Kaapo Kakko’s Rangers tenure is over | Up in the Blue Seats - Ep. 170

[@aryusure1943]

Brian is a natural behind the mic and the camera. I liked him as a Ranger and I like him as a media guy. :) May the Post and MSG keep him on their "rosters". ;)

[@MikeReimers]

Boyle is great. Wish he was a ranger longer

[@bad_alien347]

He played better than the entire lineup just about all season we never gave him a real shot we will regret this

[@AceInTheHole33]

Didn't notice the turnovers and the missed open net last game? Kakko is a head case. Good defensively, no finish.

[@robbiejandro17]

he was literally put on the first line with panarin multiple times the past few seasons. he had zero impact.

[@Ddeamorin]

He's played more than enough games on a multitude of lines, and conbos to say you have good enough sample size he is not as advertised.

[@robbynealzucker3408]

They're five on five play sucks

[@scrappy6996]

@robbiejandro17 He never played with Panarin. And if he did, it was for a few shifts and that's it. The Zibanebad Kreider line might not have been scoring with him, but their metrics were the best when Kakko was on that line. Now, they still aren't scoring and their numbers suck in every department. Great job giving up a 2nd+ for a washed up Reilly Smith.

[@josephcreaden6281]

Best Ranger show out there, great job!

[@RoughRaiders13]

It's not a player issue. It's a strategy issue. They need to cover people in the defensive end. For the last I don't know how many games they've looked like a kids soccer team in their own zone. Five guys clumped around in front of the net but nobody covering anyone. It's unbelievable how simple it is. If they would just all cover a man in the defensive zone, do their best to prevent odd man rushes, and always eliminate the east-west pass, they'd be winning.

[@johnrwalker53]

Raiders that's it exactly! It's why Housley has to go, because he can't get it through their Thick heads to stop just watching the puck. Take A Man!!!

[@barlowanthony6717]

Recommend Mollies interview With Sam Rosen .... great stuff 🎄🏒

[@domenicdurante966]

True.

[@henrywest7217]

Agree

[@kdomster9141]

Send a link..

[@barlowanthony6717]

@kdomster9141 how do you do that? ;)

[@kdomster9141]

@@barlowanthony6717 if you can find it online send a link 😉

[@domenicdurante966]

Kaapo will probably score 30 goals next year in Seattle.

[@u.s.m.c.fewproudthemarines2987]

He may get 30 this season watch he be GD 30goal scorer now JS ✌️🙏🙏 been fan since 74

[@AceInTheHole33]

What difference does it make? He was never going to do it in NY.

[@humanbeing2420]

Maybe. Maybe not.

[@FF-fh5cv]

And he even admitted it wasn’t a good fit with playing on a top line. He’s a bust. Period.

[@coogz13]

lmao you people are insane. dude is as timid and mid as they come. will be a perennial 30-40 pt per year scrub with bad skating, slow feet and a crappy shot. abso

[@davidpack9186]

Brian is GREAT. He was an honest, hard working player....and he's the same as a broadcaster....he's articulate and tells it like it is.

[@bassdog61]

Kraken Kaapo Kakko has got a ring to it! Good luck in Seattle.

[@TheGhostfisherman]

greetings in finland sir.i just wonder whats happening next in rangers..its feels that there is something terrible wrong..

[@jmacallar]

Merry Christmas and keep up the good work!

[@avinash4444]

More trades please

[@dn5658]

Brian you are so much better than Larry and Mollie. Why do you degrade yourself by doing this? Do they pay you big $? Your commentary is always spot on, I just feel Larry is a horror show, a cranky, destructive old man, just hanging on, and Mollie is, well, I dunno. My dream is that Kenny Albert becomes play by play and you become his color guy. Of course, you should probably just keep doing stuff like this so you can be with your family. Love what you do.

[@jamessollazzo4860]

unfortunately, you can't trade the core who hasn't met their standards! hockey use to be a trading sport, gretzky played for 4 teams. you no longer can make hockey trades because of cap considerations and clauses, and teams get stale. the rangers are a stale hockey team which needed a shakeup in the summer and couldn't do it!

[@MR754.6.4]

Can we get Larry a Mic from this decade?

[@lcfnyc2007]

😄

[@Cautiousllama]

Couldn't disagree more with Boyle. "Just play better." 🙄🤡 He was playing his role as a third line defensive wingers. They scratched him for not elevating his game but have done nothing to the vets that have taken a massive dump. Can't wait to see DJ Crytotheref abandon another play to pout to the ref about a missed call.

[@briang4915]

same. Kakko was a virus? lol

[@r4vio81]

I’m so glad Larry isn’t a wuss. Trades are part of the game. Some of these guys acting like somebody killed their dog. Give me a break. Millionaires playing a game acting like victims. Holy shiz.

[@williamyoung8482]

I am glad that Kaapo will get a chance for a fresh start. Lots of pressure being a #2 in the draft, looking back he probably shouldn't have gone that high. Tough in any sport when labelled a can't miss.

[@NEGAN_x75]

Brian Boyle will be the perfect replacement for Sam Rosen he bleeds blue he’s a proud Rangers and it shows every time he speaks what it means playing for the Rangers or maybe Drury’s replacement

[@FF-fh5cv]

Need to get rid of valiquette! Have boyler as a full time analyst. Get rid of valiquette.

[@goaliecoachmike]

When was the last time an iron fisted Drury ever sat for an interview, anywhere?

[@humanbeing2420]

I don't think he ever has. I doubt he has been programmed to conduct interviews. He lacks the necessary RAM and needs a chip upgrade.

[@coogz13]

@@humanbeing2420 so glad you have nothing to do with decision making for this team (you likely don't IRL either, right?) such a nonsense perspective from a dunning-kruger merchant

[@johnrwalker53]

@@humanbeing2420 That's not a priority for GM's.What good is it for him to talk to the media?

[@juans3728]

Everything you guys stated is true and i agree compare Kakko to Hughes of the devils that kid rose up to the ranks with his talent and hunger for the game so what happened to Kakko. It really doesn't matter if you're #1 pick overall or 25th and we have all seen this in the league. I feel bad but if you don't produce then the coaches are going to figure out what they can do to resolve this issue or trade you.

[@1rtt1]

So what your saying, Boyle. Is that Zibanejad can complain to the press about his ice time and then they bend over backwards for him, change up the lines to accommodate, and the guy still gives half of nothing. But the kid who has been sat even when he plays good. You are kidding me. The problem with this team is the Diva vets and the coaching staffs constantly kowtowing to them. And this organization rewards the bad in order to boost them up to the fans. The Rangers go by how they believe the fan polling goes. And we have fans that fall for the propaganda and what the writers say. And Brooks is a propagandist for the club. And he proved it on Chiclets when he claimed Dolan doesn't get involved. Why because he's afraid of getting shut out of the locker room. The writers also helped boost the "beast" moniker and then when management final decided they had to get rid of Trouba it was then time to write about his poor play. Which has been there since day one. Trouba's first two years the excuse was he needed to get acclimated. And after that the thinktank figured to save face was propaganda and falsely boost him up. And then the 1st overall. Was doing nothing. Not a lick of battle in him. And then funny how they saddled him with 2 vets to carry the load and ease the pressure. The perpetual baby of the family. Need to salvage the only 1st overall the Rangers ever drafted. Along with letting everyone know that Laugh was adjusting to playing his off side, the right side. Baby Laughy will never carry a team. And odd how we never heard about Kakko adjusting to playing his off side as. Or praised for coming back from a serious injury. Plus you have the 2 queen diva's who can't play with anyone who isn't a veteran. First no one could replace Zuccarello. Then when given youngsters the team had to revert to Vesey? and then Wheeler?? And now they go get another vet who isn't a first liner in Smith and he somehow is ok to keep with the Gretel and Rapunzel. Until you realized Rapunzel is going through Menopause. GTFOOH

[@mattski523]

lol great rant! Yor not wrong

[@loganreifsnider3182]

Terminate Mikas contract and pay him whatever he has left. Trade Miller

[@beastofman77]

Mika's buyout would be a $7.8mil cap hit till 2030 and $333,000 until 2035. How does that make sense? Better to try and have him waive his full NMC/NTC with some salary retention. I agree with trading Miller but probably at the trade deadline to get more value. Lindgren's gotta go in a hurry though

[@mdusso2]

The problem with the Rangers : Kreider and Zibanejad. Nobody can’t play with them. Kakko and Lafrenière both tried after the Buchvenich trade and it didn’t worked out. And now Reilly Smith. The Rangers should play with three defensemen when those two great/best friends are on the ice. And I won’t talk about their leadership, their sensitivity.

[@FF-fh5cv]

I’ve been saying this for years. When are people going to say that those two bums are the issue! Not the right winger. They can’t do anything right at even strength. Been like this for years.

[@TheFaustianMan]

Is it just a coincidence that they all shat out kids? They have wives to deal with. The fact that Mika was COMPLETELY missing the dartboard the entire time. The fact that Panarin had to hand over his darts to Mika, because he threw his into the wall/bar bottles. Or how Chris Kreider just stood by the dart board the entire time! This team was always been like this. And Brian's team never won a cup. So, he's in the same lot of forgettable Rangers as these guys. No one is going to remember any of them. And they don't care.

[@domenicocappello9168]

No accountability from top to bottom in this franchise. I'm a very frustrated season ticket holder.

[@carlor.s.4742]

They traded Kakko two years too late!!!

[@michaelfusco4573]

17:05 you can talk the talk but you gotta walk the walk

[@kmash6523]

Kreider and Mika suck. Real leaders would’ve let the kid play with them. They always complained about their RW.

[@FF-fh5cv]

And the pu$$y kreider was the only bum who wouldn’t try playing the right wing to accommodate lafreniere in his natural left wing position.

[@nyr4life]

To much Drama has consumed this team. Goodrow, Trouba at the NHL draft, Igor, Mika complaining about ice time..etc that being said, Kakko being frustrated and sounding off was a long time coming and personally I think the Rangers did not develop him properly going back to when Quinn was the coach. To me the team/organization lacks a sense of direction. The questions now becomes,are the Rangers trying to rebuild? Are they trying to Retool on the fly, or does management still believe this team with the right pieces can win the Stanley Cup? I look at the Organization as whole and question, what is the direction that they want to go and achieve. I think many fans would have more respect and less frustration if they knew what the next step is. For example, Right now you got rid of Trouba, contract, but then you immediatley signed Igor to a 8yr/11.5 mil dollar contract with A Full NMC. In my mind, this causes confusion, because by trading Trouba, to me it signals they want to start fresh, but then signing Igor, makes it sound like they are all in. Two conflicting narratives. Now you got rid of Kakko for pennies on the dollar, who was not the problem, so where are they going. The Rangers take 1 step forward, but then immediately take 2 steps backwards. Until the Organization makes a solid decision and stick with it, then the team is going to be in a constant influx.

[@theovrionides7666]

Boyle 🎯💯%

[@mariovaccarella6854]

You're all absolutely right. I'm thinking many Rangers Fans are looking at him as a former #2 Pick, behind Jack Hughes. I don't think that they're looking at him as someone who has never lived up to it (which is the way The Seattle Kraken looked at him & valued him). Let me know what you think

[@sacredwoodessence]

Did someone bury the Broadway Hat?

[@loganreifsnider3182]

Trade Kreider and Lindgren to ANA for Vatrano and Domoulin

[@SamWesting]

LOL at all the delusional fans who act like the Rangers should have gotten someone like Jack Hughes back in trade for Kakko. Guy was a BUST! You’re not gonna get anything close to a #2 overall pick for Kakko at the point. Not even a 2nd rounder.

[@johnrwalker53]

Mika and BF Kreids are the problem. Their personality as long tenured players affect the team. If kreids was a leader he would have been the Captain already. Trocheck should be Captain.

[@MrLookatthesizeofit]

Mollie! ❤

[@pbmc_]

The Snoopy shirt kinda dope 👌.

[@LENTHEGOAT]

Boyle is 100% right! Also the 3 coaches and no change in play is also a telling sign that Kakko wasn't good enough. Can't blame the team

[@aryusure1943]

Sad but true!

[@Dominick-qg2et]

He is correct!

[@davidwood1100]

You can blame the team because there was no development, Kakko would make 1 mistake under Quinn and get benched, do nothing wrong under Gallant or Lav and get healthy scratched. Sure I hear ya no improvement and injuries hurt his stock, but how is his stock ever going to go up if Kakko is blamed for every mistake. I mean Mika hasn't scored in how long, doesn't play defense anymore but doesn't have to worry about any consequences for his terrible play. Also that argument goes both ways, it's been 3 coaching staffs and the core of this group still can win a puck battle, can't come out strong at the start of the game, can't forecheck when do we stop blaming coaches and realize it's Krieder and Mika and the rest of the group.

[@frankshin401]

@@davidwood1100 your 1000% right its no use arguing with people on the copium oxygen mask

[@kristerka]

Who is the leader in the locker room?

[@davidwood1100]

If they couldn't score a goal against the Predators, they have about a .1% chance of beating Dallas. There are no wins on this schedule until Chicago maybe and then it's Montreal half way though January. If they don't beat Chicago they will go a month without a win.

[@johnrwalker53]

Sadly Bread is the only catalyst to scoring goals consistently.

[@brianmiller6061]

Hey Mollie, when are any of the beat reporters going to actually ask a tough question to Lavy or Drury? You guys just let them spout garbage out and never follow up on anything important, it is a joke.

[@humanbeing2420]

Agreed. I've done nothing but praise Molly because her writing is fine and until recently there's been little need for probing questions, but they really need to step it up. They don't have to make it a shouting match - just ask obvious questions.

[@coogz13]

a hard question like what?? why did it take 6 years to trade this guy? these are EXACTLY the players we need to get out the door - boyle is absolutely right. drury is doing what needs to be done FFS

[@mikeb3216]

Should have moved him 2 years ago, that's the real failure. He was given plenty of chances. He was a 2nd overall pick and showed very little offensive prowess and his skating is subpar. Cuylle was not gifted with PP time and top 6 minutes either and look how he has developed.

[@jussitervahartiala5357]

Ether you want the players to be honest or you dont. Cant have it both ways and then judge the players for speaking out.

[@domenicocappello9168]

Yes we need many changes but I just don't trust Drury to fix this mess. It's finally time to bring in a regime that's won something and knows talent and championship ingredients. Hire Messier as team president, Mike Keenan as an advisor and Quenneville as head coach. Not blaming Laviolette for this mess but it's clean house time

[@johnrwalker53]

You're wrong domen,i've said it before Drury has been a winner his whole life and i'll bet he shared his experiences especially bad times to help them realize how to win.

[@donnieb.6356]

Hellloooo? My name is Mollie? And I want to say, "Hello."? I like pizza? I had a 4.0 in college? I majored in "Nothing 101"? I can end a sentence without a question mark? Yes?

[@michaelmarro1011]

Pretty dumb trade. I feel like this team tragically didn’t help Kakko. His development was stifled here, with the juggernaut of coaches that have been here. Quinn destroyed the confidence in the youth, Gallant did the same thing. The second PP never ever plays so, this team really did him an incredible injustice. And I guarantee the same will happen to Laffy, or it has already started to happen But we shall see what Borgen will bring to the team

[@Kappadon1226]

You know what molly are u serious u saying he answerd horishly because he said he was unhappy and spoke truth. Nothing was malicious and foul that he said. Holy shit man i saluted for kakko for being pissed cuz it showed he cared and hes playin hard and he sees all these vets dogging it gimme a break. If u cant speak ur mind in a way he did and u cut him. Thats fukn foul

[@PabloDiabloTreasures]

And he never played physical and was never used on Penalty Kill.

[@aryusure1943]

It's about time that the Kakko saga in N.Y. ended. I don't care if he was not the worst player in the current debacle. The fact and the matter is that he is not the player that was advertised at all, not even close. And those in the comment section who still say that he never got his chance have not paid attention at all. Having watched almost all the games he played as a New-York Rangers I can't count the number of chances to score he missed since he began his career not to mention his inability to make good passes to his linemates on potential scoring chances in general. He was sometimes good in the cycle in the offensive zone but most of the times the result was the same i.e. that he could not finish the job. Good luck to him in Seattle anyway.

[@derrickrogers6867]

Are We Gonna Sign Johnson After He Gets Bought Out 🤔

[@MonsieurLeRocck]

Scratch MIKA PERMANENTLY

[@bearvsshaan]

Horrible trade. Best of luck KK

[@jamessollazzo4860]

was has kakko done in 6 years?

[@BlakeWheelersBurnerAccount]

@@jamessollazzo4860what have you done in the last 6 years?

[@u.s.m.c.fewproudthemarines2987]

​@@jamessollazzo4860think they never used him right that why he never got going in his career wish him success more then ever still young 23 watch he GD player now,JS ✌️🙏🙏

[@coogz13]

@@jamessollazzo4860 absolutely nothing - these fans are embarrassing the rest of us. kakko was undeniably not good enough, period. so many excuse makers in here

[@stephengreico504]

Now the rest of the team

[@coogz13]

GOOD - now do miller

[@frankshin401]

Terrible trade kakko deserves better I hope he scores on us his first game back and we don’t need one of the worse defenders in the league so much cope for this terrible trade

[@MetsJetsRangersKnicks1986]

Is Drury the problem, are the players that upset about the trades starting with Goody that they quit on him ? Trocheck is on pace for 48 points, Laffy stinks, Mika is a dead corps on the ice - etc. Larry said it best , why is everyone taking it personally.

[@coogz13]

chris drury is doing what needs to be done - WHO CARES what these bums think? they cant get it done and they have to clear these passengers out. kakko ended up being dogwater - it is what it is

[@Bigsby-g2o]

Kappo kakko.. overrated beyond belief.. worst draft choice in rangers history.. see ya kappo

[@frankshin401]

Oh also forgot love just being the new leafs

[@alexkatsanos8475]

Will regret this. He mouthed off i think

[@diegocossio-n5z]

Play rempe ! !

[@hipcheck17]

He sucks too

[@Garythefireman66]

LFGR!!

[@user-ej3iq2to6w]

Molly, why the hell are you always smiling and laughing? Ugh, and why are you selected to do this?

[@mariovaccarella6854]

You're absolutely right, Larry, that Kappo Kakko didn't have a lot to attract more than Chris Drury got. You're also right that Will Borgen is what is needed now, in A Right Defenseman. I think that many Rangers Fans are complaining about this, but Kappo Kakko, as they forget, is a player that was continuously talked about being moved. I'm thinking that this was really a necessary evil Chris Drury had to do. Let me know what you think

[@stevelegs]

Just more proof that drury and his coach are doing nothing to help their players

[@robbynealzucker3408]

P the one thing I don't understand is that that line was playing so well that's been the best line all year so why would you break that line up

[@larry-tm1qd]

Hey 3 Rd 6 Rd, and a nobody for kappo, it's the rangers fault, he should of been in AHL the first yr or to to developed. No it's the rangers fault. They can't develop a player to be what they can be. Rangers going forward with old bums, getting rid of young players, they going nowhere. Call it as it is. Drury should be gone. Gordon, Davidson gone for this puke. I played hockey in sghl, whl, with Brian propp, Ron Hextall, Brad McCrimmon, his brother, I can speak hockey, the problem is Drury, call a spade a spade. He ruined the room dynamic, he had the off season to do his business. He made the rangers losers

[@1993NYC]

Kakko wasn’t the problem. Don’t see the point in him being moved unless a real (and overdue) tear down of this roster is coming. CK, Lindgren, Miller, Smith, and others better be off the team by the deadline. Drury (or whoever is GM moving forward) needs to do whatever it takes to get Mika to waive his NMC.

[@coogz13]

try thinking a little bit harder about why kakko is gone - or, you know, maybe listen to the video you're commenting on

[@mariovaccarella6854]

Did they really think that Chris Drury wasn't going to make a move/moves while they were in a Freefall? What I can't really understand is how so many of the people that wanted him (Kappo Kakko) gone are now upset.

[@coogz13]

we have some unbelievably stupid fans - i'm convinced the loudest ones about this arent even watching the dude play. kakko literally IS WHAT HE IS 6 years into his career. full stop

[@robbynealzucker3408]

The major problem with this team is that they're horrible for checking team they're terrible when it comes to playing gaps they are brutal at cycling because they don't have the personnel to play the right way

[@UMTFKRPCU]

Was it Kakko or the last three coaches? Well the last three coaches have been dogshit sooooooooo...

[@michaeldinardo7051]

Violence.

[@coogz13]

please just listen to boyle's segment - he literally NAILS everything. this team is soft and way too european/timid - it's time to ship the soft losers our and nut up

[@kdomster9141]

If team played better he would have a break out year , when we got Kakko we knew he is NOT high scoring forward but 2 way player and that is how we should have develop him in NHL , used both on PK and PP and inserted into top 3 lines .... We did NOT develop him properly period . Now getting bag of pucks for him is a consequence. Easiest and laziest thing to say is that he did not play well!

[@u.s.m.c.fewproudthemarines2987]

If the Rangers lose next 3games They will fired Coach Drury JS ✌️🙏🙏 been fan since 74 I'm tired of them

[@johnrwalker53]

Drury is trying to figure out a way to get rid of the cancer-Mika/Kreids

[@iceman1599]

I wish Kakko the best hope he scores 35 goals, but! Miller, Schneider, cuylle, jones, chytl, berard, Edstrom, Laffy. That’s almost 50% of our rookies and they were all filtered in our system and they are all successful. It just wasn’t meant to be for Kakko..

[@somatiful]

We need to stop selecting Finnish players. They always underperform when they get to the NHL. Bakov is an exception.

[@johnnyred8902]

I keep wondering why Molly who has the least amount of experience is in charge of this Pod cast. Once again just because she's a WOMAN she gets to be the person in charge. When does this unfair treatment stop? When do men stop being treated as second class people? Why is it woman are given positions even when they have the least amount of experience?

[@thommackris920]

Angry enough? She's the host/moderator.

[@MikeSforza]

Finally, some decent news! Drury should have spoken to the team sooner but at least he did I hope all this BS, crying, whining gets replaced by some great hockey again!

[@robbynealzucker3408]

Has been absolutely disastrous I agree with Larry better in St Louis and in Nashville but the problem with this team is they never get to the f****** net

[@kdomster9141]

Drury brewed this mess and giving away our once in decade 2nd pick from first round for bag of pucks is a disaster to the team ! We should have got much much better return for Kakko. Drury must go , he is a snake and deserves no respect from players or fans ?

[@PAVEL-JAKL]

Very bad trade Kakko will be missed I hope he flourish in Seattle and will be 30 goal scorer..

[@coogz13]

very good trade and seattle will be lucky if he cracks 30 points every year. this whole saga has shown how absolutely stupid most NYR fans are

[@joeleone2228]

In New York Post why don't you talk about what a piece of crap the owner Dolan is, or are you too busy trying to cover up his latest sexual assault and payout?

[@coogz13]

HOW WILL WE EVER REPLACE HIS 30 POINTS PER YEAR? WE NEED A TIMID SCANDANAVIAN WITH SLOW FEET AND A BAD SHOT!!! WHAT EVER WILL WE DO?????

[@robbynealzucker3408]

Molly you're laughing though but you're right bring up a small violin bring me a small liar or a small liar not that kind of liar

[@TarHeeler42-nf2nd]

Mollie is the only good thing about the Rangers!!!!!!!!!