About six months ago, hundreds of New York Rangers fans seated in the lower bowl of Madison Square Garden watched Kaapo Kakko put on a Rangers jersey for the first time at the 2019 draft party, but the loudest roars from those in attendance came one pick before — when the New Jersey Devils picked Jack Hughes with the first overall pick, indicating the Blueshirts would select the Finnish native.
The Garden faithful were set on which prospect they wanted — it was Kakko.
As soon as Kakko’s name was on the team’s roster, even before his remarkable World Juniors showing, it seemed that unrealistic expectations were synonymous with his name.