Kraken’s Kaapo Kakko
After getting trounced by Team USA 6-1 on Thursday night in Montreal in their first Four Nations Face-off game, Team Finland will likely be up for some changes.
That might include the insertion of Seattle Kraken forward Kaapo Kakko into the line-up. He and Utah defenseman Juuso Valimaki were the team’s two scratches for the first outing.
Starting with the blueline, Valimaki would replace one of the two 3rd-pair D-men who were on for two goals against with limited ice time, young Nikolas Matinpalo of the Ottawa Senators or Urho Vaakanainen of the New York Rangers. Like Valimaki, Vaakanainen is a lefty.
It’s a quandary that started prior to the tournament, with three of the country’s best D-men sitting out due to injury; Miro Heiskanen of the Dallas Stars (knee), Jani Hakanpaa of the Maple Leafs organization (knee) and Rasmus Ristolainen of the Philadelphia Flyers (upper body). Matinpalo and Vaakanainen were both late roster replacements.
As for Kakko, it would be a difficult decision for Finland head coach Antti Pennanen. There’s plenty of healthy experience on the roster, and Kakko is just recently finding his game after moving to the Kraken from the Rangers in mid-December.
He’d bring some size, physicality and confidence into a rivalry match-up against Sweden.
Another change Pennanen might consider; starting Canucks goalie Kevin Lankinen over struggling stalwart Juuse Saros of the Nashville Predators.
