Finnish forward Kaapo Kakko scores on Canadian goaltender Matt Murray.
photo: Matt Zambonin / HHOF-IIHF Images
The biggest sensation so far at the 2019 IIHF Ice Hockey World Championship has been 18-year-old Finn Kaapo Kakko. He opened the tournament with two goals against Canada and followed that up the next night with a hat trick against Slovakia. So far after six games, he has six goals. Only one player scored more, Canada’s Anthony Mantha (7), who is seven years older.
But it’s not the quantity of goals that’s as impressive as the quality. At least three of his goals so far have been of the highlight-reel variety, and his strength on the puck has brought fans out of their seats even on plays where no goal was scored. Videos of his on-ice play are going viral on social media and, suddenly, everyone wants a word from him off the ice as well.
The last time a young Finn created such a fervour at the World Championship ahead of his NHL Draft year was Patrik Laine three years ago in Russia. But while Laine was as bombastic off the ice as he was on it, the soft-spoken Kakko would rather let his playing do the talking.
“I don’t think about it so much,” he said of the sudden attention he’s getting from international media and fans.
I know everybody wants to know what I think but I don’t think that stuff is so interesting. I’d rather just think about the game.
Less than seven minutes into his first World Championship game, Kakko received a breakaway pass at the Canadian blueline, managed to stay on his feet after NHL defenceman Brandon Montour tried to haul him down, and while off-balance, with the referee’s arm in the air for what surely would have been a penalty shot, he managed to beat Stanley Cup-winning goalie Matt Murray on a backhand deke.
“I definitely saw it,” said Murray, admitting he’d just plain been beaten. “He made a nice play. He was just really patient. I thought I was all over him but he’s got a long reach and he made a nice play.”
“I don’t know what happened,” was all Kakko could say about the goal post-game.
A few days later, he elaborated: “When these things happen, they just happen. Everybody wants to know after, how did you do that? I don’t know. I just did. Sometimes, I don’t know what happened until I see it later on replay.”
The next day, he scored the game-winning goal against Slovakia, completely undressing a Slovak defenceman down low and then beating the goaltender through the legs, using said D-man as a screen. Even his third goal of that game into the empty net was impressive, using one arm to keep 192-cm, 91-kg NHL defenceman Christian Jaros at bay without losing control of the puck with the other.
Against Denmark, it looked like he had been forced wide, but from below the goal line used his long reach to tuck the puck inside the post in seemingly effortless fashion.
“I definitely saw it,” said Murray, admitting he’d just plain been beaten. “He made a nice play. He was just really patient. I thought I was all over him but he’s got a long reach and he made a nice play.”
“I don’t know what happened,” was all Kakko could say about the goal post-game.
A few days later, he elaborated: “When these things happen, they just happen. Everybody wants to know after, how did you do that? I don’t know. I just did. Sometimes, I don’t know what happened until I see it later on replay.”
The next day, he scored the game-winning goal against Slovakia, completely undressing a Slovak defenceman down low and then beating the goaltender through the legs, using said D-man as a screen. Even his third goal of that game into the empty net was impressive, using one arm to keep 192-cm, 91-kg NHL defenceman Christian Jaros at bay without losing control of the puck with the other.
Against Denmark, it looked like he had been forced wide, but from below the goal line used his long reach to tuck the puck inside the post in seemingly effortless fashion.
Top Highlights: Kaapo Kakko
At just 18 years old, Finland's Kaapo Kakko shows us why he's projected to be drafted at the top of the 2019 NHL Draft.
“I try to use that to my advantage, yes,” he said about his arm span. “I think my biggest advantage is my game in the attacking zone, where I can stay on the puck and use my skills.”
Some teams have managed to contain him better than others. While he showed flashes of brilliance against the USA, he didn’t score.
“I think the USA is the toughest team we’ve faced because we lost the game,” he reasoned. “They checked very hard, and have, I think, some of the best players that we’ve played against so far.
“Patrick Kane was one of my favourite players when I was young, so playing against him is really a thrill. Kane and Auston Matthews are my two favourite players.”
While he’s happy to talk about those players, he doesn’t want to get sucked into talking about another American, Jack Hughes, with whom he’s being compared to at every turn. Of course, the two are the top two projected picks at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, but there is some debate over who should be taken first. Many are suggesting that playing in the Finnish Liiga, a professional league, has prepared Kakko better for this level of play, and from his comments, he seems to agree.
“I think playing there has been very good for me,” the TPS Turku right winger said of the Liiga.
Some teams have managed to contain him better than others. While he showed flashes of brilliance against the USA, he didn’t score.
“I think the USA is the toughest team we’ve faced because we lost the game,” he reasoned. “They checked very hard, and have, I think, some of the best players that we’ve played against so far.
“Patrick Kane was one of my favourite players when I was young, so playing against him is really a thrill. Kane and Auston Matthews are my two favourite players.”
While he’s happy to talk about those players, he doesn’t want to get sucked into talking about another American, Jack Hughes, with whom he’s being compared to at every turn. Of course, the two are the top two projected picks at this year’s NHL Entry Draft, but there is some debate over who should be taken first. Many are suggesting that playing in the Finnish Liiga, a professional league, has prepared Kakko better for this level of play, and from his comments, he seems to agree.
“I think playing there has been very good for me,” the TPS Turku right winger said of the Liiga.
Some players like to go overseas to play junior hockey, but I think playing against professionals has been good for me.
On the adjustment to the World Championship, he said it’s “not so different, but a little bit tougher.”
“This is a new level for me,” he said of the World Championship. “The players are bigger and stronger than I’ve seen before, so I have to improve my game.”
Head coach Jukka Jalonen is happy with what he's seen so far from Kakko, and not just in terms of offence.
“He’s a good team player,” the coach said. “He defends well, he creates offence and he scores goals. No problems and nothing to complain about.”
Regarding all the new attention the 18-year-old is receiving, Jalonen added: “I think he’s dealt with it very well. I haven’t seen any problems with that. He’s doing great.”
While about half of the players on the Finnish team come from their domestic Liiga and know what Kakko is all about and most others play elsewhere in Europe and have played with him at international breaks, he’s all new to some of the players from North America.
“He’s an unbelievable talent,” said Juho Lammikko of the Florida Panthers, one of three NHLers on the Finnish roster who had never been on the same ice as Kakko before a few weeks ago. “It’s incredible to be his teammate here and everyone enjoys it. I think he can keep going. It’s fun to see.
“This is a new level for me,” he said of the World Championship. “The players are bigger and stronger than I’ve seen before, so I have to improve my game.”
Head coach Jukka Jalonen is happy with what he's seen so far from Kakko, and not just in terms of offence.
“He’s a good team player,” the coach said. “He defends well, he creates offence and he scores goals. No problems and nothing to complain about.”
Regarding all the new attention the 18-year-old is receiving, Jalonen added: “I think he’s dealt with it very well. I haven’t seen any problems with that. He’s doing great.”
While about half of the players on the Finnish team come from their domestic Liiga and know what Kakko is all about and most others play elsewhere in Europe and have played with him at international breaks, he’s all new to some of the players from North America.
“He’s an unbelievable talent,” said Juho Lammikko of the Florida Panthers, one of three NHLers on the Finnish roster who had never been on the same ice as Kakko before a few weeks ago. “It’s incredible to be his teammate here and everyone enjoys it. I think he can keep going. It’s fun to see.
He’s so skilled he can do anything with the puck. He can shoot, he wins one-on-one battles, he’s good defensively. His skills are elite in the world.
“He's such a good hockey player,” said defenceman Henri Jokiharju, who plays in the NHL with the Chicago Blackhawks but was Kakko’s teammate at this year’s World Junior Championship. “It's obvious. Everyone can see what he can do. It's great for the team, and he comes up big in the big moments, putting the puck in the net.”
Of course, the Finns won gold at the World Juniors in Canada and Kakko scored the winning goal. He had previously won a U18 World Championship in 2018 and now is looking to win one as well at the senior men’s level. To that end, the Finns have looked strong all tournament.
“I think we’ve played well so far,” said Kakko, “and if we keep going we have a good chance to win this tournament.”
Of course, the Finns won gold at the World Juniors in Canada and Kakko scored the winning goal. He had previously won a U18 World Championship in 2018 and now is looking to win one as well at the senior men’s level. To that end, the Finns have looked strong all tournament.
“I think we’ve played well so far,” said Kakko, “and if we keep going we have a good chance to win this tournament.”