Blue Line Station
Fansided

If I were coach of the New York Rangers next season …

By Scott Esposito

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 25: Head coach David Quinn of the New York Rangers speaks to his players during the second period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden on March 25, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - MARCH 25: Head coach David Quinn of the New York Rangers speaks to his players during the second period against the Pittsburgh Penguins at Madison Square Garden on March 25, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /
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Kaapo Kakko (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)
Kaapo Kakko (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images) /

Pair Kakko with Zibanejad

Some pundits have labeled teenager Kaapo Kakko’s rookie NHL season with the Rangers in 2019-20 as “disappointing.” Apparently, 10 goals and 13 assists in 66 matches from the Finnish right-winger wasn’t good enough after New York selected him with the second pick of the 2019 Entry Draft.

Although Kakko saw a decent amount of time on the second-line power play, even strength was a different story. He played 791 minutes at even strength, but just 65 of them were with Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome, and only 37 came with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. He skated the most with Brett Howden (341  minutes), Filip Chytil (296), Brendan Lemieux (196), and Phillip DiGiuseppe (96).

Nonetheless, Kakko had eight goals and two assists at even strength, and two tallies and 11 helpers in 145 minutes of power-play ice time.

Prior to last season, Di Giuseppe had the most NHL experience, playing 150 games and notching 14 goals and 27 assists. Chytil had skated in 84 matches, followed by Lemieux (72) and Howden (66). Lemieux and Howden are not top-six forwards.  Lemieux is the team’s most consistent physical presence up front, while Howden, just 21 years old, has the potential to develop into a solid defensive forward. Chytil has top-six potential, but he’s still developing.

Yet, Kakko had a “disappointing” season. Sure, he did.

Say, how did Jack Hughes, the consensus top pick ahead of Kakko, do with the New Jersey Devils in his rookie campaign? Of the 765 even-strength minutes Hughes skated, 113 were with standout Taylor Hall and 25-goal scorer Kyle Palmieri, 94 with Palmieri and young playmaker Nico Hischier, and 321 with Palmieri.

Hughes posted three goals and nine assists at even strength, and four tallies and five apples in 194 minutes of power-play ice time.

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