That was a huge play by Kakko. I am fortunate enough to live 15km from their homearena and will be attending some games this year and watch him live. I actually dont root for his team but my daughter does. 
RW Kaapo Kakko - TPS, Liiga (2019 Draft)
- Thread starter FinPanda
- Start date
-
Xenforo Cloud will be upgrading us to version 2.3.5 on March 3rd at 12 AM GMT. This version has increased stability and fixes several bugs. We expect downtime for the duration of the update. The admin team will continue to work on existing issues, templates and upgrade all necessary available addons to minimize impact of this new version. Click Here for Updates
- Status
Kaako Kappo
Kaako Kappo
Ehh...what? The prospect stuff will come later...like....6 months from now.
Artorius Horus T
sincerety
What Olympics thou?....Isn't there like chance that ice hockey and Olympics isn't a thing anymore
that new projected international tournament what would replace both Olympic hockey and worlds, ala World Cup.
Artorius Horus T
sincerety
Kaako Kappo
Kaako Kappo
Why in the f*** should they acknowledge something that happens at Liiga in September?
You follow?
TSN and Sportsnet will talk about him if he does something at the WJC. They don't even really acknowledge what happens in the CHL outside of major injuries or if Sportsnet was airing a game.
At the end of the day, their primary goal is to promote things they have the rights to, or stuff they have to because it draws viewers. Euro Pro Hockey and Major Junior hockey doesn't really do either.
Artorius Horus T
sincerety
FinPanda
Barkov Stanley cup champ!
Those things are amazing to do against kids, and he is doing it against men. He is great along the boards, he can protect the puck so well that opponents can just rip him of the puck by illegal ways. He got his team two powerplays tonight and he could've drawn even more. He is a beast.
teravaineSAROS
Registered User
- Jul 29, 2015
- 3,888
- 1,597
Media affects people's perception on players a lot, we see it time and time again and this year we'll once again see people hyping Hughes up as the undisputed #1 because he's North American based
Kobe Armstrong
Registered User
- Jul 26, 2011
- 16,487
- 7,704
goodfellas
Registered User
- Jan 29, 2011
- 67
- 8
Exactly, and what's impressing too is that his domination along the boards relies in a quite rare mix of great fineness in his stickhandling and impressive strenght on his skates.
Yes, because that is exactly what happened last year with Rasmus Dahlin. The NA based angle here is often overstated. Hughes has earned his ranking. He was better at both events they've been at, and is viewed as a hopeful center. That doesn't mean Kakko can't pass him, but scouts aren't biased by nationality unless you are talking about Russians unlikely to report or that will be difficult to sign.
Mrb1p
PRICERSTOPDAPUCK
Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
Even scouts are just human beings, so they can be as well influenced by the media. Of course as most scouts for those polls are North American, it’s clear that they have caught some influence from the North American media. And as North American media concentrated already years before the particular draft mostly still on North American prospects and North American junior leagues, it is obvious that the ”propaganda” works at some level to all of the North American scouts, and even to some European scouts, if they are very much following what the North American media is saying about the prospects in general.
Even how much the scouts are professionals, they are still human beings and vulnerable to being influenced by the media that they constantly read and hear. The hype about the North American prospects becomes at least partially the reality, even how much they try to be objective. This is how the human mind works.
Last edited:
kelsier
Registered User
- Aug 17, 2013
- 4,280
- 1,741
One could argue he's been outright dominant in the Liiga so far. I've thought to myself that this has got to be the first time I've seen a draft eligible prospect run the offence while doing basically whatever he likes on the ice at this level. Kakko is the most well rounded player coming from FEL in the history, while being elite in most aspects of the game. The only things he's lacking as of this moment are probably elite top end speed and elite shot. He's going to be much faster skater as he develops and might just get there, but even if he didn't, that wouldn't stop him as his agility and first steps are so damn impressive. I haven't seen him take much shots this season, especially from far out and I suppose this is because he's so good at driving at the net that he simply shouldn't be taking long distance shots anyways. Basically he's the complete package with no glaring weaknesses. At the tip* of the iceberg, if you look at how he has scored his points, almost every one of them is like watching a highlight reel.
So Kakko came in as advertised and then some. Currently on a PPG+ pace and quite honestly I'm not sure what to expect in the long run. By a quick logic his production should stall a little bit moving forward as there hasn't been a single D eligible player who's ever finished a season while breaching the point per game barrier neither in FEL nor SEL (to the best of my knowledge). Then again, Í already mentioned earlier about starting positions and Kakko having to adjust playing against the grown ups. So what if he's still in the transition, still is capable of gearing up and able to take another step forward? He should get only better with the experience, which is also just common logic. That would mean Kakko keeping up if not even elevating his current production rate. One logic contradicts the other and quite honestly I'm not sure what to expect anymore. Maybe it's just better to sit back and enjoy the show.
So Kakko came in as advertised and then some. Currently on a PPG+ pace and quite honestly I'm not sure what to expect in the long run. By a quick logic his production should stall a little bit moving forward as there hasn't been a single D eligible player who's ever finished a season while breaching the point per game barrier neither in FEL nor SEL (to the best of my knowledge). Then again, Í already mentioned earlier about starting positions and Kakko having to adjust playing against the grown ups. So what if he's still in the transition, still is capable of gearing up and able to take another step forward? He should get only better with the experience, which is also just common logic. That would mean Kakko keeping up if not even elevating his current production rate. One logic contradicts the other and quite honestly I'm not sure what to expect anymore. Maybe it's just better to sit back and enjoy the show.
Rabid Ranger
2 is better than one
....or Hughes is simply the better prospect.
Artorius Horus T
sincerety
I think Kakko is Laine/Barkov level of talent at this point. I like his skillset more than previous two. I’ve seen Hughes at U18 WC and he looked absolutely amazing against junior aged players like Kakko did. I’m not sure how his game translates to NHL though. He was best player in that tournament for sure.
Do you view Hughes Matthews and MacKinnon level of prospect or better? I think those two are bit ahead Barkov and Laine in talent being in the next group after McDavid. I have to see more Hughes to compare these two players though.
kelsier
Registered User
- Aug 17, 2013
- 4,280
- 1,741
At this point it's largely a matter of personal preferences. Barkov had the defence, Laine had the offence. Meanwhile Kakko's somewhere there between with no particular aspect that would set him apart at world's standards. He has magnificent pair of hands, but then again how many skilled smooth players are there compared to world class shooters? It's like comparing ants to elephants or an army vs a squad. Personally I see Kakko's ceiling sligtly lower than Laine's and somewhere on par with Barkov's (if not a bit higher). I don't know why you'd consider Mackinnon better than Barkov however. Before last season he wasn't considered even all too close to being as good as Barkov. The Rantanen-effect happened. If Mackinnon can re-produce that season without Rantanen, maybe I'll join aboard but until then, one season is just one season. He shouldn't be in the discussion even, considering not only 17-18 but the entire career.
Did I understand your post correctly that you attribute Mackinnon's success last season to Rantanen? If so, I would be interested to hear how that is the case. A great duo, no doubt, and I think both had a positive effect on each other, but I wouldn't say that Rantanen carried Mackinnon
Narow
Registered User
- Nov 11, 2016
- 5,927
- 706
He said as prospects....
Also watch mackinnon and how he produces...obviously rantanens finishing ability helps alot but mackinnon was the driver of offense on that line last season. Rantanen did really well too obviously but wqtch macs highlights from last season and you will see.
Hockeyisl1fe
Registered User
- Dec 8, 2016
- 2,368
- 793
I would say that for his age the whole package of elite level board play, stickhandling and scoring has set him apart quite well. It's not that he is like a whole tier below Laine offensively at the same age. On 5v5 it's actually more of the opposite if anything. And btw you clearly didn't watch a single Avs game in the last season if you think MacKinnon couldn't have produced without Rantanen.
Conspiracy Theorist
Registered User
- Jan 30, 2016
- 5,840
- 2,071
- Status
Latest posts
-
-
Rumor: 2024-2025 Trade Rumors and Free Agency Talk | Part Deux- Latest: myperbixhurts
-
-
