RW Kaapo Kakko - TPS, Liiga (2019 Draft) Part 4

[ijuka]

But if it's strictly once a generation then Lemieux isn't generational.

Well, you never know how to odds will lie. If we say that there are 3 generational players in 30 years, they don't need to be 10 years apart, 3 could be all in the following years and then the next 27 could have none.

 

[RangerBlues]

If you are in the one thousand plus games-one thousand plus points territory Id call that a generational talent.
You got to get there first.

 

[Synergy27]

These arguments about the definition of generational are just dumb. We'll never reach a consensus and people will always have their opinion.

If Kakko turns into a guy that we can feasibly argue about being "generational", I'll be over the moon. If he turns out to be a perennial all-star, but not quite a "generational" guy, I'll be really happy. For now I'll just hope he doesn't get injured in one of these post-season tournaments and that Gorton doesn't feel the need to be a superhero smart man and pick someone else.

 

[Lays]

Don’t even know why the word generational is even getting thrown around here, this is how he’ll get overrated. Kakko is not generational and there’s a very, very small chance he actually becomes a generational player. Enough with this

The word generational should be only reserved for the Crosby’s and the McDavid’s. Generational means once in a (hockey) generation. Guys who are clearly head and shoulders above everyone else which Kakko is not. I’m a Rangers fan and I’ve seen 20+ games of Kakko along with the WJC games. He’s a great prospect for sure and I think he’ll be a 35 goal, 85-90 point player but we’ve gotta chill with the G word

 

[57special]

I think you are in fact over glorifying the hockey played nowadays. Sure there is more of speed and more of fast skaters, but still the fastest skaters arent really any faster than they were in Gretzky’s or Lemieux times.

They were btw both fine skaters, but they didn’t need to really dominate with the skating because they had so amazing skills in general and especially hockey IQ. No players in todays NHL have even close to the same package of overall skills that either Gretzky or Lemieux had. Remember that both of them scored still crazy amounts of points even when they were already way over 30 years old’s with plenty of nasty injuries that took away some of their best stride. Also players after them (and whom played even at their times as youngsters, like Jagr) have been able to do mighty well in nowadays league even as way over 40 years old’s.

Hockey hasn’t really evolved as a game of skill, but has just become more even with the physical attributes. And no, Kakko as he is now isn’t even close to the class of players that Gretzky or Lemieux were as 18 old’s. Sure he is physically way more dominating than at least Gretzky and maybe even than Lemieux, but he is way behind them in skills and especially hockey IQ. It’s honestly laughable to even try to suggest that Kakko could have done better than either of them or become the same class of a player or even a better player. Absolutely laughable.

Gretzky was making news when he was 12yo.

 

[SnowFort]

Can we please get back on topic? You know, for those of us who actually wants to read about the prospect...

 

[YoSoyLalo]

Can we please get back on topic? You know, for those of us who actually wants to read about the prospect...

This always happens in these threads once the lottery results are figured out. They become cesspools.

 

[FinnishSniper]

This always happens in these threads once the lottery results are figured out. They become cesspools.

Yea it’s like every fan of the team jumps on the bandwagon and starts discussing the same arguments and things that have been discussed on this thread for months.

 

[Mestaruus]

Next game for Kakko is this Thursday when Finland meets Norway in a practice match played in Finland. They play Norway twice this week I believe.

 

[sasha barkov]

lol haven't seen a more controversial prospect in a long time

 

[Synergy27]

lol haven't seen a more controversial prospect in a long time

I don't think Kakko is controversial at all. He's universally lauded as a really strong prospect. There are silly, premature arguments going on about just how good he might be. Controversial prospects usually have question marks and people arguing about whether they will make it all.

 

[BroadwayStorm]

That being said, man I love the physicality of Kakko. You cannot take that kid off the puck. The Rangers are gonna have two guys like that with him and Kravtsov which will raise possession stats and who knows what. Not to mention we might get another center with similar characteristics.

 

[Lays]

That being said, man I love the physicality of Kakko. You cannot take that kid off the puck. The Rangers are gonna have two guys like that with him and Kravtsov which will raise possession stats and who knows what. Not to mention we might get another center with similar characteristics.

Chytil plays pretty similar to both as well

 

[1OApick]

That being said, man I love the physicality of Kakko. You cannot take that kid off the puck. The Rangers are gonna have two guys like that with him and Kravtsov which will raise possession stats and who knows what. Not to mention we might get another center with similar characteristics.

Kakko has pretty weak balance and is falling down a lot. But he is still strong on puck and when his leg strenght gets better he will be one of the best players shielding the puck. It's crazy that he falls down a lot and is still strong on puck.

 

[Mysteric1000]

Kakko has pretty weak balance and is falling down a lot. But he is still strong on puck and when his leg strenght gets better he will be one of the best players shielding the puck. It's crazy that he falls down a lot and is still strong on puck.

I think that's mostly because of his playstyle he seems to fall down easily sometimes (still wuld say pretty rarely tho). He also has a body shape that makes him look "clumsy" at times (thick thighs and descending shoulders) especially in those contact and puck battle situations.

When he gets rid of that babyfat of his, I think his joints and muscles will make him hard as a stone and even better in those situations. On a safer situations (not physical pressure) where he uses his edges pivoting all around with the puck in tight spaces he actually shows great balance, cuz not many guys his age has that kind of talent on that aspect and cant do it for a long time without falling.

I wuld say for his age Kakko has above average balance, but exhausting style of game that reduces energy during shift and thus culd effect on his balance and falling down in some situations.

It will come over time when he grows up to his body completely, me thinks.

 

[Nate070]

I think that's mostly because of his playstyle he seems to fall down easily sometimes (still wuld say pretty rarely tho). He also has a body shape that makes him look "clumsy" at times (thick thighs and descending shoulders) especially in those contact and puck battle situations.

When he gets rid of that babyfat of his, I think his joints and muscles will make him hard as a stone and even better in those situations. On a safer situations (not physical pressure) where he uses his edges pivoting all around with the puck in tight spaces he actually shows great balance, cuz not many guys his age has that kind of talent on that aspect and cant do it for a long time without falling.

I wuld say for his age Kakko has above average balance, but exhausting style of game that reduces energy during shift and thus culd effect on his balance and falling down in some situations.

It will come over time when he grows up to his body completely, me thinks.

It does not help either that 3 guys are hanging on his back all the time

 

[The Crypto Guy]

Has there been any interviews with him since the lottery??

 

[fr9dd9]

Kakko have great balance, and is super strong around the stomack and lover back (thorso/trunk) a big reason that contributes to hes strenth in physical play. Forsberg was verry strong in just that area of hes body aswell.

 

[BroadwayStorm]

I love that clip where he is being chased in the offensive zone along the boards and he suddenly stops to deliver a hit using the defenders own speed to knock them down then proceeds to continue to deke. That was amazing.

 

[FinPanda]

If Kakko was not a lock already for the WHC team, now he will be as we aren't getting much help from the NHL.

 

[BB88]

If Kakko was not a lock already for the WHC team, now he will be as we aren't getting much help from the NHL.

No Barkov is a tough one, would have been a great help for Kakko.

 

[Algernop Kreider]

The debate over "generational" is dumb, but I'll weigh in anyway and say I think it should be understood as an expected value of one player at that level in a generation, not necessarily literally one player per generation. I also think it's reasonable to say Crosby and Ovechkin are both generational talents despite being drafted in consecutive years. Sometimes you just get two guys in a row by coincidence; moreover, they have different "generational" styles.

 

[1OApick]

I think that's mostly because of his playstyle he seems to fall down easily sometimes (still wuld say pretty rarely tho). He also has a body shape that makes him look "clumsy" at times (thick thighs and descending shoulders) especially in those contact and puck battle situations.

When he gets rid of that babyfat of his, I think his joints and muscles will make him hard as a stone and even better in those situations. On a safer situations (not physical pressure) where he uses his edges pivoting all around with the puck in tight spaces he actually shows great balance, cuz not many guys his age has that kind of talent on that aspect and cant do it for a long time without falling.

I wuld say for his age Kakko has above average balance, but exhausting style of game that reduces energy during shift and thus culd effect on his balance and falling down in some situations.

It will come over time when he grows up to his body completely, me thinks.

Perfect explanation. Him getting that lower body strenght could make miracles to his game. I excpect him to be the best puck shielder in yhe league in his prime.

 

[BroadwayStorm]

The only generational players I have seen are Gretzky and Lemieux. Jagr was boderline and Sidney Crosby was there for a slight moment. The only guy playing today that has a chance to be one based solely on his god given ability is Connor McDavid. No one else.

 

[Castle8130]

The only generational players I have seen are Gretzky and Lemieux. Jagr was boderline and Sidney Crosby was there for a slight moment. The only guy playing today that has a chance to be one based solely on his god given ability is Connor McDavid. No one else.

Ovi is a generational goal scorer if that counts.