David Quinn and the New York Rangers ice time conundrum

Does Kaapo Kakko get enough time?

The confusion surrounding David Quinn’s ice time distribution for Kakko is one of perception versus reality. Part of the perception driving the fan dismay surrounding Kakko’s deployment is that Howden is given more time.

Let’s break this down. Howden is a center who is primarily used on the fourth line and as an off shift fill in at center to either take faceoff’s or to cover for Mika Zibanejad, Ryan Strome and Chytil after extended power play time. That said, Howden has only played more even strength minutes than Kakko in the last two games. Coincidentally, these are the first two games following the injury to Chytil, Kakko’s regular center.

In terms of overall ice time, Howden has been on the ice more than Kakko in four of the seven games. This is due to the fact that Howden plays a lead role on the penalty kill, something Kakko does not. Neither gets all that much time with the man advantage as Howden is rarely used and Kakko is only intermittently part of the second power play unit that itself does not get much ice time.

Here’s a breakdown comparing the ice time deployment for Kakko, Howden and Lafreniere.

In all, it is a false perception that Howden is being used in place of, or is stealing Kakko’s ice time. It is, in fact, the coach managing situational and positional hockey that dictates their individual usage. It is less about favoritism than about what Kakko has lacked in his game. The question should be less about why Howden? or why Lafreniere? But, be more about, why not Kakko?

Should the New York Rangers play Kakko?

The answer to this question is that hockey is about more than just getting recorded on the score sheet. Quinn had Chytil spend the first nine games of the season last year in Hartford, not for his offense, but to round out his defensive game. Kakko needs to learn from this. Is he better than last year where he finished with a -26 plus minus rating? Absolutely, but is it enough. Obviously the coach does not believe so. At least not enough to keep Kakko in the top six.

Former New York Rangers Vinny Lettieri and Brandon Pirri provide good examples that to make an impact at the NHL level requires more than the ability to score goals.  Lettieri has been a good scorer in the AHL, but has only appeared in 47 games in the NHL. He played in just 27 games for the rebuilding Rangers last season and has played in just one game with the Anaheim Ducks this season.

Pirri is an even better comparable. Pirri has been in the league for a total of 276 games. He has played for five teams and has scored 72 goals. His career high of 22 goals was scored with the Florida Panthers in just 49 games played. While with the injury riddled Vegas Golden Knights in 2018-19 he scored 12 goals in just 31 appearances. His .387 goals per game and 1.61 goals per 60 minutes led all Golden Knights that season. Yet, he was a healthy scratch 14 times after his first appearance in the team’s 37th game and played in only one of the team’s seven playoff games.

Pirri has proven himself a goal scorer at the NHL level, it’s why he is still in the league. However, his poor play without the puck has been, in part, why he is with his fifth NHL team. Kakko has proven himself a goal scorer in Liiga and in international competitions for Finland. He is proving he can be a goal scorer in the NHL as well, but if he does not round out his overall game, he risks being the Rangers next Pirri and not their next Marian Gaborik.