Laviolette’s Faith in Kaapo Kakko Bodes Well For Rangers Future

With the Rangers off to a 2-2 start after four games, a few members of the roster deserve credit for passing expectations early. During the summer, everyone was talking about how Alexis Lafreniere would need to take a step forward to supplement the losses the Rangers roster sustained during the summer, which is true.  However, he wasn’t the only one with an exceptionally high ceiling to live up to, and Kaapo Kakko is certainly trying to do that.

As the second overall pick from the 2019 NHL entry draft, Kakko has been good on the top line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. Getting his first point of the season on the opening goal of the home opening victory over the Arizona Coyotes, the Finnish winger has not quite lived up to his expectations when he was drafted.

Only having one point in three games is why you cannot look at counting stats and try to use it to try and paint the entire picture. There’s no denying that Kakko has had some very impressive performances to start the season, which is a good sign. It’s not been a consistent display of excellence from the Turku, Finland native, but it’s promising.

Averaging 15 minutes a night through the first three games, Kakko has been improving on what he has shown throughout his career. It’s not shocking, considering that young players usually get better with more experience playing against the world’s best hockey players. Still, he’s starting to feel like a candidate for a breakout candidate.

This level of trust from head coach Peter Laviolette is a good sign. We know Laviolette will keep the lines together as much as he can to try and allow the lines to mesh and build a strong rapport. Kakko is going to be given a chance to succeed with one of the most iconic Ranger partnerships of the salary cap era. There’s every chance for the young Finn to continue to grow into the player Blueshirt faithful think he will be.