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

[JustAPleb]

Kakko Finnish Liiga U18 All-Time season stats: (1975-2019)

Goals:

1. Alexander Barkov, 21 goals in 53 games
2. Kaapo Kakko, 18 goals in 37 games
3. Joel Armia, 18 goals in 48 games
4. Patrik Laine, 17 goals in 46 games
5. Artturi Lehkonen, 14 goals in 45 games

Goals Per Game: (30+ games)

1. Kaapo Kakko, 0.49
2. Juha Jyrkkiö, 0.41
3. Risto Jalo, 0.41
4. Alexander Barkov, 0.40
5. Jari Torkki, 0.38

Points:

1. Alexander Barkov, 48 points in 53 games
2. Mikael Granlund, 40 points in 43 games
3. Patrik Laine, 33 points in 46 games
4. Kaapo Kakko, 31 points in 37 games
5. Artturi Lehkonen, 30 points in 45 games

Points Per Game (30+ games)

1. Mikael Granlund, 0.93
2. Alexander Barkov, 0.91
3. Jari Torkki, 0.88
4. Kaapo Kakko, 0.84
5. Reijo Ruotsalainen, 0.77

 

[Lepardi]

Goals Per Game: (30+ games)

1. Kaapo Kakko, 0.49
2. Juha Jyrkkiö, 0.41
3. Risto Jalo, 0.41

Risto Jalo is a legend. There are only three Finnish players whose PPG during their NHL careers is 1.00 or higher. Teemu Selänne, Jari Kurri and Risto Jalo. It'll be very hard for even Kaapo Kakko to join that list.

 

[Lepardi]

Question is that where do you guys would slot him in Oilers lineup 2019-2020 season?

I would slot him in a line with Puljujärvi. It would probably help Jesse a lot if he got to play with someone who he can talk with.

 

[Ippenator]

True. It was ridiculous for Laine.

The thing is is still that Laine had a clearly better U20 tournament than Kakko had. Sure Kakko had the winning goal in the final, but other than that Laine was way, way better in the U20 tournament at the same age. Also Laine had the kind of Liiga playoffs and men’s WHC tournament that weren’t ever even close seen done by any other players of that age before.

Kakko is most probably having only a bit better stats for the regular season than Laine had for his draft season. But what made Laine so much more amazing was still what he did in the U20 tournament and then after the regular season in tough and very decisive men’s games. Kakko hasn’t yet done any of those things that Laine did and until he does something truly similar or even something more impressive, there is no point to lift him to Laine’s level as an 18 year old talent.

Kakko might even be there at the end of the season, but lifting him at the moment past Laine’s draft season with what Kakko has done so far this season is absolutely ridiculous. Lets see how things are at the end of the season, but until we are there and until Kakko has really done something as amazing as Laine did in the decisive games of his draft season, it’s good to hold the horses a bit.

 

[slumpy43]

If Kakko would of had Aho and Poolparty as linemates at the U20, he might of looked significantly better.

 

[FinPanda]

The thing is is still that Laine had a clearly better U20 tournament than Kakko had. Sure Kakko had the winning goal in the final, but other than that Laine was way, way better in the U20 tournament at the same age. Also Laine had the kind of Liiga playoffs and men’s WHC tournament that weren’t ever even close seen done by any other players of that age before.

Kakko is most probably having only a bit better stats for the regular season than Laine had for his draft season. But what made Laine so much more amazing was still what he did in the U20 tournament and then after the regular season in tough and very decisive men’s games. Kakko hasn’t yet done any of those things that Laine did and until he does something truly similar or even something more impressive, there is no point to lift him to Laine’s level as an 18 year old talent.

Kakko might even be there at the end of the season, but lifting him at the moment past Laine’s draft season with what Kakko has done so far this season is absolutely ridiculous. Lets see how things are at the end of the season, but until we are there and until Kakko has really done something as amazing as Laine did in the decisive games of his draft season, it’s good to hold the horses a bit.

I didn't compare him to Laine. Just purely talked about the difference in hype.

 

[Ippenator]

I didn't compare him to Laine. Just purely talked about the difference in hype.

The kind of hype that Laine got comes still mostly from how amazing things he did in the U20 WJC, Liiga playoffs and WHC. Kakko will and should only get the same kind of hype when he gets clearly similar things done with the consistency that Laine did it in the clearly biggest games of his draft season.

 

[FinPanda]

The kind of hype that Laine got comes still mostly from how amazing things he did in the U20 WJC, Liiga playoffs and WHC. Kakko will and should only get the same kind of hype when he gets clearly similar things done with the consistency that Laine did it in the clearly biggest games of his draft season.

I know. I followed Laine a lot during his draft year.

 

[Ippenator]

I know. I followed Laine a lot during his draft year.

Then you should really understand my point too.

 

[StiffSquid]

I think all Finns know what Laine did lol. But how about this Kakko kid , huh? Seems to be quite a player. Hopefully some decent team gets him in the draft. Colorado or New Jersey. Maybe even LA. Would be nice to see him with Hischier and Hall or Rantanen and MacKinnon.

 

[BB88]

If Kakko would of had Aho and Poolparty as linemates at the U20, he might of looked significantly better.

They also played in NA vs at home ice.

 

[Ippenator]

They also played in NA vs at home ice.

Just waiting for the excuses in the Liiga playoffs and WHC tournament, if Kakko doesn’t achieve anything close to Laine in those. He might even do something similar to Laine in those games, but before he does, I will not buy it that he is a Laine level of a prospect as an 18 year old. But if he does succeed in it after all, I will definitely be also praising him to that class. And for the record, I absolutely hope that Kakko will be able to do something like that in the Liiga playoffs and in the WHC tournament.

I think there is a bit of recency bias for Laine’s part in these comparisons of Kakko to Laine. As we all know that Laine has been quite disappointing this season and especially his development has clearly stalled at the moment. He is still all but done yet, but his poor play recently can easily fool people to think that he wasn’t as exceptional and talented as an 18 year old as he really was after all.

 

[FinPanda]

Then you should really understand my point too.

I never said I didn't. I didn't need an explanation of how great Laine was during his draft year. I saw it, I watched him, I read about him, I heard from him.

I am Finnish, cmoon. I know everything what Laine did and I didn't try to put Kakko ahead of him. I was just thinking why Kakko hasn't gotten more hype. I compared the amount of threads they have had, not what kind of seasons they had.

Laine was incredible, I know. I don't know why you felt like you needed to explain me something. 7 threads > 2 threads, that was my point. You totally missed it.

 

[Ippenator]

I never said I didn't. I didn't need an explanation of how great Laine was during his draft year. I saw it, I watched him, I read about him, I heard from him.

I am Finnish, cmoon. I know everything what Laine did and I didn't try to put Kakko ahead of him. I was just thinking why he hasn't gotten more hype. I compared the amount of threads they have had, not what kind of seasons they had.

I didn’t make the explanation for only you. Your comment was such that it could easily mislead some whom didn’t see what both Laine and Kakko have done in their draft seasons. Me quoting you was more about making sure that people understand the basic situation when comparing these two exceptionally talented young players. I never in fact quote to just answer the poster I quote, but because of making something clear to all that read the certain thread.

And I exactly did answer why Laine got so much more hype. Wasn’t that exactly what you were wondering about?

 

[FinPanda]

I didn’t make the explanation for only you. Your comment was such that it could easily mislead some whom didn’t see what both Laine and Kakko have done in their draft seasons. Me quoting you was more about making sure that people understand the basic situation when comparing these two exceptionally talented young players. I never in fact quote to just answer the poster I quote, but because of making something clear to all that read the certain thread.

Ok, that's fair. Quite a bit of misunderstanding from me then.

 

[Kaako Kappo]

Huh? I can promise you right here and now that Kakko will be better than Laine. Quote me on this.

 

[Kiekura]

The thing is is still that Laine had a clearly better U20 tournament than Kakko had. Sure Kakko had the winning goal in the final, but other than that Laine was way, way better in the U20 tournament at the same age. Also Laine had the kind of Liiga playoffs and men’s WHC tournament that weren’t ever even close seen done by any other players of that age before.

Kakko is most probably having only a bit better stats for the regular season than Laine had for his draft season. But what made Laine so much more amazing was still what he did in the U20 tournament and then after the regular season in tough and very decisive men’s games. Kakko hasn’t yet done any of those things that Laine did and until he does something truly similar or even something more impressive, there is no point to lift him to Laine’s level as an 18 year old talent.

Kakko might even be there at the end of the season, but lifting him at the moment past Laine’s draft season with what Kakko has done so far this season is absolutely ridiculous. Lets see how things are at the end of the season, but until we are there and until Kakko has really done something as amazing as Laine did in the decisive games of his draft season, it’s good to hold the horses a bit.

Well to be fair, Laine had Aho and Puljujärvi and specially Aho being there with his over 9000 hockey IQ was big thing. So we can't really compare U20, but we can compare playoffs and WHC in future.

And even if Kakko doesnt deliver same level as Laine in playoffs/WHC, I still think Kakko has higher ceiling than Laine. Look at Rantanen as example who is really similar to Kakko.

 

[Hokinaittii]

Do people really expect Kakko to disappear in Liiga playoffs and not come even close to Laine's 15 points in 18 games point totals? Kid has 21 points in his last 20 games while being one of his team's most valuable players. If TPS goes far in the playoffs, Kakko will be one of the main contributors in that run.

I also think Kakko has only gotten better in the last month and I don't think he's done improving yet.

 

[Lepardi]

Do people really expect Kakko to disappear in Liiga playoffs and not come even close to Laine's 15 points in 18 games point totals? Kid has 21 points in his last 20 games while being one of his team's most valuable players. If TPS goes far in the playoffs, Kakko will be one of the main contributors in that run.

While I agree with your point, I don't think "15 points in 18 games" completely does justice to what Laine did in those playoffs. He scored a lot of clutch goals. Having lived in Tampere my entire life I obviously hated to watch those goals but they were pretty legendary. To me this one was the most memorable. Generally speaking it just doesn't make any sense to shoot from such a poor angle with 48 seconds on the clock:

 

[Ippenator]

Well to be fair, Laine had Aho and Puljujärvi and specially Aho being there with his over 9000 hockey IQ was big thing. So we can't really compare U20, but we can compare playoffs and WHC in future.

And even if Kakko doesnt deliver same level as Laine in playoffs/WHC, I still think Kakko has higher ceiling than Laine. Look at Rantanen as example who is really similar to Kakko.

What does Rantanen and his development prove really? Rantanen is 2 years older than Laine and a much, much more finished product physically. Remember what 20 year (the age Laine is now) old Rantanen did in the NHL? I can refresh your memory - he didn’t get even 40 points... Lets see what Laine does the next two seasons before we compare him to Rantanen now.

Anyway, I’m absolutely not claiming that it isn’t possible for Kakko to become better than Laine in the future. My point is still that in a vacuum, when you compare Kakko’s and Laine’s draft season’s, Kakko definitely has to do something truly special in the playoffs and in the WHC to be really considered as a same level or even better 18 year old prospect. Hockey is still most of all about consistent results, so it is those results that define how good you are after all as a player, not how eye pleasing the player looks on the ice, unless he gets the great results consistently with his flashy playing.

I have myself really liked what I have seen about Kakko’s play recently. He has become much more straightforward with his play with shooting much more and especially more dangerously. He has also cut down on the previous useless buzzing in the corner habit, that way too often lead to nothing.

I think he is really on the right track now and I have very much liked what I have seen from him lately. But I will still refuse to hype him in the Laine class or over it, until he has truly proved at the end of his draft season that he is capable of turning his flashy plays into consistent results in the toughest and most decisive games of his season. And once again, I very much hope that he will be able to do that!

 

[FinPanda]

I am not even a Tappara fan and that goal gave me chills when it happened.

 

[Lepardi]

I am not even a Tappara fan and that goal gave me chills when it happened.

Born and raised in Tampere, I support the two Finnish hockey teams we all support here: Ilves and whoever is playing Tappara. But that goal almost gave me chills too.

To get back on-topic, it looks like TPS and Tappara might very well meet each other in the semi-finals this spring. I hope Kakko absolutely destroys them.

 

[1OApick]

What does Rantanen and his development prove really? Rantanen is 2 years older than Laine and a much, much more finished product physically. Remember what 20 year (the age Laine is now) old Rantanen did in the NHL? I can refresh your memory - he didn’t get even 40 points... Lets see what Laine does the next two seasons before we compare him to Rantanen now.

Anyway, I’m absolutely not claiming that it isn’t possible for Kakko to become better than Laine in the future. My point is still that in a vacuum, when you compare Kakko’s and Laine’s draft season’s, Kakko definitely has to do something truly special in the playoffs and in the WHC to be really considered as a same level or even better 18 year old prospect. Hockey is still most of all about consistent results, so it is those results that define how good you are after all as a player, not how eye pleasing the player looks on the ice, unless he gets the great results consistently with his flashy playing.

I have myself really liked what I have seen about Kakko’s play recently. He has become much more straightforward with his play with shooting much more and especially more dangerously. He has also cut down on the previous useless buzzing in the corner habit, that way too often lead to nothing.

I think he is really on the right track now and I have very much liked what I have seen from him lately. But I will still refuse to hype him in the Laine class or over it, until he has truly proved at the end of his draft season that he is capable of turning his flashy plays into consistent results in the toughest and most decisive games of his season. And once again, I very much hope that he will be able to do that!

Can agree with this one. And I still think that Laine will be better than Rantanen at some point. And Kakko can get to that level also.

 

[Conspiracy Theorist]

Laine-Barkov-Kakko could be a good line.

 

[MarVell]

Huh? I can promise you right here and now that Kakko will be better than Laine. Quote me on this.

I sure hope so because Laine sure ain’t no superstar.