Why one young NY Rangers player can shock the NHL universe in 2024-25

Of the few NY Rangers players who could be in for a breakout season, Kaapo Kakko is the most compelling. This time last September, many Blueshirts fans may have been thinking 2023-24 would be the year after Kakko put up 40 points and 18 goals in 82 games, and a solid 14.4 shooting percentage should have left Rangers fans feeling optimistic. 

Then, last season happened, and Kakko’s potential breakout went to the wayside, leading to a pessimistic outlook for a player who may not even be in town at some point this season. I’ve even gone as far as to say 2024-25 would be his last in Manhattan, so why am I writing an article contemplating on why he could shock the NHL universe?

It’s because Kakko wasn’t healthy for a portion of the 2023-24 season, and should he enjoy the same durability that he had in 2022-23, there’s a chance he could rebound this year. While he missed 21 games last year and put up just 19 points in those 61 games, we still can’t forget the fact that when he saw action in all 82 contests the year prior, Kakko looked like he was figuring things out. 

NY Rangers winger could still be a great asset in Manhattan in 2024-25

This article isn’t speculating or assuming that a healthy Kakko Kakko will be with the club in 2025-26, as the Blueshirts could always use him as trade bait after a solid year. But let’s consider something else: There will be players with high salaries that a cash-strapped team like the Rangers could move instead should Kakko rebound. 

Such a transaction still may not sit right with fans, since Kakko would still need to prove consistency from year to year should he enjoy a 50-60-point outburst. But there’s also the age factor, as trading an older player to make room for incoming prospects while keeping a younger talent like Kakko around means the Blueshirts wouldn’t be in much of a retooling situation, which would reopen a championship window faster. 

So, should Kakko remain in Manhattan this season, it’s more than okay to root for him and hope he sticks around longer if he put up a bounce-back year. Doing so wouldn’t just give the Rangers another young player for the future, but it would also salvage who was once a promising second-overall pick.