The Rangers' Kaapo Kakko scores against Islanders goalie Ilya Sorokin on Jan. 16, 2021. Credit: AP/Bruce Bennett
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 pick overall 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.