Toggle sidebar

RW Kaapo Kakko - TPS, Liiga (2019 Draft)

Status
Not open for further replies.
Salmonsnake said:
There were concerns with Kotkaniemi that he wouldn't be a center because he played wing in Liiga but looks even better at center now.
Click to expand...

Exactly. Although I do think a lot of that has more to do with development & great off-season than reverting back to natural position. Nonetheless, Kotkaniemi's qualities as a player are better served in the middle and the same most certainly could be said about Kakko. The latter is far ahead of the former looking at them at the same age, so I wouldn't be surprised at all if TPS attempted to transition him into the C role moving forward. Kakko has literally no glaring weaknesses and has the physicality most teenagers could only dream of. I think he'd do great already in the middle. We'll find out if not sooner then probably after three months when the WJCs begin.

TPS is facing Ässät in today's game. /#MKGA!!
 
He has a lot of junior things he needs to get rid of. He's a bit too selfish with the puck, needs to pass more (or faster) and play a simpler game. The second thing he needs to do is drive to the net. His junior coach said that Kaapo once told him that he'd "rather go to school than to the net". He has a very strong will to win and be the hero, which is a good thing, but it shows as frustration when things don't go his way (Hasn't scored in the last 2½ games, and you can see he's frustrated). That being said, he's still pretty much the best player on the ice whenever he steps on it, scoring or not. A very talented player, but still very young and maybe a bit childish.

I don't think the scouts care about that, because NHL will rid youngsters of these things.

Just thought i'd post some criticism, since it might be a bit lacking because the kid is very very flashy and exciting to watch.

E: He has drawn 3 penalties tonight. 0+0 though.

E2: I hope he learned an important lesson tonight. Played selfish in overtime, didn't pass, dangled with the puck until he fell down behind the opponent goal, which led into the opponents scoring on a breakaway. Exactly what i was talking about.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: shinchanuuhh, Kiekura, Patrik Barkov and 9 others
He is the most dominant player I've seen from U18 players in Liiga. Absolutely ridiculous how he is able manhandle grown men along the boards forcing them to take penalties. 6 or 7 drawn penalties in his last two games, crazy.

Paul Maurice said:
He has a lot of junior things he needs to get rid of. He's a bit too selfish with the puck, needs to pass more (or faster) and play a simpler game. The second thing he needs to do is drive to the net. His junior coach said that Kaapo once told him that he'd "rather go to school than to the net". He has a very strong will to win and be the hero, which is a good thing, but it shows as frustration when things don't go his way (Hasn't scored in the last 2½ games, and you can see he's frustrated). That being said, he's still pretty much the best player on the ice whenever he steps on it, scoring or not. A very talented player, but still very young and maybe a bit childish.

I don't think the scouts care about that, because NHL will rid youngsters of these things.

Just thought i'd post some criticism, since it might be a bit lacking because the kid is very very flashy and exciting to watch.

E: He has drawn 3 penalties tonight. 0+0 though.

E2: I hope he learned an important lesson tonight. Played selfish in overtime, didn't pass, dangled with the puck until he fell down behind the opponent goal, which led into the opponents scoring on a breakaway. Exactly what i was talking about.
Click to expand...

He has lots of similarities with Laine despite them being eventually very different players. Laine also liked to hog the puck a bit too much at times in Liiga but usually that kind of puck hogging resulted into good things instead bad, and atleast to me it was encouraging to see he didn't become afraid of doing those things even if something bad sometimes happened. It seems like that ratio of good things happening instead bad is even higher with Kakko than it was Laine, so I'm personally fine with him holding onto puck as long as he isn't losing it. He has the time and space in Liiga so he should use it but sure, once he is in NHL, he will have to drop some of that because there won't be that kind of time and space.

I believe even Kotkaniemi was last season blamed for holding onto puck a bit too much. It's just a normal thing when players know they are more skilled than everyone else on the ice and at the same time they also want to impress the scouts and show what they are capable of. It's not like they don't see the opening for a pass but rather them trying to wait for the teammate to get into even better spot for scoring.

But just like with every other talented young player, Kakko will learn to do things more efficiently and I'm sure in 6 months he already looks like a different player than now.
 
  • Like
Reactions: shinchanuuhh, 1OApick, LAINEC and 2 others
Waiting for the gif on his assist, makes me knowlage that I have started to tanke it for granted. Really love you all for feeding us with gifs ❤️
 
Paul Maurice said:
Seriously needs to give it up earlier, though.
Click to expand...
Why? He's in Liiga, playing with a bunch of Liiga players. He should hold onto the puck for as long as possible. Many talented players give the puck to a teammate "when they should" and that leads to nothing good happening when they make a bad play and give it up.
 
Hokinaittii said:
I can't wait to see Hughes and Kakko go head to head in WJC.
Click to expand...

Saw them in the 5 nations in Plymouth last year. Kakko was really impressive. I think he's the best player in the draft, but i'm basing it off the week I saw him in person. Consider the source though I believe Quinn Hughes is better than Dahlin......
 
If you're the Canucks what do you do if you get the chance to draft the first overall pick in 2019? (Just hopeful speculation)

Go with Kakko or take Jack Hughes and have the Hughes brothers for the next decade. Tough decision, I really like Kakko.
 
Grub said:
If you're the Canucks what do you do if you get the chance to draft the first overall pick in 2019? (Just hopeful speculation)

Go with Kakko or take Jack Hughes and have the Hughes brothers for the next decade. Tough decision, I really like Kakko.
Click to expand...

I think you likely go with Hughes. Having two brothers of their calibre playing together would be huge for marketing purposes.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Grub and HockeyHistorian
Gabrielor said:
I’ve watched a few recent games of his, and I honestly think he may challenge that 1 spot regardless of position. This guy is incredible.
Click to expand...
Yeah. I've not seen a Finnish prospect like this, ever. He makes something happen almost every time he steps on the ice. The kinda guy people will pay to see live.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lemonlimey
Paul Maurice said:
He has a lot of junior things he needs to get rid of. He's a bit too selfish with the puck, needs to pass more (or faster) and play a simpler game. The second thing he needs to do is drive to the net. His junior coach said that Kaapo once told him that he'd "rather go to school than to the net". He has a very strong will to win and be the hero, which is a good thing, but it shows as frustration when things don't go his way (Hasn't scored in the last 2½ games, and you can see he's frustrated). That being said, he's still pretty much the best player on the ice whenever he steps on it, scoring or not. A very talented player, but still very young and maybe a bit childish.

I don't think the scouts care about that, because NHL will rid youngsters of these things.

Just thought i'd post some criticism, since it might be a bit lacking because the kid is very very flashy and exciting to watch.

E: He has drawn 3 penalties tonight. 0+0 though.

E2: I hope he learned an important lesson tonight. Played selfish in overtime, didn't pass, dangled with the puck until he fell down behind the opponent goal, which led into the opponents scoring on a breakaway. Exactly what i was talking about.
Click to expand...

You are absolutely right. But at the same time it is so amazing that this is is 17 and he is able to hold puck like that in Liiga. This kid is just bonkers

Paul Maurice said:
Yeah. I've not seen a Finnish prospect like this, ever. He makes something happen almost every time he steps on the ice. The kinda guy people will pay to see live.
Click to expand...

Yeah he is so freaking entertaining to watch right now. Kinda like Nathan Mackinnon in NHL. Really fun and entertaining to watch.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Lemonlimey
Status
Not open for further replies.

Latest posts

Ad

Upcoming events

Ad

Top Bottom