saying that I had to take some really rude attacks here, and claims about how I don’t understand anything about hockey. I clarified that I still saw his hockey IQ as even pretty good, but not even close to exceptional.

Now after watching him play in most of his NHL games, I have to say that my thoughts on his hockey IQ before were after all kind of optimistic. Seeing him play now in the NHL he honestly looks like a player with only quite average hockey IQ. He just simply doesn’t seem to have too much of it.

The worst thing about his hockey IQ is how bad he is in general in getting his linemates more involved in the play by using them much more proactively and in also making himself available after passing the puck to teammates. Part of this kind of problems can come from him being so young and probably also selfish and immature, but if that’s the case, it is still a sign of not really having even potential to ever have exceptional level hockey IQ. Players with exceptional hockey IQ through their hockey careers have always shown excellent hockey IQ already quite consistently at the NHL level, even if they have started as young as Kakko has started.

I’m not claiming that he can’t still become a good NHL player, at least at some point. But it might not really happen even that soon yet. And I definitely see even less of true superstar potential, than what I saw before this season. More likely that he will become a puck controlling beast with 50-70 points per season, which would be perfectly fine, at least for me.

It's not a good look when a grown man like yourself are constantly playing the victim card on internet forums. You have to deal with the fact you often type extremely controversial posts that just screams quoting. I don't think people have been any more "cruel" to you than you have been to them.

I also disagree about him having barely average hockey IQ. He doesn't have elite hockey IQ but it's still on par with most top-3 picks.

Kakko is 18yo power forward who currently lacks the speed and strength to do things on ice he is known for. That has to affect his confidence which is very impotant for an athlete, especially young foreigner like Kakko. When you don't have confidence, some of your decision making will look lackluster.

Kakko has never been the strongest or biggest player on the ice, yet he has been able to achieve things most players can even dream of. You won't never get that far if your hockey IQ is not good enough.

In the end, the game in the NHL is quite simple game based on fast reaction times and winning your own battles. You don't have to have Sebastian Aho's brains to be PPG player in this league. There are many examples of that, like one of your favorite players Blake Wheeler.

 

[swedehollow]

Sad to say, but at the moment it looks like his hockey IQ is worse than what I thought in the first place. I got attacked here before this season started because I dared to say that I think that he doesn’t have great hockey IQ. I didn’t say that it’s bad or anything like that, just that it’s not on exceptional level or even close to it, and that by itself will most probably prevent him from ever becoming an over 100 points per season true superstar forward. Even for saying that I had to take some really rude attacks here, and claims about how I don’t understand anything about hockey. I clarified that I still saw his hockey IQ as even pretty good, but not even close to exceptional.

Now after watching him play in most of his NHL games, I have to say that my thoughts on his hockey IQ before were after all kind of optimistic. Seeing him play now in the NHL he honestly looks like a player with only quite average hockey IQ. He just simply doesn’t seem to have too much of it.

The worst thing about his hockey IQ is how bad he is in general in getting his linemates more involved in the play by using them much more proactively and in also making himself available after passing the puck to teammates. Part of this kind of problems can come from him being so young and probably also selfish and immature, but if that’s the case, it is still a sign of not really having even potential to ever have exceptional level hockey IQ. Players with exceptional hockey IQ through their hockey careers have always shown excellent hockey IQ already quite consistently at the NHL level, even if they have started as young as Kakko has started.

I’m not claiming that he can’t still become a good NHL player, at least at some point. But it might not really happen even that soon yet. And I definitely see even less of true superstar potential, than what I saw before this season. More likely that he will become a puck controlling beast with 50-70 points per season, which would be perfectly fine, at least for me.

Not getting the results he hoped for together with the huge ”Messiah” pressure clearly messed with his head. I think it’s to early to write his IQ off and his attitude shows that he knows about his deficiensies. He’s just a kid and he’ll be alright but maybe he left for NHL a year to early.

 

[bigdog16]

AHL would be better, yeah. Would have been as soon as his level of play sunk significantly some 15 games ago. Unfortunate for him that his Liiga team's a dumpster fire so it's not really a viable option.

Cant help but reply here. Times have sure changed since you declared he would dominate as an 18 yr old. You and your comrades told me everything about his game was NHL ready

 

[tellermine]

Cant help but reply here. Times have sure changed since you declared he would dominate as an 18 yr old. You and your comrades told me everything about his game was NHL ready

Finnish young posters seem to have this Messiah syndrome.
All objectivity fanishes.
Then me and Ippenator, for example, are attacked just for saying that Kakko might not have (hockeyl iq on super level, he has problems in straight skating (in Finland...), he holds puck to long, he does not have elite shot.

One thing is worrying. He still holds puck to long even his tools are clearly out played. He should adabt.

But yes. Weird stuff this Messiah stuff.

 

[Ippenator]

It's not a good look when a grown man like yourself are constantly playing the victim card on internet forums. You have to deal with the fact you often type extremely controversial posts that just screams quoting. I don't think people have been any more "cruel" to you than you have been to them.

I also disagree about him having barely average hockey IQ. He doesn't have elite hockey IQ but it's still on par with most top-3 picks.

Kakko is 18yo power forward who currently lacks the speed and strength to do things on ice he is known for. That has to affect his confidence which is very impotant for an athlete, especially young foreigner like Kakko. When you don't have confidence, some of your decision making will look lackluster.

Kakko has never been the strongest or biggest player on the ice, yet he has been able to achieve things most players can even dream of. You won't never get that far if your hockey IQ is not good enough.

In the end, the game in the NHL is quite simple game based on fast reaction times and winning your own battles. You don't have to have Sebastian Aho's brains to be PPG player in this league. There are many examples of that, like one of your favorite players Blake Wheeler.

You once again missed the point. I didn’t post my opinion here as somekind of a victim issue. You seem to really want to keep on turning it to about me personally as a poster for whatever your reasons. But my point was to bring it up AS MY OPINION on Kakko, and how THAT TYPE OF OPINION was attacked here. Of course I could have generalized it as an opinion, but then I wouldn't be able to discuss the attacked opinion in such detailed way, as I can’t write in such detail about some other posters way of expressing things about Kakko. Well, @tellermine has definitely been posting quite similar posts about Kakko as I have been doing, and he has gotten fiercely attacked by the Church of Kakko congrigation.

Don’t know about your thing about Wheeler, as he hasn’t really been neither for me, a favorite player or a player I dislike (if you intended your last comment to be somekind of sarcasm, or whatever). I haven’t liked his leadership methods previously (this season he has admitted that he wasn’t right with it before and has changed his approach, so that I have liked about him quite much even) and he hasn't either been too good defensively, but he has otherwise been a good and interesting player to follow. Just not a real favorite of mine though. I think you mixed up my opinion about Wheeler totally with someone elses? Anyway there’s no way that Wheeler should anyway have to do with anything in a Kaapo Kakko thread...

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Nobody, most said he was more NHL ready than Hughes, but that wouldn't have made his post as dramatic. So just let him have it, it's almost a requirement to making a point on HFboards that you use crazy hyperbole and state it as fact. Don't take that away from him.

actually plenty said it. I'm not making it up, i'm directly quoting one of several post-draft grade articles, not sure where exactly but if you read any of those pre and post draft reports they all said something to a similar effect. I'll see if I can find it.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

A few things I found just googling around:

Emphasis mine.


In Kakko, the Rangers get the most NHL ready prospect in this year’s draft. - LastWordOnHockey

After his performances in Liiga, the pro league in Finland, and the IIHF world championships, anticipation is high that Kakko will make an immediate impact for the Rangers as a goal-scoring winger. - ESPN

He has the size, strength and scoring ability to become an immediate impact player. - Bleacherreport

Chris Peters - ESPNMay 6th: "An NHL-ready player who has honed his craft against pros, Kakko is good in all areas of the ice with few noticeable weaknesses."

Kaapo Kakko, the No. 2 overall pick by New York back in June, is a main reason why their ranking jumped from No. 11 last season to the top dog now. The Finnish forward was highly touted as an NHL-ready prospect that should make an immediate impact for the Rangers this season. - SNY

He's a complete package and he's going to have a strong future ahead of him because he's already physically developed and has a couple of years of experience playing at the pro level so he's as game-ready as you're going to find in this NHL Draft." - NHL.com/devils (pre-draft)

He was surrounded by cameras and peppered with questions, similar to the attention Kakko faced last month at the IIHF World Championships in Slovakia when the 18-year-old from Turku, Finland, solidified himself as arguably the most NHL-ready player in this year's draft class. - AP/USA today




Anyway these are just a few, you can find a ton of examples.

 

[FinPanda]

A few things I found just googling around:

Emphasis mine.


In Kakko, the Rangers get the most NHL ready prospect in this year’s draft. - LastWordOnHockey

After his performances in Liiga, the pro league in Finland, and the IIHF world championships, anticipation is high that Kakko will make an immediate impact for the Rangers as a goal-scoring winger. - ESPN

He has the size, strength and scoring ability to become an immediate impact player. - Bleacherreport

Chris Peters - ESPNMay 6th: "An NHL-ready player who has honed his craft against pros, Kakko is good in all areas of the ice with few noticeable weaknesses."

Kaapo Kakko, the No. 2 overall pick by New York back in June, is a main reason why their ranking jumped from No. 11 last season to the top dog now. The Finnish forward was highly touted as an NHL-ready prospect that should make an immediate impact for the Rangers this season. - SNY

He's a complete package and he's going to have a strong future ahead of him because he's already physically developed and has a couple of years of experience playing at the pro level so he's as game-ready as you're going to find in this NHL Draft." - NHL.com/devils (pre-draft)

He was surrounded by cameras and peppered with questions, similar to the attention Kakko faced last month at the IIHF World Championships in Slovakia when the 18-year-old from Turku, Finland, solidified himself as arguably the most NHL-ready player in this year's draft class. - AP/USA today




Anyway these are just a few, you can find a ton of examples.

That is not "all the scouts" and its not the consensus. So you found 0 articles saying he is the most NHL ready prospect in years like you told? Still not buying it.

You just proved the thing what you said wrong.

I haven't seen Kakko play enough to say if he has skills to be in the NHL or not, so I'll trust most of you saying he has a ton of things to improve. Maybe he should need some AHL time. But don't say "he is the most NHL ready prospect in years" if you can't find a single article to support your claim.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

That is not "all the scouts" and its not the consensus. So you found 0 articles saying he is the most NHL ready prospect in years like you told? Still not buying it.

You just proved the thing what you said wrong.

I haven't seen Kakko play enough to say if he has skills to be in the NHL or not, so I'll trust most of you saying he has a ton of things to improve. Maybe he should need some AHL time. But don't say "he is the most NHL ready prospect in years" if you can't find a single article to support your claim.

I can't find the exact article I read and haven't posted the reports from EVERY scout in the world, so I guess you win. Congratulations.

Well I have watched every game of his because I'm a Rangers fan and the fact is he's not NHL ready. Doesn't matter if he was called the most NHL ready prospect ever or just from his draft or just generally "NHL ready", they were all wrong regardless.
He's got really good hands and thats it, he doesn't do anything else at an NHL level. Thats not to say he won't improve, I have now doubt he'll fix his skating and get stronger and will be a good player in a few years, but I don't get how he looks so raw when all we've been hearing about is how he should be making an impact right away.

 

[FinPanda]

I can't find the exact article I read and haven't posted the reports from EVERY scout in the world, so I guess you win. Congratulations.

Well I have watched every game of his because I'm a Rangers fan and the fact is he's not NHL ready. Doesn't matter if he was called the most NHL ready prospect ever or just from his draft or just generally "NHL ready", they were all wrong regardless.
He's got really good hands and thats it, he doesn't do anything else at an NHL level.

Yeah, he was overhyped by a lot of scouts, but I am sure there were scouts wbo saw that he has a lot of developing to do. All that is behind the vocal people who didn't see his real physical readiness. I thought he was a guy with solid skills, but he was underdeveloped physically.

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Yeah, he was overhyped by a lot of scouts, but I am sure there were scouts wbo saw that he has a lot of developing to do. All that is behind the vocal people who didn't see his real physical readiness. I thought he was a guy with solid skills, but he was underdeveloped physically.

If you could see that I don't get why professionals couldn't. Not like scouts are never wrong but if NHL people were really that lazy in their analysis (played vs men and he's tall so that means he's physically developed and NHL ready!) who can we trust? lol