Moving Alexis Lafreniere into a top six forwards role in just his second NHL game came at the expense of second-year forward Kaapo Kakko, who, like Lafreniere, is 19 years old.
Kakko, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 draft, had an up-and-down rookie season. He had 10 goals and 13 assists in 66 games in 2019-20, but struggled with his defensive responsibilities and wound up a team-worst (by far) minus-26. But he seemed to be a different, more forceful player at the July training camp for the NHL’s August restart. And he played well in the bubble in Toronto when the Rangers were swept in three games to Carolina.