Why Kaapo Kakko will have a “Sophmore SnapBack”

In June of 2019, the New York Rangers selected the Right Winger Kaapo Kakko with the second overall pick in the NHL Entry Draft. In his first season with the Rangers, he seemed a little underwhelming with only 23 points in 66 games (.348 points per game). His one-way style of play is not a good look either, where he had a horrid minus 26, good for eighth worst in the league. Kaapo Kakko, in many people’s eyes, is a bust of a draft pick. 

The term “Sophomore Slump” is a popular term with breakout rookies, where many of them end up having less than amazing sophomore seasons and they have to adjust and get back to their rookie selves. Let me introduce perhaps a new term in “Sophomore Snapback” where the opposite is true. The rookie with a high ceiling flops and then rebounds spectacularly their second year. Thus, a snapback. In recent years, the trend has been growing, with the most notable and recent snapback in 2018’s second overall pick, Andrei Svechnikov. In Svechnikov’s first year in the NHL, he had 37 points in all 82 games (.451 P/G). In his second year however, he had a breakout year with 61 points in 68 games played (.897 P/G). That’s almost double the points from his first year in even less games. If Kaapo follows the same route as the previous second overall pick, he could have an estimated 60 points (.702 P/G) next season. The Sophomore Snapback could be applied to Kaapo after next season.

There are many factors for success in the NHL, and linemates are one of them. Kaapo Kakko played a majority of his time on the 3rd line for David Quinn, with some occasional movement based on the team’s condition. I believe that if Kakko could move up to the second line or first line where he would get to play with Artemi Panarin or Mika Zibanejad, it would boost his play significantly, possibly raising scoring for next season. That assumes that Quinn values the development of his young players. On the contrary, maybe being on the third line is a good thing right now. Playing against the other team’s lower defensive pairs could be a good thing for his growth. So many factors are present when analyzing his potential for next season.

The point is, Kaapo Kakko hasn’t impressed many people this season, and many people will probably hold those same opinions for next season. If he progresses this offseason with his amazing work ethic, he could be a major sleeper pick next season. Count me in for Kaapo Kakko’s Sophomore Snapback campaign. Kakko for 2021.

By: Connor Hipp