GDT: Training Camp 2021: Everyone Else Too Lazy to Make a Thread

[GAGLine]

 

[Edge]

Says something when a potential franchise player, who is only 18 months removed from being the second pick in his draft class, is almost flying under the radar to this point.

Make no mistake, Kakko is a competitor as well. I fully expect him and Lafreniere to push each other.

 

[will1066]

A bit of a peeve with those Vince tweets. Tweet updates are just fine text-only. No need to put generic gifs on them. Better yet still, have actual gifs. Don't get me wrong, I appreciate the tweets.

 

[LeetchisGod]

Says something when a potential franchise player, who is only 18 months removed from being the second pick in his draft class, is almost flying under the radar to this point.

Make no mistake, Kakko is a competitor as well. I fully expect him and Lafreniere to push each other.

I never thought we'd ever have two prospects of this caliber. Good times.

 

[Edge]

I never thought we'd ever have two prospects of this caliber. Good times.

And unprecedented times.

I'm usually the guy saying "well he's more of a second line type" or "well I don't know if he's going to be quite on that level."

With Kakko and Lafreniere, I freely admit that Franchise level play and production is well within the realm of possibility, if not the unquestioned expectation.

 

[Levitate]

Says something when a potential franchise player, who is only 18 months removed from being the second pick in his draft class, is almost flying under the radar to this point.

Make no mistake, Kakko is a competitor as well. I fully expect him and Lafreniere to push each other.

Hopefully push each other in a competitive yet cooperative way. Would rather have them pushing each other to be better for the betterment of the team than getting angry because so and so isn't the top dog or something. At least they don't play the same wing

e: with Panarin hopefully it's just a little tweak and a rest. With COVID and all I get nervous about these things...

 

[bleedblue94]

we need a captain discussion thread so this one can actually go back to what is happening in TRAINING CAMP and not arguments about the importance of a leader having the C or not on his jersey.

 

[SnowblindNYR]

And unprecedented times.

I'm usually the guy saying "well he's more of a second line type" or "well I don't know if he's going to be quite on that level."

With Kakko and Lafreniere, I freely admit that Franchise level play and production is well within the realm of possibility, if not the unquestioned expectation.

Are you concerned at all that the fancy stats people say Kakko had one of the worst fancy stats season ever for a top pick? Or at least that's what I heard. That's what's bothering me about him. Supposedly Svechnikov's underlying numbers were good.

 

[Levitate]

Are you concerned at all that the fancy stats people say Kakko had one of the worst fancy stats season ever for a top pick? Or at least that's what I heard. That's what's bothering me about him. Supposedly Svechnikov's underlying numbers were good.

I'm not Edge obviously but I honestly just think Kakko was nowhere near ready for the NHL and we were all kind of caught off guard by that. We were told he was ready and he looked good in the WC against NHLers, etc, but it became very obvious he wasn't quite ready for the pace and lack of space in the NHL versus the Finnish league and bigger international ice. He was used to having a bit more time, and he didn't have to attack the puck the way you have to in the NHL. So...it was a big damn adjustment I think and as he makes that adjustment I think we'll see things come a lot easier/better for him. Learning when to make time and when to move the puck, how to deal with NHLers closing on you quickly, etc.

I just think that was a huge change for him that a lot of us discounted. The Finnish league isn't bad but it's still a big step up in skill and a huge change in style and he was still just 18

 

[SnowblindNYR]

I'm not Edge obviously but I honestly just think Kakko was nowhere near ready for the NHL and we were all kind of caught off guard by that. We were told he was ready and he looked good in the WC against NHLers, etc, but it became very obvious he wasn't quite ready for the pace and lack of space in the NHL versus the Finnish league and bigger international ice. He was used to having a bit more time, and he didn't have to attack the puck the way you have to in the NHL. So...it was a big damn adjustment I think and as he makes that adjustment I think we'll see things come a lot easier/better for him. Learning when to make time and when to move the puck, how to deal with NHLers closing on you quickly, etc.

I just think that was a huge change for him that a lot of us discounted. The Finnish league isn't bad but it's still a big step up in skill and a huge change in style and he was still just 18

But isn't that true of EVERY prospect? And the Finnish league is better than juniors.

 

[Edge]

Are you concerned at all that the fancy stats people say Kakko had one of the worst fancy stats season ever for a top pick? Or at least that's what I heard. That's what's bothering me about him. Supposedly Svechnikov's underlying numbers were good.

Not really. No.

 

[Levitate]

But isn't that true of EVERY prospect? And the Finnish league is better than juniors.

Yes but how many jump directly to the NHL at age 18? Not many. Even Svechnikov had the advantage of playing in a league that had vaguely the same style as the NHL and played on the same size rinks.

It may be something we should be concerned about but I really want to see more than 1 season of an 18 year old who looked not prepared for the NHL before I toss 'em in the bin

 

[Edge]

But isn't that true of EVERY prospect? And the Finnish league is better than juniors.

Looking at Hughes, Kakko and Dach, I can't say I came away wowed.

If Kakko was really struggling, and those guys were hitting it out of the park, maybe it sets off alarms for me.

But as-is, I saw three 18 year olds who learned very quickly just how good the competition is at the NHL compared to the rest of the world.

I liked what I saw after the break, I've liked what I've seen/heard since then.

I see a kid who wants to put in the work.

 

[Levitate]

Also Panarin out today along with Hajek as a "procedural issue" wtf
But back tomorrow

 

[Lua]

Also Panarin out today along with Hajek as a "procedural issue" wtf
But back tomorrow

I'm not sure i've ever heard that language used to describe why someone is sitting. What could it mean?

Also, the lack of video from TC is really frustrating. I assume they told the beat writers not to capture and post any of the stream.

 

[EpicDing]

I'm not sure i've ever heard that language used to describe why someone is sitting. What could it mean?

Also, the lack of video from TC is really frustrating. I assume they told the beat writers not to capture and post any of the stream.

Meanwhile the Golden Knights are straight up streaming theirs on Twitch.

 

[Levitate]

I'm not sure i've ever heard that language used to describe why someone is sitting. What could it mean?

Also, the lack of video from TC is really frustrating. I assume they told the beat writers not to capture and post any of the stream.

Who knows, I think teams are really gonna obfuscate stuff that goes on with COVID happening. Lotta stuff could be minor injuries concealed with vague language and some stuff could be COVID related.

As for TC video I guess we used to get little clips from beat writers but it's not like the Rangers have ever done a lot of TC video and coverage. And yeah I assume reporters would get their privileges yanked if they tried to share a stream or something.

 

[GoAwayPanarin]

Kakko was fine until he obviously gassed out.

We need to remember the absurd amount of travel he went through over 10 months with the WJC, flying back to Finland, going to the worlds, flying out to Vancouver for the draft, flying to NY for prospects camp, flying back home and then immediately pretty much jumping into training for like a month before flying back to NY for camp.

He didn't get to take a breath for maybe more than 2 or 3 weeks max at any point.

 

[Edge]

Yes but how many jump directly to the NHL at age 18? Not many. Even Svechnikov had the advantage of playing in a league that had vaguely the same style as the NHL and played on the same size rinks.

It may be something we should be concerned about but I really want to see more than 1 season of an 18 year old who looked not prepared for the NHL before I toss 'em in the bin

I guess at the end of the day, I've seen all kinds of results on all different timelines from high picks.

I watched Joe Thornton score 3 goals and 7 points as an 18 year old with 12 mins of ice per night. I watched Laine net 36 goals and 64 points with nearly 18 minutes per night.

I've seen MacKinnon fly out of the gate with 24 goals as a rookie, and then post 14 and 16 goals in his D+2 and D+4 seasons. I saw Barkov score 8 and 16 in his first two years, but watched Svechnikov net 2o and 24.

Huberdeau is a 90 point winger who didn't play in the NHL as an 18 year old and only potted 14, 9 and 15 goals in his first three seasons. He didn't really resemble the player he is now until his D+6 season.

So it's really difficult to put hard timelines on these kids.

 

[ColonialsHockey10]

Kakko also had major confidence issues last season. There were times when he was actively avoiding getting open so he didn’t have to carry the puck through the neutral zone. He was much more comfortable in the corners, but his legs turned to jello at other points.

I saw a ton of positives last season, though. I’m confident he will take a big step forward.

 

[Mr Clutch]

Let's not forget how good kaako looked in our 3 playoff games. I know its a small sample size but the one common denominator was the time off before those games. Kaako looked much faster and confident and was one of our best players. Gauthier did as well.

I think people forget what confidence on the ice can do for a player. I know there were times when I felt like I couldn't be stopped on the ice and times when I felt like I didn't belong out there. Its especially tough for young players playing in the best league in the world.

Kaako is gonna be just fine

 

[TheBloodyNine]

I don't want to jump on the Kakko excuse bandwagon (even though everything you guys are saying is completely valid), but I think there was a mental aspect as well. 18 years old in a country he didn't know in the biggest city in the world where he doesn't speak the language great. I think there was something where he said he didn't really have a lot to do but sit in his room and watch videos on his ipad. The Rangers had to call in Ruutu to come over and hang with him. That's not gonna be fun for anyone. Hopefully now with a year of comfortability, plus more young guys on the team with him, these issues will be alleviated.

 

[I Eat Crow]

Kakko was fine until he obviously gassed out.

We need to remember the absurd amount of travel he went through over 10 months with the WJC, flying back to Finland, going to the worlds, flying out to Vancouver for the draft, flying to NY for prospects camp, flying back home and then immediately pretty much jumping into training for like a month before flying back to NY for camp.

He didn't get to take a breath for maybe more than 2 or 3 weeks max at any point.

And when he did he was the Rangers' best forward against Carolina.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Have we heard anything on Mika? I know a lot tried to just play off his Day to Day thing as he was quarantined but the days continue to float by..

Feel like if quarantining was the case, Quinn could have said by now he will join the team at the end of the week without actually discussing anything related to COVID.

 

[romba]

For real, throw us a bone and release some real scrimmage or practice vids please. Not player reaction closeups. Not video collages of 1.5 second snips capturing slow mos of stars skating wide turns. Just hockey.