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New York Rangers: 5 bold predictions for 2019-20 season

By Simon Vacca

NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 04: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers looks on during pregame warmups before the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden on February 4, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - FEBRUARY 04: Henrik Lundqvist #30 of the New York Rangers looks on during pregame warmups before the game against the Los Angeles Kings at Madison Square Garden on February 4, 2019 in New York City. (Photo by Jared Silber/NHLI via Getty Images) /
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VANCOUVER, BC – JUNE 21: Kaapo Kakko poses for a photo onstage after being selected second overall by the New York Rangers during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
VANCOUVER, BC – JUNE 21: Kaapo Kakko poses for a photo onstage after being selected second overall by the New York Rangers during the first round of the 2019 NHL Draft at Rogers Arena on June 21, 2019 in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. (Photo by Derek Cain/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

2. Kakko will be a Calder Trophy finalist

The sentiment among those who closely analyzed the 2019 NHL Entry Draft was as follows: Jack Hughes, a center of USNTDP, was regarded as the favorite to be selected first overall by the New Jersey Devils…but Kaapo Kakko, a winger of HC TPS (Finnish Liiga), was not far off from the prospective No. 1 pick at all.

The Rangers lucked out in drafting Kakko, as the six-foot-two, 190 pound forward would have almost definitely served as the top selection in other draft years. Kakko has all of the tools of a top-end winger in the making — a remarkable sense of awareness, strong stick handling, an ability to make high-end plays, sound decision making and strength of note — which should lend itself to favorable totals at the professional level.

The belief among many is that Kakko’s repertoire of skills will translate to more immediate success in the NHL, with the possibility of Hughes embarking upon particularly head-turning runs with further development as his career progresses. As such, look for Kakko to contend for the Calder Trophy — and attempt to win the award — if he remains healthy.

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