– Nobody talks about it, but Kaapo Kakko will be sensational in these games, player-agent Petteri Lehto believes.
- Finland will face the USA in Tampere on Friday at 16:20 at the opening of the World Cup home games.
- Kaapo Kakko, booked by the New York Rangers as the second player in the 2019 NHL draft, is one of the Lions’ most interesting players.
– When he plays in Rangers’ triple field, people’s expectations are not high, Kaapo Kako agent Petteri Lehto guesses.
– But people will be surprised, he assures.
Lehto backs up his prediction by going back to the beginning of the NHL career of the 22-year-old forward, who finished his fourth Rangers season.
– Kaapo came there as a young boy, and there were huge expectations, but the point was not to succeed as a newcomer.
According to Lehto, Kakko had already played through the SM league at the age of 18.
– The Paks in their thirties didn’t beat him in the corners and didn’t get the puck away from him. There was no challenge. That’s why we had to go to the NHL to see that challenge.
Close to the beach
Kaapo Kakko last played on the World Cup ice in the spring 2019 Gold Games, making 6+1=7. Jussi Saarinen
In the national team, the TPS student managed to win both the youth and men’s world championships before moving to the NHL in 2019.
The development on the physical side has been significant since then.
– He is very close to “Rane’s” strength results, Lehto compares to his other client, already shining as a superstar Mikko Rantaseen.
– Kaapo is a physically strong man.
More is needed.
– When you create a playing career, you always have to have a certain amount of talent. You have to have the right attitude. All these things must be in order, but the last one is always the opportunity, Lehto emphasizes.
He reminds us that in this sense hockey is different from, for example, running, where a hard result is enough.
– If you play in a triple chain for 13–15 minutes, and you don’t play at all with superiority, then you haven’t had that opportunity yet.
It is not necessarily that the player has experienced injustice.
– But you are ready for the opportunity, but you haven’t received it yet.
Force majeure liability
Before the winter player transfers, Kakko played in Rangers’ second team.
– It takes 15–20 seconds and always starts from your own end, because the number one advantage goes to change if the puck goes to your own end. The yv minutes that Kaapo accumulated during the season were practically pointless. Only a small part was the rotation of the attack zone.
Superiority responsibility also affects how many substitutions a player gets during the match.
– As a multiplier effect of superiority, you stay warm and get a lot of touches on the puck. If the playing time increases by even a couple of minutes per match, that is a huge amount during the season.
– It hasn’t happened to Kaapo in New York yet, but I think he’s quite ready, Lehto says.
Those acquired with star status in February Patrick Kane and Vladimir Tarasenko joining the team further minimizes Kako’s responsibility for superiority.
However, the result was not what was hoped for, when the Rangers started singing right at the end of the first playoff round.
You paint a flat field
Lehto’s point of view is supported by Kako’s record 18+22=40 points with an average ice time of just over 15 minutes this season, and especially the fact that he scored all his goals from a flat angle.
Of the Finns, only Rantanen, Sebastian Aho and Roope Hintz hit Kakko more often five against five.
Kakko plays in Leijon Joel Armian with Antti Suomelan in the leading second chain – and also in second lap power.
– Of course, there are no NHL screens at the World Cup. They are not interested in that way, says Lehto, referring to the NHL bosses.
– But if you rap a good tournament, then of course there will be a discussion about it with Rangers as well. It won’t help you get into Rangers’ first team, but it would bring a lot of confidence if Kaapo plays as well as I predict.
Physical toughness
Kako’s NHL performances, measured by regular season point average, have developed as follows: 0.35 – 0.35 – 0.41 – 0.48. So the direction is clear.
– That leap will come when he gets to play overpower properly.
Lehto sees Kako as being on the threshold of a big leap in any way other than in light of the powers.
– He’s got a bit of that anger and the necessary physical toughness. That doesn’t mean dropping the gloves, but it’s coming now that he’s giving back as well. He gives counter-attacks and a bit of banter.
– In terms of skating balance, Kaapo is even ahead of “Rane”, Lehto sees.
– That position is so strong. You can’t get the puck off the handle.