Kaapo Kakko

Kaapo Kakko

23-Year-Old Right WingRW
New York Rangers
2024 Fantasy Outlook
The former No. 2 overall pick in 2019, Kakko is yet to find his game from an offensive standpoint at the NHL level. He missed a bunch of time last season with a lower-body injury, appearing in just 61 regular-season games, posting 13 goals and 18 points. Kakko was also a healthy scratch for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals. Mentioned in countless trade rumors that never materialized this offseason, Kakko inked a one-year, $2.4 million contract as a restricted free agent and appears set to return in a third-line, penalty-killing role for the Presidents' Trophy winners. Read Past Outlooks
$Signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Rangers in June of 2024.
First goal in eight games
RWNew York Rangers
November 12, 2024
Kakko scored a goal in a 6-3 loss to Winnipeg on Tuesday.
ANALYSIS
The goal was his first in eight games, and the point was his first in five contests. Kakko has managed a modest eight points (two goals, six assists) in 14 games, and if he can maintain the pace, he'll establish a new career mark in points (40 is his best; 2022-23). Kakko could even see an uptick in production, as his 8.3 shooting percentage is well below his 12.0 career mark.
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NHL Stats
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2024 NHL Game Log
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2024–25 Time On Ice Stats
  • Average Time On Ice:
    13:20
  • Average Power Play TOI:
    1:08
  • Average Short-Handed TOI:
    0:00
 
Ice Time
Power Play
Short-Handed
2022–23
15:18
0:52
0:26
2023–24
13:17
1:08
0:01
2024–25
13:20
1:08
0:00
Rangers Depth Chart
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Rangers Power Play Depth Chart
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Past Fantasy Outlooks
2023
2022
2021
2020
2019
Four years out from his draft year, Kakko hasn't really delivered on the promise of a No. 2 overall pick. He did take a big step forward in 2022-23 with 18 goals, 22 assists and 125 shots on goal while playing in all 82 games. The Rangers have often had Kakko on the third line, but he started to get some top-line looks last season, and that could be a spot for him in 2023-24 as well. Playing alongside established forwards like Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider raises Kakko's ceiling a bit more than his usual role alongside Alexis Lafreniere and Filip Chytil. If Kakko can make more progress, it's fair to expect a 20-goal, 50-point campaign from the 22-year-old winger. Perhaps there's room for even more if Kakko's game fully clicks.
It was another frustrating season for Kakko, the No. 2 overall pick from 2019. He missed well over two months in the latter part of the year due to a leg issue, limiting him to just 43 regular-season games. Kakko managed just seven goals and 18 points in that span when primarily playing on New York's third line and No. 2 power-play unit. Kakko displayed flashes of brilliance early in the Rangers' run to the Eastern Conference Finals, but it got so bad at the end that he was a surprise healthy scratch in Game 6 against Tampa Bay, New York's final game of the year. It would be foolish to give up on Kakko at age 21, but a breakout certainly doesn't appear imminent.
Kakko's rookie season back in 2019-20 was a disaster, both in terms of scoring (10 goals, 23 points in 66 games) and advanced analytics. The offensive numbers (9 goals, 17 points in 48 games) weren't much better last year, but his defensive play improved immensely, giving real hope there is a breakout forthcoming for the former No. 2 overall pick. Kakko is expected to move into the Rangers' top six this season with Pavel Buchnevich having been traded to the Blues, meaning he is likely to play on a line with either Artemi Panarin or Mika Zibanejad. That, along with an expected bump in power-play time make Kakko an ideal late-round fantasy sleeper. Kakko won't turn 21 years of age until mid-February.
Kakko's rookie season was disappointing in a lot of ways, but some growing pains were to be expected for an 18-year-old getting his first taste of not only NHL hockey, but North American hockey in general. The second overall pick from the 2019 draft finished the shortened 2019-20 regular season with 10 goals, 13 assists, 13 power-play points and 109 shots on net, but he also posted an ugly minus-26 rating. Looking ahead to 2020-21, Kakko is expected to see time on the Rangers' third line and second power-play unit. That assignment likely won't lead to a substantial jump in ice time, but it's safe to assume Kakko will do more with his opportunities in year two following a full season of NHL hockey and an elongated offseason of training. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect huge things from Kakko this season, but a 15-plus goal, 35-plus point pace isn't unrealistic, making him worth snagging with a late-round pick in this year's drafts.
Although the Devils opted to take American pivot Jack Hughes with the first overall pick in this year's draft, Kakko, who the Rangers took second overall, was considered by many to be the most NHL-ready players in this year's class. The Finnish forward spent the 2018-19 campaign competing against men in his native country, racking up 22 goals and 38 points in 45 games with TPS Turku of the Liiga. The 18-year-old will be stepping into a major role from the get-go as a rookie in 2019-20, logging top-six minutes while also working on New York's top power-play unit, giving him 30-plus goal and 60-plus point upside. Kakko will be a real-life and fantasy stud for years to come.
More Fantasy News
Deals helper in loss
RWNew York Rangers
October 29, 2024
Kakko notched an assist in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Capitals.
ANALYSIS
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Goal, two assists in win
RWNew York Rangers
October 22, 2024
Kakko scored a goal on three shots and had two assists, including one on the power play, in Tuesday's 7-2 win over Montreal. He added one block, one hit, two PIM and a plus-2 to his line.
ANALYSIS
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Slides helper Saturday
RWNew York Rangers
October 13, 2024
Kakko recorded an assist and went plus-3 in Saturday's 6-5 overtime loss to Utah.
ANALYSIS
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Agrees to one-year deal
RWNew York Rangers
June 13, 2024
Kakko signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Rangers on Thursday, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.
ANALYSIS
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Offers helper Saturday
RWNew York Rangers
May 11, 2024
Kakko logged an assist in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Hurricanes in Game 4.
ANALYSIS
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Latest Fantasy Rumors
Could be healthy scratch Thursday
RWNew York Rangers
May 30, 2024
Kakko is working out with the extras at morning skate and could be scratched Thursday in Game 5 versus Florida, according to Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today.
ANALYSIS
Kakko was a healthy scratch in Game 2, the first time he was not in the lineup during the playoffs. The second overall pick in 2019, Kakko has regressed in 2023-24, accumulating only 13 goals and 19 points in 61 regular-season contests. He has been no better in the playoffs, scoring once while adding one helper in 13 appearances. Look for Filip Chytil to reenter the lineup on the top line, with Jack Roslovic moving down to the third unit to replace Kakko.
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