I didn’t say Quinn, and for a reason. It seems to be coming from higher up. It’s this idea that the rest of the league knows nothing of developing Star talent but the Rangers who have never had the luxury to draft that talent until now all of a sudden has blueprints that the rest of the league doesn’t? Because looking around the league it’s a VERY different approach on how top talent is cultivated.
He can't slot their over Blackwell because Quinn is fixated on filling that RW spot with a bottom6 retriever. Fast last year, Blackwell this year.
Laf is in a different situation than most 1st OA’s. He has Panarin and Kreider ahead of him on the depth chart. He also didn’t play hockey for like 10 months at a critical age in his development.
Why would it be a slap to kakko? He has had multiple shots there and hasn't done anything to justify the position, nothing. Kratsov isn't some 4th round hailmary plug , he is a former top 10 pick that is more developed than kakko is right now and has been consistently putting up points in a top 3 league world wide. Blackwell playing in that spot right now is more of a "slap in the face" than having another supremely talented and more developed player taking that place over kakko. Honestly, kakko has done nothing for me to worry about his feelings. He is in the big boy league, you want more minutes then start producing ANYTHING with the ones you have. And it isn't like he is playing with scrubs, he is literally playing with other players that this boards constantly says are so good but they just need better line mates. They are kids going through growing pains, but lets stop trying to constantly make excuses for them and worry about their feelings. They need to earn some of this as well...
Last year clearly did not count because it was less than 70 games long. This season clearly does not count because it's less than 60 games. And if really want to be technical about it, Buch started to plot is break out back in 2017
You're whining about 18/19/20 year olds while our leading scorer didn't start to figure things out until he was 24. Not my fault you have the patience of a toddler and apparently think that dOiNg ThIS does anything but make you look like a complete moron.
I didn't but some people are already assuming he is going to be scratched for howden. I'm saying he should be put right on the 2rw with strome and panarin...
I'm the last person to make excuses for the kids. I'm tired of excuses in general. Excuses are for losers, no one has a clear path to success.
But I will say it again, KK has done nothing at all to earn that spot, and when he's gotten chances he has done nothing to keep it for an extended period. I think his best place right now is on the kid line but IF that line starts getting more minutes. One of the big issues with the team right now is it still sees itself as fighting for a playoff spot, which for all intents and purposes is over at this point short of having an insane run. But until they see that inevitability they are going to trot out PT based on best chance to win and not development. I am not saying that is right, but it is pretty obvious that is what they are doing. I think once we are eliminated we may see some more flexibility with slotting kids in different opportunities, and getting them more PP time. Again, I am not saying the way it is being handled right now is correct, it just is what it is...
neither has Kravtsov. He hasn't even practiced with the team yet.
I have a lot of things to say about Kakko but this is certainly not one of them. In fact I'd say he's one of the grittiest and most willing to take punishment players on the team.
Ok, doesn't change the fact that he's been living on the perimeter. Doesn't mean he cant or wont go to the middle... He just hasn't. His last game was a little better. The only guy I see going to the high slot/middle of the ice is Buchnevich. It's like pulling teeth with this team
Again, Kravtsov is further along in development and is coming in off 2 seasons (including the current one) as a good to offensive player that has actually been competing and producing at a high level in a top three league in the world. You'd be talking about a 21 year old that's coming in off playing very well in the KHL vs a 19 year old that really hasn't done much in the NHL in two years. I'm not dismissing Kakko at all, I just don't see why it is an issue to not put him in that elevated role in a position he has already been struggling in. He can get his reps on the 3rd line and figure things out. At this point he needs to work through this and figure it out, that 3 on 1 the other night is a perfect example: he makes a great play at the line to steal the puck and lead the rush and then doesn't even get a shot on goal on a 3 on 1. He needs to figure it out...
