The New York Rangers Need These Three Players to Find a New Level
During the second half of last season and the entire playoffs, three players got better as the season wound down and continued that play during the playoffs, Those three players coincidentally play on the same line, The Kid Line.
The Kid Line, Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil, and Kaapo Kakko were put together last season as a way to get them going offensively, and boy they did. The young trio is named the Kid Line because they are all under 23 years old, connected immediately, and carried the New York Rangers into the playoffs and during their playoff run.
These young players were all struggling at the time and needed something to get them going. Placing them on the same line gave them a chance to prove people wrong and showed they are young, not washed up. Lafreniere (pick 1 in 2020), Chytil (pick 21 in 2017), and Kakko (pick 2 in 2019) were all chosen in the first round of their drafts, so the Rangers are not short on young talent.
Not only are they young, talented, and motivated they are also big bodies. Lafreniere is 6-foot-2 and 193 pounds, Chytil is 6-foot-2 and 206 pounds, and Kakko is 6-foot-3 and 199 pounds. They can play the cycle game and win board battles along with being point producers.
Last season, the trio accounted for 71 points (Lafreniere 19-12-31, Chytil 8-14-22, and Kakko 7-11-18) and a +10. During the playoffs, they were the best line for the Rangers. They played a grinding game while playing physical and getting scoring chances whenever they were on the ice. The Kid Line also did well in playoff scoring, as Lafreniere had 9 points (2-7-9), Chytil also had 9 points (7-2-9), and Kakko had 5 points (2-3-5).
Lafreniere is the one who skates with authority, Chytil is the playmaker on the line, and Kakko has a good game against the wall and below the goal line. The Rangers have not had three young players with this much potential on the same line not to mention three players picked that high on the same line. As a line, they averaged 14:13 time on ice last season, and they let the opposition know they were on the ice.
Last season was just the beginning as these three want to come into next season and dominate, being the best line on the Rangers. They want to prove last season was not a fluke and will put in the work to be successful. This line has the potential to be something very special and the Rangers believe that also, locking up Kakko on a new 2-year, $4.2 million deal.
Next season they will come into Madison Square Garden more experienced, more polished, and ready to light the lamp once again. The Rangers have something special with this trio and the sky is the limit for all three.