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

[Jauffre]

He's starting to get a feel for the pace, and he's hanging onto the puck in smaller spaces and skating well with it. Last year he'd freeze up, this year he's way more confident.

Not to mention he went from one of the worst defensive forwards to a very good one. I feel he's got more of an exponential growth curve on the offensive side of his development. Slow improvements and the point totals won't jump out at you for a while, until suddenly his output surprises you.

 

[FireGerardGallant]

I think he’s been playing well but there’s no argument for him having as good a season as Panarin, Zibanejad, Buchnevich, Strome, or Kreider.

Mika and Kreider have been invisible for long parts of the season

 

[GAGLine]

5 points in his last 4 games, 8 points in his last 11 games.

 

[The Sweetness]

Honestly I don't care what the numbers show for Kakko this year. Statistically progression is rarely linear and he's been ridiculously snakebitten this year. Once he gets hot and gets some more confidence people will understand how much he's grown as a player. He has the skill and while he's still growing into his body he is going to be such a nightmare for defenders when you consider his frame, hands and shot.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

He reminds me of hossa a bit

 

[foggyvisor]

He reminds me of hossa a bit

Marcel

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

Honestly I don't care what the numbers show for Kakko this year. Statistically progression is rarely linear and he's been ridiculously snakebitten this year. Once he gets hot and gets some more confidence people will understand how much he's grown as a player. He has the skill and while he's still growing into his body he is going to be such a nightmare for defenders when you consider his frame, hands and shot.

well his shot is still doodoo but his frame and hands, ill give you that

 

[The Sweetness]

He reminds me of hossa a bit

That's actually a pretty good comparison IMO.

 

[brakeyawself]

He's starting to get a feel for the pace, and he's hanging onto the puck in smaller spaces and skating well with it. Last year he'd freeze up, this year he's way more confident.

Not to mention he went from one of the worst defensive forwards to a very good one. I feel he's got more of an exponential growth curve on the offensive side of his development. Slow improvements and the point totals won't jump out at you for a while, until suddenly his output surprises you.

That’s kind of the path Huberdeau took. ANd I see similarities between them.

I just hope you and everyone are right about his ceiling. That wasn’t a draft you want to get wrong, even if everyone and their mother agreed he was the BPA.

Zegras , Turcotte and all the rest of the players that look like they will be very good. It would be like being the Bruins in 2015.

 

[Svedu]

If Kakko gets a bit meaner and works on his shot? He could become a very light version of Forsberg or Jagr. He's so damn strong along the corners and he sure can handle the puck. He needs to get the chance to play with players like Zibanejad etc. Work on his skating, stamina and shot. If he does that and has a bit luck with him? He'll be elite in two years.
You can't complain a whole lot if you don't give the kid a f*cking chance to prove himself.
Just like with Aatu Räty. Four goals against Sweden when both teams have a lot of talent? That there is total domination no matter what, and he was probably able to do that because he got the ice time and opportunity.
Sometimes It doesn't have to be that complex.

 

[Lion Hound]

If Kakko gets a bit meaner and works on his shot? He could become a very light version of Forsberg or Jagr. He's so damn strong along the corners and he sure can handle the puck. He needs to get the chance to play with players like Zibanejad etc. Work on his skating, stamina and shot. If he does that and has a bit luck with him? He'll be elite in two years.
You can't complain a whole lot if you don't give the kid a f*cking chance to prove himself.
Just like with Aatu Räty. Four goals against Sweden when both teams have a lot of talent? That there is total domination no matter what, and he was probably able to do that because he got the ice time and opportunity.
Sometimes It doesn't have to be that complex.

Jagr was the furthest thing from playing mean. Amazing generational talent, but zero mean streak.

I dont think Kakko has or would ever be able to develop a mean streak. He like seems by all accounts to be too much of a gentleman. I think he will be a tough on board battles and a bit of a horse down low.

 

[Svedu]

Perhaps, but Jagr was no softy by any means. He respected his opponents and had generational talent and skill. But oh boy was he strong like a bear in those corners and that's a big reason why he had a long career.

 

[brakeyawself]

If Kakko gets a bit meaner and works on his shot? He could become a very light version of Forsberg or Jagr. He's so damn strong along the corners and he sure can handle the puck. He needs to get the chance to play with players like Zibanejad etc. Work on his skating, stamina and shot. If he does that and has a bit luck with him? He'll be elite in two years.
You can't complain a whole lot if you don't give the kid a f*cking chance to prove himself.
Just like with Aatu Räty. Four goals against Sweden when both teams have a lot of talent? That there is total domination no matter what, and he was probably able to do that because he got the ice time and opportunity.
Sometimes It doesn't have to be that complex.

I'd like to see him be a little meaner. But for me, working on his shot is priority. It would open up the game for him in a big way, putting defenses on their toes more. I was actually surprised by his shot at times as I thought he was supposed to be a better goal scorer also. I could see a bit of Forsberg or Jagr light. You meant Peter and not Phillip right? lol

 

[brakeyawself]

If Kakko gets a bit meaner and works on his shot? He could become a very light version of Forsberg or Jagr. He's so damn strong along the corners and he sure can handle the puck. He needs to get the chance to play with players like Zibanejad etc. Work on his skating, stamina and shot. If he does that and has a bit luck with him? He'll be elite in two years.
You can't complain a whole lot if you don't give the kid a f*cking chance to prove himself.
Just like with Aatu Räty. Four goals against Sweden when both teams have a lot of talent? That there is total domination no matter what, and he was probably able to do that because he got the ice time and opportunity.
Sometimes It doesn't have to be that complex.

Quickly on Raty, I liked him less and less as I found out more about other centers in the draft. I still think Isles made a good pick. But most of the centers that went before him probably should have. 2-3 are borderline I’d think.

And there really are some scathing reports on him.

IN regard to Kakko, I hope you’re right. But I do think he’s the “vanilla” if our prospects were ice cream flavors. Nothing wrong with vanilla, makes a great base, but isn’t the most exiting or luxurious of the flavors. Maybe an “elite glue guy” would be an apt description. Can make other players more proficient playing with eachother. A quiet but strong and efficient game.

 

[Nate070]

Quickly on Raty, I liked him less and less as I found out more about other centers in the draft. I still think Isles lace a good pick. But most of the centers that went before him probably should have. 2-3 are borderline I’d think.

And there really are some scathing reports on him.

IN regard to Kakko, I hope you’re right. But I do think he’s the “vanilla” if our prospects were ice cream flavors. Nothing wrong with vanilla, makes a great base, but isn’t the most exiting or luxurious of the flavors. Maybe an “elite glue guy” would be an apt description. Can make other players more proficient playing with eachother. A quiet but strong and efficient game.

I think it´s wrong to call KK vanilla. Maybe he has not made that many highlight reel goals yet in NHL but they will for sure come. Wach out for Salmiac-boy

 

[brakeyawself]

I think it´s wrong to call KK vanilla. Maybe he has not made that many highlight reel goals yet in NHL but they will for sure come. Wach out for Salmiac-boy

Well, I guess i meant in comparison to Laf, Kravtsov, Chytil maybe, Fox, Miller. I don't know. He just seems like a guy who you might not even notice in a game, but then you'll look at the box score and see he has a goal and 2 assists or something.

 

[The don godfather]

He better find himself this year cause he isnt playing yet to a 2nd overall status. Still young but there are some yellow flags here .

 

[DoingItCoolKiwi]

He better find himself this year cause he isnt playing yet to a 2nd overall status. Still young but there are some yellow flags here .

 

[The don godfather]

So he is good ? Never felt like it. Maybe I'm wrong I guess. I guess lack of points is why I feel that way

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

So he is good ? Never felt like it. Maybe I'm wrong I guess.

His defense was really good and his overall metrics were good, but he still doesn’t put up points. Only two seasons, but I agree that he needs to start putting up points.

 

[The don godfather]

His defense was really good and his overall metrics were good, but he still doesn’t put up points. Only two seasons, but I agree that he needs to start putting up points.

I think he was projected to be a high scoring player when drafted . I guess if you get a defensive specialist whose good on penalty kill face offs etc it's good value for 2nd overall.

 

[DoingItCoolKiwi]

So he is good ? Never felt like it. Maybe I'm wrong I guess. I guess lack of points is why I feel that way

He was excellent last year outside the scoring part (which saw improvements late in the season as well). The biggest problem was/is his ridiculous will to carry the puck to the net instead of shooting, but that's probably fixable

 

[The don godfather]

He was excellent last year outside the scoring part (which saw improvements late in the season as well). The biggest problem was/is his ridiculous will to carry the puck to the net instead of shooting, but that's probably fixable

Lots of time left . Young.

 

[2014nyr]

He was excellent last year outside the scoring part (which saw improvements late in the season as well). The biggest problem was/is his ridiculous will to carry the puck to the net instead of shooting, but that's probably fixable

yea i think its a confidence thing. its not just pucks around the net but all over...he was exponentially better last year though. probably the best on the team at turning pucks over and a beast on the boards with the puck / at winning battles. its like when he's making instinctive plays without time to think he's excellent. but once he turns a puck over and is leading a transition odd man rush he thinks himself into a pretzel...there were so many times he carried into the zone and just froze trying to decide shoot/pass/take on dman and until he walked himself into a dman and had to throw a panic shot that was either blocked or easily saved. he does the same around the net when he has time and overthinks. but then there's play like the 2 on 1 goal with laf i think where he got the pass at the top of the crease and the goal was already across and he instinctively took the pass, toed it back and around the goal and tucked it. and he had an absolutely beautiful goal in fox where he just played - had a puck on the wall near the blue line, goes cross ice, and immediately fires down the wall to skate into a perfect one timer. the shot / play were really nice but the real takeaway for me was how instinctive he was on and off the puck on that play. also a good example of his hockey sense...like its all there. think that rookie year took a toll on him there, you see the kid on the bench when he misses a chance...hes fit for a straight jacket. i think the lack of production / failure to meet expectations he had for himself and probably felt on him from fans / media weighed on him. this year was a massive, massive improvement in literally every area but point totals. i imagine he'll be in a much different place coming into this year than last mentally and obviously is still physically developing - last year he proved to himself he really belonged - with that uncertainty i think we see an edge to his game emerge and a breakout offensively. i don't know if he'll explode or just have a large jump relatively speaking, like i think 45-50 pts is realistic, but i don't think 70ish is off the table either.

 

[molotce]

yea i think its a confidence thing. its not just pucks around the net but all over...he was exponentially better last year though. probably the best on the team at turning pucks over and a beast on the boards with the puck / at winning battles. its like when he's making instinctive plays without time to think he's excellent. but once he turns a puck over and is leading a transition odd man rush he thinks himself into a pretzel...there were so many times he carried into the zone and just froze trying to decide shoot/pass/take on dman and until he walked himself into a dman and had to throw a panic shot that was either blocked or easily saved. he does the same around the net when he has time and overthinks. but then there's play like the 2 on 1 goal with laf i think where he got the pass at the top of the crease and the goal was already across and he instinctively took the pass, toed it back and around the goal and tucked it. and he had an absolutely beautiful goal in fox where he just played - had a puck on the wall near the blue line, goes cross ice, and immediately fires down the wall to skate into a perfect one timer. the shot / play were really nice but the real takeaway for me was how instinctive he was on and off the puck on that play. also a good example of his hockey sense...like its all there. think that rookie year took a toll on him there, you see the kid on the bench when he misses a chance...hes fit for a straight jacket. i think the lack of production / failure to meet expectations he had for himself and probably felt on him from fans / media weighed on him. this year was a massive, massive improvement in literally every area but point totals. i imagine he'll be in a much different place coming into this year than last mentally and obviously is still physically developing - last year he proved to himself he really belonged - with that uncertainty i think we see an edge to his game emerge and a breakout offensively. i don't know if he'll explode or just have a large jump relatively speaking, like i think 45-50 pts is realistic, but i don't think 70ish is off the table either.

Its gonna depend on his usage. We have to say though his skating (explosion) was subpar initially and his shot selection wasnt great as said before. So I think if he can be half a step faster and play in a top 6 role it'll sort itself out and he'll have a great shot at being above 49pts, if he plays the third line again its gonna be more around 35-40, because he isnt on PP1 either.