Is this the season that Kakko and Lafreniere take leaps?
Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere were drafted by the New York Rangers in back-to-back years, 2nd and 1st overall, respectively, in 2019 and 2020. Whilst both have shown some most tantalising flashes, neither has really established themselves as top-six forwards, never mind stars.
There are plenty of people lining up – some of them in this parish – to call the pair busts. Are they, though? Or have they never really had the chance to put their best skate forward?
When you’re drafted in the top two, it’s highly likely that you’re joining a moribund squad, especially when you have two youngsters in the same boat. Not the Rangers starlets, though. Yes, New York was poor in the 2019 and 2020 seasons.
They weren’t deplorably bad, though. They even made the playoff qualifying round in 2020. These were closer to middle-of-the-road teams that out and out tankers. Yet, the Rangers got lucky. Twice.
Kakko and Lafreniere were not so fortunate. They joined an ascendant team loaded with top-end talent. Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, Chris Kreider, Ryan Strome, Pavel Buchnevich and, not to mention, recent mid-season additions like Vladimir Tarasenko and Patrick Kane – all established top-six forwards either in or approaching their primes (Kane aside) and all restricting the Rangers youngsters to 3rd line duties.
They also, importantly, had no time on the power play; Kakko ranked 12th in ice time for the Rangers last season, Lafreniere 15th. With the man advantage, they were just 12th and 8th, respectively.
This season looms large for the highly touted pair. With Kane and Tarasenko not returning to the team, the right-wing spots on the top lines are there for the taking. New Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette has been vocal about giving the pair greater opportunity.
Whilst Kakko is a natural right winger, Alexis Lafreniere isn’t; he’ll make the switch this season. For a left-shooting player, moving to the right presents a bevy of challenges. On your off-wing, you have totally different shooting angles, you drive wide onto your backhand, and even picking up the puck off the wall is different.
Fortunately, the Rangers have the perfect man to work with Lafreniere in Zibanejad, a right shooter who stars playing on the left.
Kakko has shown a resilient attitude and incremental growth throughout his short career. He posted a respectable 23 points in 66 games as a rookie though struggled mightily with the speed of movement and physicality of the NHL. His 2nd and 3rd campaigns were blighted by injury.
To his credit, Kakko improved his body to the point where he can take and dish out punishment whilst becoming a dependable player defensively. He achieved career highs in goals (18), assists (22) and points (40) last season. With more time alongside an elite setup man in Panarin and extra reps on the power play, don’t be surprised if Kaapo Kakko hits the 25-goal threshold and tallies 55-plus points.
Lafreniere is a totally different kettle of fish. As well as struggling for ice time behind Zibanejad and Kreider, the former No. 1 overall pick has displayed, shall we say, less-than-professional habits both on and off the ice.
He was never the speed demon that he was touted to be prior to his drafting, but his razor-sharp hockey brain is as advertised. Shame, then, that it’s only ever occasionally engaged. When his head is in the right place, the 21-year-old can produce some dazzling plays. Some have speculated that he struggles to be a cog in a machine rather than the centre of his team’s universe, as he had been at every level prior to being drafted.
Lafreniere is at an age now where he needs to get past his own internal stigma of not being “The Man.” He’s at an age where he needs to properly dedicate himself to his job. Again, it’s Zibanejad who could provide a pathway for the enigmatic winger.
Zibanejad, the No. 6 overall pick in 2011, was just 22-years-old when the Ottawa Senators gave up on him, trading him to Broadway for Derick Brassard and a 2nd round pick. Part of that deal centred on the cash-strapped Sens not wanting to pay for Zibanejad’s to that point unrealised potential, but a large part of the trade was the prevailing thought that the Swede simply didn’t care enough to ever make good on his promise.
Whether it was the trade that shook him out of his malaise or simply natural maturation, Zibanejad was an instant revelation at Madison Square Garden. Whilst working with Zibanejad on the nuances of playing on your off-wing, perhaps Lafreniere could pick up some wisdom on how to be a successful pro, or simply absorb by osmosis the habits that propelled Zibanejad to stardom.
Either way, Lafreniere’s time is now.
Sometimes it’s opportunity. Sometimes it’s a slice of fortune. Sometimes it’s an adjustment between the ears. Whatever it is, the Rangers highly drafted due need to find it this season. Their established stars are as reliable as a Swiss watch. For the Blueshirts to take that next step, though, Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere need to find their next step.
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