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Part 9 in a series analyzing the New York Rangers All apples are fruit, but that does not mean that all fruit are apples. I learned that many, many years ago taking a Logic course. Happily I am able to apply that education here when I tell you that all great hockey players have a …
Part 9 in a series analyzing the New York Rangers
All apples are fruit, but that does not mean that all fruit are apples. I learned that many, many years ago taking a Logic course. Happily I am able to apply that education here when I tell you that all great hockey players have a stubborn streak, but that does not mean that all players with a stubborn streak are great.
Introducing, Kaapo Kakko.
So much of the conversation about the 2019 second-overall pick in the draft focused on his spot in the lineup, his linemates, his minutes and whether he should have been shoehorned into a top-six role, ready or not. There was also much talk about the difficulties confronting a teenager from Finland attempting to make the transition not only to the NHL, but to a foreign country with a foreign language.
No doubt these external factors proved meaningful through Kakko’s rookie season, but No. 24’s obstinance became a self-made obstacle that he was unable to overcome on a consistent basis. Kakko dominated in Finland by holding onto the puck as long as possible. He would take the puck to the net, he would circle the net, he would beat a couple of men on one side, dangle a bit, then beat the same two guys again en route to a highlight-reel goal.
He was very much an individualistic — as opposed to, selfish — player, able to go one-on-one with results that were overwhelmingly positive. That was a function of the league and of the big ice, though Kakko did dominate on the small ice of the 2018-19 World Juniors in Buffalo, albeit against teenagers. The NHL is not a league of teenagers.
The more Kakko tried to play it his way, the more his tendency to double down. He would hold onto the puck too long in slowing it down. He’d make his patented move to the net, beat one man, maybe even a second, but then would lose the puck to a third opponent, or maybe the initial defender who had circled back. Kakko believed he could make the league bend to him. One day, maybe. Last year, not.
When Kakko played with pace and moved the puck quickly, he was a much more effective offensive player. Indeed, the rookie seemed to get it late in the season in becoming a more dynamic and diversified player. There is no shame in adapting.
The Rangers have had 15 Finnish-born players throughout their history, but Kakko was the lone Finn on the squad this season. I was always surprised the team didn’t add another one to the roster in order to aid Kakko’s transition to his new life. But no.
By the way, Kakko ranks fifth in both goals and points on the all-time list of Finnish-born Rangers with 10 goals and 23 points. Reijo Ruotsalainen tops the chart with 99 goals and 316 points with Mikko Leinonen (31-77-108), Esa Tikkanen (25-42-67) and Raimo Helminen (12-24-36) next in line. Next year: the Helminen Watch.
Mike Bossy was not a Finn and did not play for the Rangers. But he was as stubborn a rookie as I have covered. He could afford to be. He scored 53 goals.
Kakko did pick it up the two or so weeks leading into the March 12 coronavirus-induced shutdown. He had more jump in his step and played more of a give-and-go, dart-to-open-spaces game. He was more effective. And David Quinn gave some thought to moving Kakko into a top-six role in the absence of the injured Chris Kreider.
But there was no improvement at the other end of the ice, where Kakko’s struggles were measurably worse. Not sure if a lack of awareness or of attention was the primary issue, but the winger was on for 40 goals-against at five-on-five, second most to Pavel Buchnevich’s 44 among New York forwards. Problem is that Buchnevich played 170 more minutes than Kakko. Beyond that, Buchnevich was on for 54 Rangers goals, a plus-10 while Kakko was on for 16 goals for and was a minus-24.
You may not think plus-minus matters. Let me tell you, minus-24 playing for a team that was plus-seven at full strength, it matters. Kakko’s GF percentage of 28.57 was the worst in the NHL among the 215 forwards with at least 750 minutes at five-on-five. The three next worst were all Red Wings.
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Listen, Kakko wants to be great. No, he expects to be great. He spent the year beating himself up because he could not attain that standard. It was painful for everyone. But there is time for Kakko to grow and there may be a top-six opening for him to grab if Jesper Fast departs.
Kakko has the tools. Everyone in the hockey world was not wrong about him last year. He is talented and driven.
And stubborn.
