David Quinn and the New York Rangers ice time conundrum

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.