Rangers Await Kakko’s Leap While Lafreniere Builds on Breakout
The New York Rangers entered the 2019 and 2020 drafts with top-two picks, hoping to land the cornerstones for a championship-caliber team. While Alexis Lafreniere has begun to live up to the hype, Kaapo Kakko remains a work in progress.
Lafreniere, the No. 1 overall pick in 2020, finally enjoyed a breakout season in his fourth NHL season, posting career highs in goals (28), points (57) and shots (217) while playing alongside All-Stars Artemi Panarin and Vincent Trocheck.
“It’s pretty simple: Every year, [I’m] trying to get better,” Lafreniere said. “Take the next step and produce more and play a more complete game to help the team win. … I feel like I want to take that step this year.”
However, the Rangers are still waiting for Kakko, the second overall pick in 2019, to reach his potential. He was re-signed in June to a one-year deal worth $2.4 million after registering only 19 points in 61 games last season.
“I feel like that’s the question every year when I come back in,” Kakko said. “I felt like two years ago, I had kind of my best season, and I was ready to do that last year. I feel like that’s the question after every summer. Maybe this time, it’s better to not think about it and give my best, and hopefully, it comes.”
Kakko, Chytil and Cuylle comprised a line during Sunday’s preseason-opening win in Boston.
“[Kakko] played with Will last year, also. I know what he can do out there, and I’ve been playing a lot with Fil,” Kakko said. “It’s a new season, and it’s still only a couple of practices together, but I feel we all know what we can do out there, and I think we can be a good line.”
The Rangers are hopeful their top two lines – Lafreniere, Panarin and Trocheck; and Zibanejad, Kreider and Smith – will be potent offensive forces.
Lafreniere’s scoring might see a boost with increased power-play opportunities, but the first unit with the man advantage (Zibanejad, Trocheck, Kreider, Panarin and Fox) has been difficult to crack. Lafreniere scored 26 of his 28 goals at even strength last season.
“I wouldn’t mind it. I feel like every player wants [power-play time], but I don’t really care about that. I just want to compete and produce,” Lafreniere said. “It doesn’t change much, when I get out there I try to play good hockey. I’ll go out there whenever my name is called and try to help the team win.”
Goaltender Hugo Ollas was assigned to AHL Hartford on Monday.