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?