RW Kaapo Kakko - TPS, Liiga (2019 Draft) Part 2

[BB88]

As a long suffering Canucks fan it's some luck we could use.

If there's anything the last few years have taught me it's that if you're not in the playoffs you have a decent shot at a lottery pick.

Being bottom 3 is almost assured disappointment.

Yeah worst team isn't a quarantee to hit the 1st overall but Vancouver is closer to 15th pick, pretty easily, and those chances are quite thin.

Kakko is better than Hughes, but Vancouver takes Hughes just so they can have that dumb brother connection.

It could very well be too much to pass on for the management.

But Kakko would set the F core quite well, without having to do other moves.

 

[DoingItCoolKiwi]

Wonder if we'll see Kakko in world championships later this season. Laine got the chance in 2016, why not Kakko

 

[Lepardi]

This is actually a funny rivalry going on. Let's see if they meet at the U18s.

His team is currently second in the FEL, which means they have a decent chance of making the finals. The finals are played during the U18 tournament.

I'd much rather see him play in the men's tournament in May than at the U18s, just like Laine did before his draft and Barkov would have done had he not been injured in the FEL playoffs.

 

[desu]

Hughes dominating this 3rd period, kakko and the fins barely holding on

lmao

 

[Blade Paradigm]

Does anyone have a streamable of the GWG?

 

[CLW]

Hughes really needed to dominate in U20s to separate himself from Kakko. He didn't.

No way the race is over.

Kakko had a better tournament overall. As did Lundell. Hughes used his skills but in big boy games where the defenses tighten up he just can't dominate like he does in junior games where the neutral zone is wide open. I like Hughes, but he needs to get much stronger and he needs to find his shot.

 

[FinnishSniper]

Kakko had a better tournament overall. As did Lundell. Hughes used his skills but in big boy games where the defenses tighten up he just can't dominate like he does in junior games where the neutral zone is wide open. I like Hughes, but he needs to get much stronger and he needs to find his shot.

He showed incredible skill out there in the big games, but couldn’t really generate anything and disappeared at times. Will be a hell of a battle for the #1 pick.

 

[CLW]

Does anyone have a streamable of the GWG?

 

[Blade Paradigm]

Looking for something of higher quality.

 

[Blade Paradigm]

 

[Blade Paradigm]

 

[jalperi]

I though Kakko played his best game in finals. Rather nice after i thought he struggled a bit in earlier meetings with US and Canada. Really showed his world-class puck control in this game.

I do think Kakko can challenge for 1st pick, but Hughes does have outstanding potential. Interesting to see if TPS continues playing him in the middle.

I think that part of struggling came cause Heponiemi eated his ice time 15+ second everytime when there was line change without whistle.

 

[Unkki]

He's 17 years old, he scores a late game winner in the WJC-final, he plays the last shift defending a one goal lead (in which USA has not a single scoring chance) and he kills penalties with other underaged Lundell at least as good as any teammate of his. What more can you demand from a player who's 2 years underaged in his first WJC appearance?

He is special.

 

[Genu]

I think that part of struggling came cause Heponiemi eated his ice time 15+ second everytime when there was line change without whistle.

Such a weird tournament for Heponiemi. Some good plays but absolutely brutal at times. Felt like he was the Honka of forwards, only his mishaps didn't cost as much because of his position. All of this from a really good Liiga player

 

[BB88]

I think that part of struggling came cause Heponiemi eated his ice time 15+ second everytime when there was line change without whistle.

Yeah Hepo loved his icetime.

Felt like Hughes played 2x vs Kakko tonight.

 

[LOFIN]

I still think Hughes will be #1, because Kakko won't be a C with TPS unless they are hit with a massive injury wave.

 

[Blade Paradigm]

I still think Hughes will be #1, because Kakko won't be a C with TPS unless they are hit with a massive injury wave.

Wasn't he already being tested at center with TPS? They now have a bit of an offensive boost with Petrus Palmu back in the fold.

 

[jalperi]

Wasn't he already being tested at center with TPS? They now have a bit of an offensive boost with Petrus Palmu back in the fold.

Yes he was and played well. Same on U18 NT. I think he have played some games also on B-juniors as a center.

 

[LOFIN]

Wasn't he already being tested at center with TPS? They now have a bit of an offensive boost with Petrus Palmu back in the fold.

He was, but I don't he is a natural center like Hughes is maybe. As I said before, it will depend on the team drafting him. And even then you might want to run him winger for at least a season to get him to nhl speed and then to C.

 

[FinPanda]

Played his best game of the tournament in the final.. we have a diamond.

 

[Genu]

He was, but I don't he is a natural center like Hughes is maybe. As I said before, it will depend on the team drafting him. And even then you might want to run him winger for at least a season to get him to nhl speed and then to C.

I don't know this, but i thought he has played some center as a junior? Not sure about last season though, did he play wing in jr. A?

 

[LOFIN]

I don't know this, but i thought he has played some center as a junior? Not sure about last season though, did he play wing in jr. A?

He has played C before with juniors, and has played C even with TPS this season. However, he did say on an interview before WJC that a this moment he'd rather be at wing because he can attack more. With C, you also get the defensive duties, which are not really his speciality.

He was pretty good when he was C for TPS for those few games few weeks ago. I personaly could see a similar evolution with him like Aho; play him at wing for first seasons, the try move him to wing.

His defense is what he needs to work with most, but then again, MacK isn't really a defense specialist either is he?

 

[Hokinaittii]

Kakko bullying the Hughes brothers in corner. His puck control and balance is such a treat to watch.

 

[Tiger24]

 

[Ibumax]

I wonder how fast someone slaughters him in the NHL because of the way he drives himself into the corners. Against Swiss (or was it Canada?) he was in prime scoring area with the puck and for some reason did not shoot, but instead went behind the goal with the puck and created nothing. Not the first time i've seen him do it either.