The coaches change, but the narrative doesn’t change: the tighter the place, the more likely the New York Rangers Kaapo Kako23, finds himself in the stands outside the playing lineup.
That’s what happened two years ago, when the Rangers had their backs against the wall in Game 6 of the conference finals against Tampa. The same was the echo of the steps early on Saturday morning, when the Rangers, after losing the opening part on their home ice, were practically forced to win against Florida.
Kako’s place was taken by a toothless, unskilled Canadian Matt Rempewhose only Special Skill is collision.
The situation does not flatter the NHL’s second place five years ago. When the summer 2019 booking event approached, there was a debate in many places about which of the top bookings would eventually be booked by Mr. New Jersey from the top of the age group Jack Hughes or Second.
There is reason to expect more from Kako
For Kako, the situation in Manhattan has turned into a nightmare. Five years, no breakthrough and once again in a tough spot on the side of the stands – on top of that, by an almost totally useless player.
– I don’t know if the competition for playing places increases the pressure. Everyone tries their best and in the end we see who plays. The decision is the coach’s and the purpose is to win games as a team, Kakko commented on his situation under the second match.
Kakko took the upper road, so to speak, while commenting. It’s clear that there is turmoil inside, but the young TPS student has never started complaining about playing time or standing orders.
The head coach Peter Laviolette said that he expects more powers from Kako. In the playoffs, that’s almost the only thing you can criticize about Turku. The second has mainly played in a triple chain and has done it well.
Advanced statistical data gives Finns good feedback, and in some of these Kakko is even the best in his team. But at the same time, it is true that Kakko brings practically nothing to the team.
The balance of eleven matches is recorded with a power of 1+1, and if last spring’s power is added to the same package, the catch of 18 matches is a modest 2+2.
Yes, better can be expected from a fifth-season NHL player enjoying a salary of two and a half million.
Experiments in the first field failed
If Kakko doesn’t produce a numerical result, does it matter in the end to throw Matt Rempe, who profiles mostly as a humor element, into the box, who just crashes and hits everything that comes in front of him with a cross stick?
It is worrying that Kakko has shot only 25 times in the 18 previous matches in the playoffs. There are many reasons, but Kakko is not often met at the finish line of the first sector.
On the other hand, someone could ask how easy it is to make a result without liability for force majeure. During the spring, the second has been allowed to play a superior game for a good four minutes.
Of course, if we look at the points scored in tied fives, Kako is ahead, among other things Barclay Goodrow mixed Jimmy Veseybasically the four chain players operate behind Kako.
This is how the cookie in the NHL ultimately crumbles. In previous years, the importance of the top six was talked about, but in the new era, the concept has expanded to the top nine. If the team wants to succeed in the playoffs, the result must come from three chains, at least.
Even in a chain of four, you can’t float endlessly playing zero-zero. This also applies to top bookings, such as Kakko. And it’s not that Kakko didn’t get a chance.
In the regular season, Kakko got to play in the first chain Mika Zibanejadin and by Chris Kreider tied for the second most of all Rangers berths by Blake Wheeler after. However, more than two hundred minutes together produced only five hits.
A year earlier, the same chain scored ten hits in 228 minutes. From the point of view of all parties, it is probably fair to say that this was not a winning hand, neither on an individual nor a team level.
No place has been found
Second chain Alexis Lafreniere–Vincent Trocheck–Artemi Panarin has been Rangers’ most effective unit throughout the season.
This has relegated Kako first to the triple play and finally out of the playing lineup, to which the return will probably take place as a three-point forward Jimmy Vesey through injury.
All in all, it’s easy to see the latest twist as a seal for Kako’s time at Rangers. Last season’s 18 goals and 40 points promised better things, but the cold fact is that Kakko has been on Broadway for five years.
The player who was supposed to become the cornerstone of the new era of the great and beautiful Rangers has not progressed in his career – and what’s worse, there have already been several no-confidence motions at the organizational level.
And it must be said that fair ones. You should be able to do better.
Confidence has definitely burned from Kako’s direction as well, although he has maintained his calm in public and commented on difficult situations elegantly with his tongue in the middle of his mouth. I still don’t see how Kakko could return to Rangers in the fall.
The entire chain of runners-up will continue with the club, as will Zibanejad and Kreider in number one. Kakko hasn’t found himself or his own place in New York in five years, and one summer won’t change the situation.
Especially not when there is too much slag in between.
Kako’s contract is ending
Kako’s contract ends after the current season, but his status is a so-called restricted free agent. This means that the player’s rights remain with the club. I still wonder if there would not be a common consensus between the parties regarding the change of scenery. Kako needs to get a new start and an opportunity elsewhere.
And this still does not mean automatic bliss and happiness. It’s quite clear that Kako’s task in the summer is a fundamental soul fair and to think about how the door to the NHL team’s result units would open.
In light of everything we have seen, it is clear that there is still a lot of work ahead. Such talented players are not thrown to the back end of the lineup or especially to the stands without good reasons.