Kaapo Kakko showing ‘more swagger’ in Rangers second chance

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This is the second season for Kaapo Kakko, whose four-month break at home just might prove to be the pause that refreshed the second-overall selection whose first try at the NHL wasn’t quite what anyone anticipated. “Now I have a new chance,” said Kakko, who has been impressive through the first four work days. “I’m …

“Now I have a new chance,” said Kakko, who has been impressive through the first four work days. “I’m feeling better. I was on the ice [in Finland] every week at least two or three times, we had a good group [of players] over there, spent a little bit of time at the gym, and am feeling a little faster and a little stronger on the ice, so that’s good.”

Kakko, who has been diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, does not seem to have had a second thought about returning to the fray despite the fact that those sharing that medical condition could be at a higher risk to develop more serious complications if contracting COVID-19.

“Of course I wanted to play hockey again,” the 19-year-old said. “I talked to my doctors about that a little bit and I think if I keep my [blood sugar level] down, it’s going to be OK and I can play hockey, again.

“I’m so young, my diabetes is OK right now, I just [have to] keep the sugar down, and it’s going to be OK.”

According to information on the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation website, “Those at greatest risk are those with consistently elevated blood-sugar levels and those with a second co-morbidity [such as obesity or heart, kidney or lung disease.”]

Kakko had barely been able to catch his breath since his outstanding performance at the 2019 World Juniors presaged his dominant effort at the World Championship that clinched his second-overall rating behind the USA’s (and the Devils’) Jack Hughes heading into the draft.

Then there was the prospect camp in July, followed by the Traverse City rookie tournament in September, followed by training camp, followed by the grind of an NHL season on a team that did not have a fellow Finnish-speaking teammate. In the seven months before the virus interceded, Kakko had had all of about one week at home (during the Blueshirts’ bye period) where he could hang out with friends and speak his native language.

“We’ve touched on all of the challenges he faced this season and I think being able to get home, recharge his battery and see a lot of familiar faces, back to his homeland, it puts him in a different mindset,” coach David Quinn said. “And coming back here, there’s not a lot of uncertainty for him, he knows everybody, there’s a comfort level here now and I think it’s just going to put him in a better mindset to play better hockey.”

Kakko endured a series of deep droughts throughout the season that frustrated him, given his history of dominance. He completed the season with 23 points (10-13) in 66 games, recording a pair of goals in the Blueshirts’ penultimate match in Dallas on March 10 after scoring once in the previous 28 games. Ryan Strome, a fifth-overall selection by the Islanders in 2011, can relate.

“I’ve been a young guy in this league, I’ve had my ups and downs, I’ve had great moments and I’ve had such down moments, so I feel that I know what it’s like,” Strome said. “I’ve said this before, but I can’t imagine going across the world to play in a different league with different ice and have so many things thrown at me.

“I think for everyone, no matter what your situation is, to have a reset is huge. To have some time at the gym, back at your own house, it’s obviously a unique situation that nobody would have expected but from the looks of it I think everyone went back and had a great mindset.”

Kakko has been skating on the right side of the third line with Filip Chytil in the middle and Phil Di Giuseppe on the left. The trio was intact for 69:43 of five-on-five play during the season, with a 48.6 Corsi, a 54.9 shot share, and a 53.4 xGF while on the ice for two goals and four against. Kakko will also work with the second power-play unit.

Thursday, spry again, he beat Henrik Lundqvist with a hellacious wrist shot, top shelf over the netminder’s glove. When the Finn swept by and skated to the corner for the next rotation, he looked back over his shoulder at Lundqvist, who did not return the gaze.

“He was one of the first guys [the coaches] talked about after practice,” said the coach. “He continues to look good, he continues to play with a pace and he continues to play with a little bit more swagger and certainty to what he’s doing. It’s been a good start, so far.”

A good second start.