Kaapo Kakko holds key to Rangers bottom-6 success

Although it didn’t stop them from winning the Presidents’ Trophy, the New York Rangers struggled to maintain consistent production out of their bottom-six forwards last season. Changing that will be a point of emphasis when training camp opens later this month.

And the key to the bottom six generating more offense in 2024-25 likely will be how much a motivated Kaapo Kakko produces.

Last season, the Rangers top six saw successes like Artemi Panarin’s highest point total of his NHL career (120), Alexis Lafreniere’s breakout season (28 goals, 57 points), Vincent Trocheck’s All-Star campaign and Chris Kreider scoring 39 goals and posting an NHL career high with 36 assists. However, the third and fourth lines struggled with injuries, inconsistency, and lack of scoring.

It’s an area of question for the Rangers heading into the 2024-2025 season. While there’s been speculation about who will make up the fourth line (potential combinations of Matt Rempe, Jonny Brodzinski, Jimmy Vesey, Sam Carrick, Adam Edstrom, and others have been discussed), the Rangers third line will most likely consist of Will Cuylle on the left wing, Filip Chytil at center, and Kakko at right wing.

This is a group that collectively contributed more to the Rangers’ woes and disappointment than the score sheet last season.

Cuylle is a 2020 draft pick who made the Ranger’s 2023-24 roster out of training camp. He scored 13 goals and posted 21 points over 81 games and shows the potential to grow into a more consistent and potent contributor this season, especially if he receives more ice time. He brings other attributes, as well, including a team-high 249 hits, which were most among all NHL rookies last season. But he won;t be the driving force offensively on the third line.

Chytil sustained the fourth concussion of his NHL career in November and was met with setbacks in his recovery. He was able to rejoin the team in the Stanley Cup Playoffs, contributing eight shots, but no points, across six games. Should Chytil remain healthy in the upcoming season, he’s likely to provide a spark for the bottom-six offense, as he did in 2022-23 when he scored 22 goals and finished with 45 points. He’s remains a question mark because of his health, but Chytil is a major upgrade over Brodzinski and Alex Wennberg offensively.

While the responsibility for improving the depth of the Rangers will be shared among those who play on the third and fourth lines this season, as well as the coaches and management, a big season from Kakko would make the biggest difference.

Related: Rangers debate: Should Kaapo Kakko get another chance on No. 1 line?

Rangers eye more production from Kaapo Kakko in 2024-25

Kakko was selected No. 2 overall by the Rangers in the 2019 draft after the New Jersey Devils picked center Jack Hughes first overall. Pre-draft arguments for Kakko being worthy of the first selection came into play after his solid performance for Finland in the World Junior Championships. So the Rangers were excited to land a good-sized forward with a steady passing game who already had experience playing professional hockey in Finland.

Five years into his NHL career, Kakko has yet to show the same level of prowess for the Rangers. He’s dealt with COVID-19 shortened seasons, injuries, and offensive droughts. Last season, Kakko admittedly blew an opportunity in the top six when he failed to generate any chemistry with Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. After a knee injury sidelined him 21 games, he was back on the third line, finishing with only 13 goals.

This offseason, the hockey world was abuzz with trade rumors that the Rangers may deal the forward , even after he signed a one-year contract in June. But as the season starts back, Kakko remains with the Rangers, and with that, he’s given the opportunity to make a final case for himself as a valuable player in their bottom six.

Cuylle is still adapting to the NHL level. Chytil’s health is a potential question mark. Kakko must be the stabilizing force for this third line. He’s no longer a green youth who can make excuses about inexperience at the NHL level. He’s coming into this season healthy and has the chance to get back to the 18-goal, 40-point player he was in 2022-23. That kind of consistent production out of Kakko not only gives the Rangers strength and depth on right wing, but takes some pressure off the Rangers top lines, too.

New York’s first line notably has struggled to find a fitting wing for Kreider and Zibanejad since Pavel Buchnevich was traded in 2021. Reilly Smith, acquired in an offseason deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins, is expected to be on the right side of the Kreider-Zibanejad line. The 33-year-old comes to the Rangers off a down season with the Penguins, and also with a Stanley Cup on his resume, and several impressive seasons with the Vegas Golden Knights. The verdict is still out on whether that will convert to success for a top line that’s struggled with chemistry.

Some would argue that Kakko should get a shot on the top line again and Smith would be a good fit on the third line. But, for now, let’s say Smith is on the Zibanejad line and Kakko skates with Chytil and Cuylle.

The rest of the Rangers top six was outstanding last season, and the hope is that they continue to be successful. But realistically, the same line can’t be perfect every game, and when Panarin, Trocheck, and Lafreniere have an off night, coach Peter Laviolette will be relying on the bottom six to step up.

Kakko’s career hasn’t unfolded the way most would have expected. It’s easy for Rangers fans to look at Hughes’ progression to becoming a formidable offensive force for the Devils and feel disappointment in what could have been.

But Kakko’s first five years in the League haven’t been a waste. It’s given him experience playing in the high-pressure market of New York City, logging playoff time in high-stakes games, and learning to play with some of the most dynamic offensive players in the NHL. Let’s not overlook that he’s also a solid two-way player, who is trusted and responsible defensively.

Kakko’s been given the tools to carve a role for himself as a leader and a top contributor for the bottom-six forwards. It’s not glamorous, but if last season taught us anything, it sure is important.

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