TSN: Rangers Taking Calls on Kaapo Kakko

[jjniner]

Vrana for KK

 

[Oscar The Grouch]

I’m not making excuses, that’s what’s been going on. If you’re a rangers fan and watch the games then you’d know this is exactly how it’s been. He had no privilege because he has/had solid veteran players in front of him on the depth chart.

Privilege comes with being a top 2 pick. Period.

 

[Rasp]

Zegras not wanting to sign a long-term extension with Anaheim when they have all the money in the world to do so is the real reason people are starting to question what the plan is going forward. The fact that it took till October 2nd to get it done throws up even more questions. Why are players like Stutzle/Hughes/Cozens comfortably signing long contracts with their respective franchises meanwhile you have Zegras stumbling into a measly 3 year deal after back to back 60 point seasons? Doesn't add up, this is why the insiders smell smoke.

Verbeek wanted to sign a short term deal. This gives the team time to assess who to give the big bucks to since we havent even locked down who our first line is or even our top 2 C. This is very smart so we dont end up like Toronto handing out massive contracts to everyone. Players need to prove they are worth what they sign for.

Here are the players who are due new contracts:
McTavish 2025
Carlsson 2026
Zegras 2026
Gauthier 2026 (due to sign and burn year)
Mintyukov 2026
Luneau 2026
Zellweger 2026

As you can see we are trying out everyone over the next few years to determine who is going to play where (we have 4 potential top 6 C) and who is going to command what salary based on performance. Signing Zegras to the same timeframe where he will still be a RFA is just smart management.

 

[wetcoast]

Whoever gets him will reap the benefits.

KK has been f***ed around with since drafted.

Change of scenery will do him good.

Or he could be damaged goods who knows at this point.

This guy sums it up for me.

Thats what we said about Puljujarvi, Juolevi and Kotkaneimi in past.

But maybe KK is the Cam Neely exception?

 

[nbwingsfan]

We didn't draft Kaapo Kahkonen with the 2nd overall pick. In fact he got him for a player we drafted in the 6th round.

Cope and seethe and dilate.



Most AHL teams wouldn't even claim him. He's done. Verified bust just like Lafreniere.

No but you did trade Stutzle and Norris for a couple of seasons of Karlsson which led you to nothing and now you’re paying him not to play for your team.

I’m not sure what’s worse

 

[nbwingsfan]

Nah. Henrique is a 34 center on an expiring deal and vatrano is a guy with 1.5 years left on a team not planning on winning any time soon.

If you can turn that into a 22 year old former #2 overall pick coming off an 18G/22A season almost all of which was 5 on 5 you do that as he lines up with the youth of your core.

But yeah, let me know how trading henrique and vatrano for two draft picks between 27-57 will be better

What’s he pacing for this year though?

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

What’s he pacing for this year though?

Whats Zegras pacing for this year? Its almost like players have off years or something.

 

[nbwingsfan]

Whats Zegras pacing for this year? Its almost like players have off years or something.

Zegras has been terrible, hence why his name has also come up in trade rumours.

Zegras also has two 60+ seasons under his belt and shown high end offensive upside.

Kakko is in his 5th NHL season and has a single 40pt season to his name

 

[unicornpig]

Whats Zegras pacing for this year? Its almost like players have off years or something.

off year? in his 5 years for a 2OVA pick he's extremely underwhelming

 

[lwvs84]

peeps are forgetting
demonstrated ability/production w/kid line that had a lesser version of LaF

he now has no LaF, Chytil injured
not his fault he is not generational and can't do it alone

looks good w/Cuylle
smart play is NOT trade and DEF not trade cheap

instead do like Othmann + Berard + for Zegras +

Again, the Ducks won't do that unless the + is something Anaheim actually needs. Defensive RD that can grow and play with Mintyukov or forward that improves the offense (doesn't need to play C though).

Othmann is a nice prospect, but he's pacing in the AHL for close to what Zegras was pacing at the NHL at the same age. He's not particularly big, so unless he's a physical force for his size he doesn't upgrade anything the Ducks need.

Berard is an undersized wing who's not putting up points at the AHL level. I doubt he'd get a shot on the Ducks who would have several prospects ahead of him.

Essentially, you'd have to rework the trade or involve a 3rd team. Ducks don't need more depth prospects, they either need a young upgrade to the top 6 or a big, physical RHD. Zegras is under contract for 2 more years after this season and is a RFA after that. There is no need to move him just to help another team, if he's moved it's to make the Ducks better. Think the Drysdale trade... Zegras with a small add for a player Verbeek sees as a clear upgrade/need.

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

off year? in his 5 years for a 2OVA pick he's extremely underwhelming

He's pacing for less than last years 40 points. Not sure how else to explain to you that this is an off year. Injuries, inconsistent linemates, no PP1 time. Whats Zegras' reason? Btw he has 4 points in his last 6.

 

[EddieTheEagle]

Another assist tonight. He is heating up!

Whoever created this thread is a genius. Confirmed that Kaapo reads HF and is motivated by our hate speech.

 

[frightenedinmatenum2]

The Rangers apparently don't want to move their 1st. Kakko will go somewhere for a rental in place of a 1st.

The reason Kakko is available is because he is arbitration eligible. The Rangers don't have the luxury to qualify Kakko. He could be awarded a settlement that has a higher AAV than what a comparable player should be worth, but isn't high enough for the Rangers to walk away from. Arbitration takes his entire career into perspective, not just how he is playing now. He has a career 15g/32p pace as a 2nd overall pick.

The team who acquires him will be someone with cap space who can sign him to a 2-4 year contract at 3.5M-4.5M and not care about him being overpaid this upcoming season because it's more about the player he can be developed into 2-3 years down the line.

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

The Rangers apparently don't want to move their 1st. Kakko will go somewhere for a rental in place of a 1st.

The reason Kakko is available is because he is arbitration eligible. The Rangers don't have the luxury to qualify Kakko. He could be awarded a settlement that has a higher AAV than what a comparable player should be worth, but isn't high enough for the Rangers to walk away from. Arbitration takes his entire career into perspective, not just how he is playing now. He has a career 15g/32p pace as a 2nd overall pick.

The team who acquires him will be someone with cap space who can sign him to a 2-4 year contract at 3.5M-4.5M and not care about him being overpaid this upcoming season because it's more about the player he can be developed into 2-3 years down the line.

He's really not available though. Clickbait articles dont mean shit.

 

[Kupo]

The Rangers apparently don't want to move their 1st. Kakko will go somewhere for a rental in place of a 1st.

The reason Kakko is available is because he is arbitration eligible. The Rangers don't have the luxury to qualify Kakko. He could be awarded a settlement that has a higher AAV than what a comparable player should be worth, but isn't high enough for the Rangers to walk away from. Arbitration takes his entire career into perspective, not just how he is playing now. He has a career 15g/32p pace as a 2nd overall pick.

The team who acquires him will be someone with cap space who can sign him to a 2-4 year contract at 3.5M-4.5M and not care about him being overpaid this upcoming season because it's more about the player he can be developed into 2-3 years down the line.

He’s not getting anything near 3.5m-4.5 through arbitration.

 

[FiveTacos]

He's pacing for less than last years 40 points. Not sure how else to explain to you that this is an off year. Injuries, inconsistent linemates, no PP1 time. Whats Zegras' reason?

Zegras came in with no camp, worked on being a better 200 foot player, while bouncing around between positions from game to game because of the Carlsson situation. The eye test said he was playing ok, but only 2 points in 12 games. Then he got hurt.

When he came back he was back on his usual scoring pace from the last 2 years, but then he got hurt again.

Overall it just comes down to how much you really think those 12 games mean in the grand scheme of his value, compared to the other 188 games of his career thus far.

 

[TheBeard]

Another assist tonight. He is heating up!

Whoever created this thread is a genius. Confirmed that Kaapo reads HF and is motivated by our hate speech.

And then proceeded to immediately take a tripping penalty.

 

[The Crypto Guy]

And then proceeded to immediately take a tripping penalty.

A tripping penalty when he actually didnt trip the guy. It was pretty comical. Good guys still came out on top.

 

[Barnaby]

He's pacing for less than last years 40 points. Not sure how else to explain to you that this is an off year. Injuries, inconsistent linemates, no PP1 time. Whats Zegras' reason? Btw he has 4 points in his last 6.

He’s never had an on year. He’s having a worse year than last year.

Zegras is having an off year. Zegras has shown that at worst he’s a one dimensional top 6 scoring winger. At best? Who knows.

I hope the Rangers trade Kakko soon because the apologists drive me crazy. He’s a 30-40 point bottom 6 winger who doesn’t play special teams. No more excuses and no, he’s not this defensive phenom winger.

 

[Barnaby]

The Rangers apparently don't want to move their 1st. Kakko will go somewhere for a rental in place of a 1st.

The reason Kakko is available is because he is arbitration eligible. The Rangers don't have the luxury to qualify Kakko. He could be awarded a settlement that has a higher AAV than what a comparable player should be worth, but isn't high enough for the Rangers to walk away from. Arbitration takes his entire career into perspective, not just how he is playing now. He has a career 15g/32p pace as a 2nd overall pick.

The team who acquires him will be someone with cap space who can sign him to a 2-4 year contract at 3.5M-4.5M and not care about him being overpaid this upcoming season because it's more about the player he can be developed into 2-3 years down the line.

He’s available because he’s not an important part of the team and he can be replaced by a guy making less.

4 million? You’re out to lunch.

 

[jaywills1020]

Privilege comes with being a top 2 pick. Period.

Knock it off. It’s a professional league and being a top 2 pick doesn’t guarantee you anything. It definitely doesn’t guarantee you any privileges and Kakko definitely didn’t get any.

 

[TGWL]

Are we gonna update the "is he a bust?" thread everytime he puts up a point like we do the Slaf and Lafreniere ones?


He's just not that good. He's not bad, but he'll never be what people expect. It happens every year. There's always someone drafted in the top 5 or 6 that don't live up to expectations.

4 in the last 6...

No, we don't need to update the thread with points. However, there's definitely a middle ground between Kakko's value is still this young, 2nd overall prospect, and player only had "insert a small amount of points" and isn't worth anything.

 

[Guyute]

Moving Kakko will be a mistake. NYR is considering it because all of their top prospects are wingers and close to being NHL ready, while Kakko is becoming an RFA with arbitration rights. Cuylle-Brodzinski-Kakko is the only line on the Rangers that plays legitimate playoff style hockey.

 

[Barnaby]

Knock it off. It’s a professional league and being a top 2 pick doesn’t guarantee you anything. It definitely doesn’t guarantee you any privileges and Kakko definitely didn’t get any.

Sure it did. I hate the word “privilege” though. He was certainly in the NHL his first 2-3 years because of his draft slot. If he was a 3rd rounder he doesn’t see the NHL until he’s 21 or 22. He’s certainly not getting an opportunity to prove himself in a top 6. The Rangers also move on much quicker or are much more willing to sit him or demote him for poor play if he’s a mid to late rounder.

 

[TheBeard]

4 in the last 6...

No, we don't need to update the thread with points. However, there's definitely a middle ground between Kakko's value is still this young, 2nd overall prospect, and player only had "insert a small amount of points" and isn't worth anything.

I didn’t say he isn’t worth anything, but i would be shocked if he was able to garner the equivalent of a late 2nd rounder. If anything, my guess is he ultimately gets traded for someone else with a high pedigree whose game hasn’t translated either.