Christmas began to happen. New York Rangers, left out of the line -up of the previous spring’s important playoffs Kaapo Kakko again experienced the same fate. NHL’s second booking for summer 2019 would not play in the match against St. Louis.
Kako was enough and this opened his word coffin in front of the media.
– I was surprised. I understand that something has to be done when you lose games, but it’s easiest to kick out the youngest player. This is how I experience that honesty. I haven’t been terribly on the ice when the opponent has scored goals. I haven’t been the worst player, but I was thrown out of the lineup, Kakko piled at the time.
Only a couple of days later, Kakko changed club and coast.
Previously his captain Jacob Trouban The club that traded to Anaheim changed Kako’s Seattle Basic Defender Will Borgen. The six -year era in Manhattan was completed as a result of spectacular twists and turns.
– Maybe somebody could read that my comments had more than the previous two weeks. I thought about things as early as the spring when I sat in the playoffs in the audience. We played quite well, but my responsibility was quite small. However, in the playoffs, the mouth is kept. When it happened again, I gave quite honest feedback, second time in December now.
– Maybe I could have kept my mouth closed.
Landscaping has worked great for Kako. Although TPS growth still has enough work, especially with its skating, the overall look in Seattle has been fresher than male memory.
Kakko has also received responsibility in the west coast differently. When the hub in New York was 13 minutes, now it’s about 17.
At the same time, the pier known for its offensive end skills has found a new gear with power. The first 22 matches in Seattle have produced 17 (5+12) power points.
For a full season, that pace would produce 62 power points, while Kakko made 40 (18+22) in the Rangers.
– After the player trade, it was pretty nice to play. In New York, it was kind of familiar and safe, but I was there a third chain guy. The joy disappeared completely.
– Now it has been found again and responsibility comes. It’s a different feeling to play and another man has been found here, Kakko glows.
On a winning wall of the journey
However, each coin has two sides and it has quickly noticed it.
Although the responsibility is now in the first chain Jaden Schwartzin mixed Matty Beniers Next to and in the power column, the readings change frequently, and as the team, the expansion team Seattle is not yet at Rangers level. The distance to the playoff line is already ten points.
No, even though Broadway’s pride has been needed through the difficult through.
– More should win games. There may be a little more freedom here, but yes you will notice why New York has won a lot of games in recent years. There is a disciplined game and the idea is that you do not make the discs. Here, quite a lot of goals come from counterattacks, Kakko admits.
At this point, of course, the gaze also turns to the second, from which Seattle hopes for a long -time trunk player.
– You have to be able to help yourself more now.
According to Kako, everyday life in the new city has gone well. Although some of the goods and clothes, for example, are only on its way to Seattle, the hectic NHL sheet has been running well, including a teammate Eeli Tolvanen with the help of the assistance.
Tolvanen and Kakko were winning the World Championship gold in Vancouver in 2019, less than 300 kilometers from the duo’s current hometown.
– I was able to live with Eel for the first few weeks. Pretty time for food I was there. A few nights I made salmon soup, but it stayed there. At Christmas and anyway, we had a fun time, and of course, still, Kakko, who has already moved to his own, laughs.
Kakko is not the only Finn, nor in Turku. Carolina Colorado for a couple of weeks back with a friend traded Mikko Rantanen With TPS-based attackers have maintained some kind of peer support group.
– Maybe I was more experienced now when I was sold first, Kakko smiles.
– We have been in touch during the season. When I was sold, I sent a message to Mikko pretty quickly and now it went the other way. When it has been time, it has been called what’s up and a little questioned about how it is. However, this has been a new thing for both of us, which we have not experienced before.
Ready for national teams
More interesting twists and turns will be coming in a week as the national team’s top tournament is launched in North America.
Kakko was selected in the autumn for the Finnish team, where his role should probably be found in the third chain.
– Nice thoughts are about the tournament, but it hasn’t had time to think too much. Nice to see familiar guys and play hard games. This is a tournament that has not been played for a long time. Expectations are high. Whatever my role, it is ready. For quite a few years, the role of the third chain has been played.
The Finnish team has undergone major changes during the tournament when the defenders Miro Heiskanen and Jani Hakanpää have had to flag themselves out because of injuries.
Philadelphia was also hit early in the week Rasmus Ristolainen. It remains to be seen whether the Turku defender will recover to the tournament. On Wednesday morning, Finnish time came again nasty news when the goalkeeper Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen injured in the morning.
Heiskanen and Hakanpää replaced the national team leadership Henri Jokiharju and Urho’s horizontal.
– Sorry, but we still have defenders. I played a bit in New York with Vaakanainen and watching the games of these players anyway I can say that the boys have played well. I believe that good defenders were replaced. We have a hard gang in the pile, Kakko assures.
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