Kakko is either going to contribute in the top 6 this year or he is getting packaged out at TDL. I'm hoping GG decides to maximize the growth opportunities for Lafreniere and Kakko by giving them both to Zibanejad in the top 6. The other line would be Kreider on the RW for Panarin and Trocheck. Hoping GG decides not to try switching Lafreniere to RW on line 1 next to Kreider and Zibanejad. There's a pretty good argument that Lafreniere is the most important development opportunity the Rangers have in '22-'23 and I'd really like him to do it at his natural position. If the Rangers *must* switch Lafreniere's position they really should move him to C. He'd be a star possibility there at a position the Rangers always have trouble filling.
Lafreniere needs to be RW on that first line and Kakko needs to be RW on that second line. Give them a large runway before the trade deadline so you can see what you need.
If they went this way I guess I wouldn't be all freaked out. However Lafreniere has to work out this year or the Rangers are in a world of hurt. I'd rather switch Kreider to RW and start that way and only make the other switch if it wasn't working out. Kreider is going to drop off a bit from his career year last year. with that drop off he'd still be the best RW the Rangers have had in awhile and the best guy to play opposite Lafreniere. Put another way: you *don't* move a #1 overall pick to RW because you have too many other people playing his position. You move *anybody* else first.
Obviously not happy. Kakko simply is not a good hockey player. I can only hope this was done to use him as trade bait.
The Rangers need to figure Kakko out by the trade deadline this season. They're not going to get a good read on him in the bottom 6. Not enough help and not enough competition on line 3 or 4. Say he actually is on a 15 goal/40 pt pace at the trade deadline. Does that mean he's improving or just swimming up through the muck in the bottom 6? I'd really like to see the Rangers give Lafreniere and Kakko to Zibanejad at the start of the season. Call it line 1 or line 2 but it's the best chance the young guys will get to play up to their potential early on in the season. Lafreniere at his natural position and Kakko playing with two guys who match his end to end play. The other top 6 line would be Panarin-Trocheck-Kreider and it would match up well against just about anything the opponents throw at it. Notably, Zibanejad and the kids would not be facing the opponent's top checking line that often - giving them more chance to manage the open ice game they all seem to prefer.
Can someone explain to me what exactly Jacob Trouba has done to be named captain of the Rangers? Here is a guy who is know for three things: 1) Having a bloated contract 2) Taking dumb penalties 3) Injuring opponents Which of these put him in the mold of Messier, Bathgate, Howell, and Hadfeild as a leader?
