RW Kaapo Kakko - TPS, Liiga (2019 Draft)

[Narow]

Disagree; if Jonne Virtanen says El Kaapo is a player, then he is.

Haha awesome nickname, el kaapo

 

[kelsier]

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.

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!!

 

[Kaako Kappo]

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.

 

[Hokinaittii]

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.

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.

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.

 

[rt]

Well....that was underwhelming.

That was awesome. Amazing look at something I’ve always been curious about.

 

[fr9dd9]

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

 

[agent082]

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

Is his slump officially over?

 

[Kaako Kappo]

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

I'll make streamable(s) after the game is over, if no one else does.

 

[FinPanda]

That was a very nice assist. Passed the puck to Filppula for a breakaway.

 

[FinPanda]

His puck protection is something else. I can't believe he is only 17.

 

[Kaako Kappo]

His puck protection is something else. I can't believe he is only 17.

Seriously needs to give it up earlier, though.

 

[FinPanda]

Seriously needs to give it up earlier, though.

Yeah I've noticed he should have passed a bit earlier a couple times.

 

[ijuka]

Seriously needs to give it up earlier, though.

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.

 

[Nate070]

Seriously needs to give it up earlier, though.

Boring.... Let the kid play

 

[Kaako Kappo]

Boring.... Let the kid play

It usually ends with losing possession, no matter how long he's able to hang onto the puck.

 

[Nate070]

It usually ends with losing possession, no matter how long he's able to hang onto the puck.

That happens every player... I mean they lose possession when they pass or shoot it

 

[Kaako Kappo]

Streamable as promised.

Not sure why the quality was so shitty but eh

 

[Gabrielor]

I think Kakko playing center would have him in contention for 1OA.

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.

 

[Hokinaittii]

I can't wait to see Hughes and Kakko go head to head in WJC.

 

[TakeTheBody]

I can't wait to see Hughes and Kakko go head to head in WJC.

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......

 

[Grub]

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.

 

[Habs76]

I'm becoming very tempted to put him above Hughes

 

[Daximus]

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.

I think you likely go with Hughes. Having two brothers of their calibre playing together would be huge for marketing purposes.

 

[Kaako Kappo]

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.

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.

 

[Kiekura]

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.

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

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.

Yeah he is so freaking entertaining to watch right now. Kinda like Nathan Mackinnon in NHL. Really fun and entertaining to watch.