When the Rangers observed that Kaapo Kakko was feeling a bit down and perhaps lonely living life as an 18-year-old in a foreign land while attempting to adapt to the best hockey league in the world, the hierarchy did something about it.
The Blueshirts, The Post has learned, summoned development coach Tuomo Ruutu from his native Finland to New York so he could spend time with his fellow countryman. Ruutu, a 12-year NHL veteran who retired following 2015-16, spent five days last week with the second-overall draft pick. He had been monitoring and interacting with drafted prospects playing in Europe.