NY Rangers projected lineup: Kaapo Kakko knows he must 'earn' it to stay on top line
TARRYTOWN - Kaapo Kakko didn't hold back in his final comments before heading into a longer summer break than any of the Rangers were hoping for.
The 22-year-old forward concluded breakup day on May 3 by openly lobbying for more ice time and better situational usage, calling it "the next step" in his development.
Ten games into a new season, head coach Peter Laviolette is giving him what he asked for by locking No. 24 in as the top-line right-winger. It's an opportunity Kakko is grateful for, but one he knows better than to take for granted.
"There's kind of two sides to it," he said following Thursday's morning skate at the MSG Training Center. "We’re winning games, so that's a good thing. Maybe that's the reason he keeps the lines. But you need to earn that also, so I need to be better."
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His metrics while playing with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad will make some question whether the No. 2 overall pick from the 2019 NHL Draft is being too hard on himself.
They ranked 14th among all NHL lines that have logged at least 50 minutes together this season with a 60.9% xGF entering play Friday, according to moneypuck.com, while allowing only one goal against in over 108 minutes on ice together. Those are rock solid numbers.
But while Kakko noted their strong defensive play, he knows any top line is responsible for driving offense. And as a trio, they've only generated two goals at five-on-five through 10 games, with the young Finn stuck on two points (one goal and one assist) in that span.
"Our line has not been the best," he said. "I feel that we’re just forechecking and chasing the puck in the O zone, and then defending. We've been doing a good job and not giving up too many chances. But still, I think our line needs to get more chances of our own and score some goals."
There will be added pressure to produce now that two of the Rangers' top weapons will miss time.
All-star defenseman Adam Fox (upper-body injury) and second-line center Filip Chytil (lower-body injury) were each hurt during Thursday's 2-1 win over the Carolina Hurricanes, with Fox being placed on long-term injured reserve (minimum of 10 games and 24 days) and Chytil on injured reserve (minimum of seven days) Friday.
This would be a great time for the healthy top line to get hot, which Kakko believes could happen if they get settled into their offensive structure more often.
"It feels like we get the puck in the O zone and we stop doing the things we need to do over there," he said. "We usually rim it because we can’t enter the zone with the possession, so that's the thing we need to get better at. Maybe we need more speed when we're getting into the zone. Once you start doing those things, the confidence feels better. That’s how it comes."
When they do generate substantial possession time, it would behoove Kakko to get himself into better shooting positions.
Laviolette has raved about the 6-foot-2, 205-pounder's "creativity to hang on to pucks" in high-traffic areas. And while that's clearly a strength of his game, those situations usually occur along the boards or behind the opponent's net, creating difficult angles for Kakko to shoot.
That's led to only 13 shots on goal through 10 games, which is far too few for a player who frequently shows off an above-average left-handed shot at practice.
"I need more than that," Kakko said when reminded of his SOG total. "Before the season, I was thinking I need to start shooting more. Right now, I feel my game has been more trying to stay with the puck and try to play it to someone else, but I need to shoot more also.
"I’m behind the goal line a lot, so I think I need to try to get in the middle, in front of the net," he added. "I need to have more of a shooting (mindset). I need to think like that."
The good news is that Laviolette seems inclined to let him work through it.
The current line combinations have produced an 8-2 record, which the new Blueshirts' bench boss said "leads you to a little bit more patience."
Kakko's spot appears safe for now, but he's learned from past experiences that plans can change in an instant if you don't seize your opportunity.
"I think it’s going to get better," he said. "I just hope it’s soon."
NY Rangers (8-2) projected lineup: Game 11 at Minnesota Wild (3-5-2)
When: Saturday, Nov. 4 at 8 p.m.
Where: Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn.
TV/Radio: MSG Network/98.7 FM
Forwards
Top line ⊳ Chris Kreider (LW) ⋄ Mika Zibanejad (C) ⋄ Kaapo Kakko (RW)
Second line ⊳ Artemi Panarin (LW) ⋄ Vincent Trocheck (C) ⋄ Alexis Lafrenière (RW)
Third line ⊳ Will Cuylle (LW) ⋄ Jonny Brodzinski (C) ⋄ Blake Wheeler (RW)
Fourth line ⊳ Jimmy Vesey (LW) ⋄ Nick Bonino (C) ⋄ Tyler Pitlick (RW)
Defensemen
Top pair ⊳ K'Andre Miller (L) ⋄ Jacob Trouba (R)
Second pair ⊳ Ryan Lindgren (L) ⋄ Erik Gustafsson (R)
Third pair ⊳ Zac Jones (L) ⋄ Braden Schneider (R)
Goalies
Starter ⊳ Jonathan Quick
Backup ⊳ Louis Domingue
Long-term injured reserve: D Adam Fox (lower body)
Injured reserve: F Filip Chytil (upper body)
Paternity leave: F Barclay Goodrow
Healthy scratches: D Connor Mackey and G Igor Shesterkin
Vincent Z. Mercogliano is the New York Rangers beat reporter for the USA TODAY Network. Read more of his work at lohud.com/sports/rangers/ and follow him on Twitter @vzmercogliano.
This article originally appeared on Rockland/Westchester Journal News: Kaapo Kakko knows he must 'earn' it to stay on NY Rangers' top line
