As far as adjusting to the smaller rink goes, it seems to me like Kakko has needed to learn how to use his teammates better to create space for himself on the ice. Some of that is surely about developing chemistry. Some of it is about playing with players who can contribute (ie. not Howden). And some of it is just Kakko, who until the game against Buffalo, seemed either to hold the puck too long and corner himself, or to drift away to untenable (if open) positions without it. He, Chytil, and PDG seem to work well by making very short touch plays off the wall, behind the net, and towards the crease on the cycle. Chytil set up Kakko for the goal, but earlier in the game PDG fed Chytil in almost an identical play and Quick made probably his best save of the night on it. Both plays were preceded by sub-five foot chip passes between two players (Kaako to PDG, PDG to Chytil).
I'm not concerned with Kakko's analytics because the Rangers as a whole have had trash analytics and because until this line was formed with PDG, I had yet to see Kakko find himself on a unit that worked and with two players he could learn to work with. He's obviously supremely talented. He's produced really well on the PP. His goals, for the most part, have been deserved, and would've been botched by lesser players. And at 18, he's shown that he can be almost unmanageable for NHL defensemen down low when he can find ways to keep his feet moving.
I don't love the comparisons to Svech because not only are they really different players, Svech jumped onto a team that has maintained fantastic play-driving numbers as a whole, and was in reality much, much closer to playoff contention than we were when we added Kaapo. They finished 10th in the East IIRC when they won the lottery. They were a good team with horrific goaltending. It's not really comparable situations IMO.
I'm not concerned with Kakko's analytics because the Rangers as a whole have had trash analytics and because until this line was formed with PDG, I had yet to see Kakko find himself on a unit that worked and with two players he could learn to work with. He's obviously supremely talented. He's produced really well on the PP. His goals, for the most part, have been deserved, and would've been botched by lesser players. And at 18, he's shown that he can be almost unmanageable for NHL defensemen down low when he can find ways to keep his feet moving.
I don't love the comparisons to Svech because not only are they really different players, Svech jumped onto a team that has maintained fantastic play-driving numbers as a whole, and was in reality much, much closer to playoff contention than we were when we added Kaapo. They finished 10th in the East IIRC when they won the lottery. They were a good team with horrific goaltending. It's not really comparable situations IMO.
