Kaapo Kakko had a rough season. The second overall pick had decent counting stats (10-13-23 in 66 games), but it was without the puck where Kakko struggled. It’s clear Kakko is extremely talented, so there isn’t necessarily cause for concern, but it is something that we need to dive into.
First on Kakko himself, he had to adjust to the North American game. This is something we covered in February, as it was identified that how he receives the puck on passes was contributing significantly to his lack of consistent offense. He receives the puck in close to his body before pivoting to move the puck or drive the net.