By the time the curtain fell on the New York Rangers’ 2018-19 season, the team’s decision makers likely had a plan to land a single franchise altering winger. Artemiy Panarin had long been rumored to be destined for Manhattan once he hit free agency over the summer of 2019, and that rumor became reality on the opening day of July. What they didn’t have a plan for was the second overall pick in the 2019 Entry Draft landing in their laps and earning the right to add Kaapo Kakko to their organization.
With Kakko and American wunderkind Jack Hughes universally recognized as the top two draft eligible prospects last year, the Rangers’ selection would be an elementary one.