Machinehead
HFNYR MVP
Get a center anyway and then when Chytil comes back, there's your depth.
Depth isn't having mediocre players playing above their station. Depth is having good players playing below their station.
Roster Building Thread - Part VIII (2023-24 season)
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Depth isn't having mediocre players playing above their station. Depth is having good players playing below their station.
NYR Viper
Registered User
Sure, I'd love a 40 5v5 point 6'4 physical winger but those guys cost A LOT.
McRanger92
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Literally nothing is stopping Kakko from being that player. I dont think he has it in him sadly
NYR Viper
Registered User
That's like saying nothing is stopping Kreider from being that guy either. It's not their games. We've seen Kakko play a physical brand of hockey and he can shed off attackers. He's a PIA to play against for most d-men just due to his size, reach and strength as it is. Just because he isn't plowing guys over doesn't mean he is not difficult to play against.
- Apr 16, 2012
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McRanger92
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Comparing Kreider to Kakko is insulting to Kreider. If Kakko was on pace for his 3rd straight 35+ goal season, I wouldnt be as hard on him. Kakko's size, reach and strength would be put to better use if he went to the netfront more than once a month. We've seen his disappearing act in the playoffs a couple times now.
Machinehead
HFNYR MVP
There's a big difference between the two.
Kreider has a great hockey IQ. He knows exactly where to go and he knows exactly how to use his strengths, which in terms of handling the puck, are far more limited than Kakko's strengths.
Kakko doesn't have the hockey IQ. That's what's holding him back. He has no concept of how to translate his skills -physical or puck-based- into creating offense at this level. It's not likely he ever learns it.
As far as big wingers who run around bullying people, who are they? Tom Wilson? Maybe Brady Tkachuk? Although he's mostly shoving after the whistle and he's also not that good. There's like one in the whole league.
McRanger92
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Kreider-Zibanejad-Chytil
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere
Vesey-Gourde-Wheeler
Cuylle-Bonino-Goodrow
Id like to see something like this up front post-deadline
Panarin-Trocheck-Lafreniere
Vesey-Gourde-Wheeler
Cuylle-Bonino-Goodrow
Id like to see something like this up front post-deadline
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LOFIN
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- Sep 16, 2011
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People still have a really hard time grasping what grit and toughness is. This is it, being hard to play against, being hard to defend against, being able to sustain pressure from stick-cheks and body-checks.
Machinehead
HFNYR MVP
I'm begging you to swap Wheeler and Goodrow. Please do this one thing for me. I deserve this one thing for my upcoming 13th anniversary.
- Apr 16, 2012
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Or, sometimes, just takes some TIME for these bigger guys to grow into their bodies and gain the strength and confidence needed to play that game... Kakko having had his best season as a 21-22 year old would be a huge outlier for a player of his type. I know people want MORE NOW (I'm guilty as well), but our patience is tried only because he was put on the NHL roster at 18... if he had just entered the NHL at 20 or 21 no one would be ready to move on from him. IMO it would be extremely shortsighted to sell low on Kakko, including as part of a package. We either get proper value for him or we don't, regardless of whether its a one for one trade or he's thrown in a package. Right now I DOUBT we'd get the value we should. His QO is only 2.4mil. Who worth getting could we even replace him with at that cap hit? Sit on him for at least a year and see what he looks like then.
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McRanger92
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Hypothetical Line combos dont interest me but sure. Either way, I think Gourde is a perfect fit for this year and next. Trade Kakko to Seattle, thats the type of place that has very little young talent where maybe he breaks out, plus we will never have to hear about him again. Im pretty sure the real reason people want to hold on KK is the egg on the Rangers faces if he amounts to more than a Jesse Puljujarvi clone.
Machinehead
HFNYR MVP
Othmann instead. There, problem solved. I do like that 4th line you have. It's actually good.
As far as the egg on faces goes, I'm taking that risk. If Kakko becomes a superstar and trading him helps us win now, then it is what it is.
It's not like 1994 when we traded Amonte who was already f***ing good. It would be a roll of the dice. You have to roll the dice to win.
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It's not an insult, but it is apples and oranges. Kreider was only a regular in the NHL for about a year at Kakko's current age. It's not like Chris was scoring 30 goals in the NHL at 22... He didn't hit 20 goals until he was 23. He didn't hit 30 goals until he was 30...
Also, I disagree that Kreids game didn't include heavy hitting... the officials "majored" it out of him, simply for being stronger.
McRanger92
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It's time for this team to make a "go for it" trade that can get you a legit player on the cheap for a couple runs to the Cup. That's been my opinion since the summer. If not now, when? Our core of top players are all currently in their prime. The light for Drury has never been greener, especially when we have 3-4 interesting wing prospects currently playing well in Hartford.
LOFIN
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If you can use Kakko in a trade to make the team better now, you do it. I just don't think such a trade is available where he is the main piece, and if you trade him for like 5th just to make capspace/roster space, not sure if that's smart asset management. But if that enables the team to make a move which puts them over the top, go ahead. If you win, you don't have to explain anything.
TominNC
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How many years did Kreider play before he cleared 30 goals? 8. He was 30 years old when he cleared 30.
McRanger92
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If it wasnt Cup or bust time, I'd be more inclined to let Kakko work through his struggles. But any value he currently has is going to be gone with another pedestrian finish to the season, and then you have to pay him. I think expecting a guy who has been relatively outspoken about his role is going to be happy with nothing but a QO this summer is wishful thinking.
- Apr 16, 2012
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Isn't also a roll of the dice to hang onto Kakko? And a higher percentage play for the future of this team?
I'm not a "we can't trade Kakko/young guys" purist: it of course depends on the specific trade. If we get proper value somehow and it's not a sell low situation, then by all means pull the trigger. If we aren't really getting value for him but it's a move that legitimately puts us "over the top" then sure, go for it. Somehow I doubt either of those scenarios is playing out this year with our dearth of cap space.
I'm keeping an open mind, but holding onto Kakko seems like the smartest move at this time.
The Crypto Guy
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Also, Kreider didn't even play in his first full NHL season till he was 22. He had the luxury of developing and getting stronger before joining the NHL. Kakko is 22 right now....
It took Kreider till he was 25 years old to break 50 points.
McRanger92
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Kakko becoming Kreider elsewhere is a risk im willing to take if it helps us win in this window.
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"Happy" has nothing to do with it. If he finishes this year how he started it that QO is what he deserves, and he knows that too. He can bet on himself and take a one year deal. Then we can either extend him and buy some UFA years or trade him. In my mind the smartest play is to hang onto him for now... but as I always say: it depends on the specific deal.
The Crypto Guy
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Not me. Especially not for some 3rd liner who walks in the offseason.
If we are talking about an early 20's player who has potential that hasn't quite lived up to it yet, then I might listen.
McRanger92
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I never said I'd trade him for a rental, just want to clarify that before people jump down my throat about it.
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