How To Turn Kaapo Kakko into Alexis Lafrenière

It's not fair.

Everybody – except, perhaps Taylor Swift – is taking a shot at Kaapo Kakko. Sorry, this is not "Kick Kaapo Kakko Korner." Not today, tomorrow nor next week.

I happen to like the guy; so enough with the Kakko complaints. The Maven is tired of them, especially since there's good reason for infinite Finnish optimism.

But first we must turn back the calendar. I recall exactly a year ago when we all were contemplating training camp.

It was "Take My Alexis Lafreniere Week." Please! Get rid of the failure! Now, if not sooner.

Fortunately, Chris Drury wasn't listening and you know the rest of the story. Alex turned into La-Surprise-Star if not for the whole season then certainly the playoffs.

The Maven declares that if it could happen to Big Al last season, why not Big (6-2,206) Kappo from Turku Finland this coming semester?

No question, my good friends, the secret for making KK a star is TIME as in give the guy one season more TIME. It can't hurt, can it?

Too much has been made of KK being picked second overall in 2019. We know the story; with the top pick the Devils went for American-born Jack Hughes who didn't have to learn a new language and nor adjust to the usual NHL fuss and fanfare.

Unlike Hughes, Kakko has struggled with North American hockey. Over 300 NHL games he's collected 117 points; not exactly Hart Trophy stuff.

Or, as my buddy Patrick Hoffman – he writes well for the website Inside The Rink – puts it, "Kaapo's numbers are terrible."

True, but The Kid is only 23. Plus, he's skilled, big and has the ability to drive the net. That tells me that the coaching staff is as much to blame for his slow development as KK himself.

That's you, Peter Laviolette, and your sometimes astute sidekicks. You have not put Kakko in the best position to succeed and that's both the gist and jest of it.

Wake up, you overloaded – maybe that's the problem – coaching staff. Wake up! You have a potentially superior forward on your hands and have messed up in properly developing him.

Why not yank Lafreniere from the top line and, for a change, let Kappo enjoy the benefits of skating with Vincent Trocheck and The Breadman. No, not for a game. Make it a month, minimum.

Hey, Lavvy, you might even win another Presidents' Trophy that way; might even get to where the Panthers got; to the Cup Final.

Lafreniere can move anywhere else because he's found his game. Kakko has been searching for five seasons for his game. Play him the right way and six will be a charm.

At the expense of being redundant – or you weren't listening the first time – KK's capitulation is as much on the Rangers general staff as the player himself. And, NO, I am absolutely NOT letting Kakko off the hook either.

To put it as we once did in Ye Olde Williamsburg, Kappo had better play his Tushy off every time he steps on the ice. Or else!

"Kakko's got to know that this season will define his NHL career," Hoffman concludes. "He has to show he can be productive and worth getting the playing time."Yeah, like Lafreniere.

My gut feeling is that The Kakko Construction Project is virtually complete. Now, Laviolette & Co. have put on the finishing touches. I say the 2024-25 KK model will be a shining OK.

If not, the headline next spring will read something like: KAAPO KAKKO KAYOD!