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

[karhukissa]

Just last week we weren't even allowed to mention Kakko in the same breath with his rival player. According to same people, he was also one of the worst players in the league.

Kakko now has more goals than the player who-shall-not-be-named and is only one point behind him in scoring. It's funny how fast these things change.

*opens NHL.com* "Kakko 0+0 10:10 ice time, hahah what a joke send him to AHL.

*reads few posts and watches 10sec YouTube clip* "He can't skate, way too weak and his ed..edg..oh yes edgework is terrible"

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Just last week we weren't even allowed to mention Kakko in the same breath with his rival player. According to same people, he was also one of the worst players in the league.

Kakko now has more goals than the player who-shall-not-be-named and is only one point behind him in scoring. It's funny how fast these things change.

He is also playing with scrubs.

 

[Kiekura]

I agree that players go hot and cold streaks and Kakko needs some work to his skating, but NHL is currently right place for him.

 

[kelsier]

Kakko ruining NYR's tank!

What a game though. Luckily he had the same issues in the FEL while playing with inferior line mates and he started scoring goals himself. That pass to Howden for instance was one that could have ended it, but of course I rather take that OT goal, such a beauty.

All the "AHL comments" have been a good laugh though.

 

[Ajaton Azer]

I think that Kaapo Kakko is a very nice and good Finnish forward, nice to see one of those in the NHL! Maybe he will not score 40 goals and add 50 asses this season, but in the future all of this can become true with his promises and good outlook of the future.

 

[FinPanda]

Just last week we weren't even allowed to mention Kakko in the same breath with his rival player. According to same people, he was also one of the worst players in the league.

Kakko now has more goals than the player who-shall-not-be-named and is only one point behind him in scoring. It's funny how fast these things change.

Ye, Kakko has been a lot better now.

 

[rangersfansince08]

We had some discussions where we disagreed a lot. But your assesment about Kakko have been good for all of the season. Haven't had time to comment. I disagreed with the AHL comments but you had your point. Whether Kakko produces or not I think he should learn at NHL level he is capable of doing it.

Zone entrys are definitely his biggest weakness and I don't think that will be be star level ever but his ability to stay on puck at ozone at NHL level is going to be Top 99.9%.

Keep up the good work PB.

Zone entries are his weakness. But that is why we have Zibby, Chytil and Panarin. He doesn't need to drive his line into the offensive zone but once they are there he is a possession beast.

Also 25-35 goals would be disappointing. He is too good for that. Freaking JT Miller had 22 goals for us one year. Nash had 40 one year and Kakko is better than Nash.

 

[Devilsfan118]

Bet those folks who were throwing out the 'b' word feel pretty silly now, eh?

I wish I could like a post more than once.

Man just give this up. Stop worrying* about what other people say about other players - it's all noise.

Just enjoy watching your guy play, and stop both antagonizing and playing the victim.

Edit: Fixed a typo

 

[rangersfansince08]

Bet those folks who were throwing out the 'b' word feel pretty silly now, eh?



Man just give this up. Stop worry about what other people say about other players - it's all noise.

Just enjoy watching your guy play, and stop both antagonizing and playing the victim.

I agree with you.

We both have studs. We should just enjoy it and stop being hurt over the smallest comment.

There will be a time Jack Hughes goes through a stretch without points and Kakko is tearing it up. And vice versa. No need to rehash the argument anytime someone gets a point.

 

[FinPanda]

Bet those folks who were throwing out the 'b' word feel pretty silly now, eh?



Man just give this up. Stop worry about what other people say about other players - it's all noise.

Just enjoy watching your guy play, and stop both antagonizing and playing the victim.

You totally misunderstood me. I meant it was well said post.. nothing else. "Give this up" when I have only just praised Hughes on this board..

I have not said a single bad thing about Hughes. I have not played a "victim". Like I said, you totally misunderstood my meaning. "But because I am a Finn I must be one of the Hughes haters"..

Changed my post to not upset more Devils fans.

 

[TGWL]

Zone entries are his weakness. But that is why we have Zibby, Chytil and Panarin. He doesn't need to drive his line into the offensive zone but once they are there he is a possession beast.

Also 25-35 goals would be disappointing. He is too good for that. Freaking JT Miller had 22 goals for us one year. Nash had 40 one year and Kakko is better than Nash.

Stop...

And 30-35 goals wouldn't be a disappointment from him.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

He doesn't have to make you concider him playable NHL at all, he is playing just fine, 5 goals in 7 games now. Like everyone knows there are pros to developing a young top pick in the AHL, but i got news for ya buddy, the NHL is where he is better off developing, because he clearly benefits from it good enough. And even if Chytil benefitted from the AHL too it doesn't mean anything because Chytil at 18 didn't impact the game like Kakko has.

This is a faulty argument. The Rangers are well on their way to ruining Andersson and Howden by developing them in the NHL. Andersson should’ve been left in Sweden, instead they rushed him over here because they thought he’d make a quick impact on the NHL team and he hasn’t. Howden also in hindsight was rushed and routinely gets shelled every game now. He should be in the AHL right now. They made the same mistake last season with Chytil, and then were forced to send him down to start this season.

If Kakko develops well in the NHL without spending time developing in the AHL, he’ll have been the exception. The Rangers have made a habit of rushing prospects to the NHL. I’m not saying Kakko was rushed and/or ruined, like you could say for those others, but he’s not entitled to a spot, nor does your type of mindset benefit him. If he shows that he’s better off in the NHL, he should stay in the NHL. If not, he should go to the AHL. Let his play dictate where he belongs.

The bad line-mates argument was used when he played with Strome and Kreider. It’s always going to be used, if he doesn’t play with Zibanejad and Panarin. Some Finn’s have been arguing the team only has two good forwards. My own personal opinion is that it could be easier with better line-mates, but I don’t find that Kakko’s being shafted either with his role. Lemieux is an adequate player. Howden tends to get shelled, but isn’t talentless either. He’s also been gifted a PP1 spot to increase his scoring opportunities and he plays over 15 minutes per game.

He could’ve been gifted more, but I think you’d find that the coach has been more willing to develop Kakko with a big role than some others, such as Andersson. He could’ve very well given Kakko the Andersson treatment. He didn’t, and I think that’s good coaching. I can’t complain about Quinn under-utilizing Kakko.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Not really alot better than Liiga, what gives and edge for AHL is, that it's similar playstyle as in NHL. (SEL and Liiga having different playstyles and rinksizes are the different makers here)

AHL is the 3rd or 4th best league in the world, Liiga is between 5th-7th, depending on how you compare it with DEL and Extraliga. I find the gap between AHL/SHL to the next group of leagues (Liiga, Extraliga, DEL) to be significant.

 

[FinPanda]

AHL is the 3rd or 4th best league in the world, Liiga is between 5th-7th, depending on how you compare it with DEL and Extraliga. I find the gap between AHL/SHL to the next group of leagues (Liiga, Extraliga, DEL) to be significant.

You must mean NLA instead of DEL? And I think Liiga is 5th.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

You must mean NLA instead of DEL? And I think Liiga is 5th.

I forgot NLA, so I guess that’s four leagues in that same tier. Liiga might be 5th, but even if it is and AHL is 4th, I think there’s a substantial gap between 4th and 5th. Whichever way the leagues are ordered from about 3-8, I think 3 and 4 are significantly better than 5-8.

 

[Albatros]

I would consider both the SHL and the NL quite a bit better than the AHL. With the DEL and Liiga it's closer.

 

[Snowsii]

AHL is the 3rd or 4th best league in the world, Liiga is between 5th-7th, depending on how you compare it with DEL and Extraliga. I find the gap between AHL/SHL to the next group of leagues (Liiga, Extraliga, DEL) to be significant.

You lost all credibility if you truly think Liiga = DEL / Extraliga AHL is on par or even below Liiga.. Would be wonderfull to see a AHL team win WCH AHL is 5th or 6th best League.

 

[TheWhiskeyThief]

You lost all credibility if you truly think Liiga = DEL / Extraliga AHL is on par or even below Liiga.. Would be wonderfull to see a AHL team win WCH AHL is 5th or 6th best League.

I’ve seen yo-yo AHL/ECHL players go to Liiga and be a top 3 scorer

If you want to see how leagues compare, look at Bud Holloway.

 

[Snowsii]

I’ve seen yo-yo AHL/ECHL players go to Liiga and be a top 3 scorer

If you want to see how leagues compare, look at Bud Holloway.

And I've seen 18.y old prospects going to AHL and do same thing Also seen top AHL players failing at Liiga

Edited: You still cant directly compare leagues by looking how small group of players managed there.

Allmost everything is different between AHL and European leagues.. It's like Nascar vs F-1...

Ps: Holloway havent played in Liiga

 

[FinPanda]

I can see AHL being better than Liiga, but no chance for DEL/Extraliga.

 

[Zub]

I can see AHL being better than Liiga, but no chance for DEL/Extraliga.

Anyone claiming the DEL is a better league than Liiga is just blatantly biased against Finnish hockey lol.

 

[Zub]

I’ve seen yo-yo AHL/ECHL players go to Liiga and be a top 3 scorer

If you want to see how leagues compare, look at Bud Holloway.

I've also seen a couple no names from whatever league step in the NHL and kill it. This argument is just stupid.

 

[TheWhiskeyThief]

And I've seen 18.y old prospects going to AHL and do same thing Also seen top AHL players failing at Liiga

Edited: You still cant directly compare leagues by looking how small group of players managed there.

Allmost everything is different between AHL and European leagues.. It's like Nascar vs F-1...

Ps: Holloway havent played in Liiga

Holloway was in his prime, so age curves don’t apply.

Everything is different in Europe because the NHL takes all the best players and try to bring them over to NA ASAP, whether to the CHL or the A.

Holloway was a 3rd rounder(the kind if player who you don’t expect to make the NHL, but was a top 6 player in the A. The kind of player that is comparable to the talent that stays in Europe. Went from .78ppg in the A to .89 & 1.29ppg in the SHL before dropping to .6ppg(bumped to the 2nd line.) Went to NLA and rebounded to .89ppg, then went back to the A and was a .87ppg confirming him as a AAAA player.

If you want a Liiga comparison look at Patrik Virta solid 2nd liner in Liiga, was a scrub on the worst team in the K, caught on as a 3rd liner in Sweden and is back to being a solid 2nd liner in Liiga. Also not offered by the NHL team that drafted him.

Or Ville Meskanen, went from a 1st liner in Liiga to a 3rd liner to a 4th liner in the A. When he gets back to Finland, he’ll go back to being a 1st liner.

I can literally do this all day.

 

[Kiekura]

AHL could be slightly better than Liiga, but Liiga is miles ahead of DEL/Extra

 

[Albatros]

Liiga is miles ahead of DEL

Based on what? Better domestic player production perhaps compensates somewhat, but salaries are higher in the DEL and thus acquisitions are generally better.