Kaapo Kakkos newfound consistency may earn him desired Rangers role

MONTREAL — Kaapo Kakko can’t help but sound surprised when he acknowledges that it’s his sixth season in the NHL. When you make your debut at 18 and have been with the same organization ever since, however, it’s understandable to feel like you’re in hyperdrive.Kakko is now 23, with 305 regular-season games and 44 playoff contests to his name since getting drafted second overall in 2019. Though it’s more than just the years and familiarity that has Kakko feeling like time is flying by. The nature of the role that Kakko has played for a majority of his Rangers tenure has not changed. “It’s kind of crazy,” Kakko told The Post after practice Monday afternoon at Bell Centre.

“It’s going fast.I feel it’s kind of the same role as last year.

Nothing crazy, expectations [wise], we’ll see what’s going to come.I try to do my best no matter how much ice time I get.” Any player who came into the NHL under the circumstances that Kakko did would want more, and it’s obvious the Finn does.

Three different Rangers coaches have tried to do so, with No.24 receiving several opportunities in the top six over the years, but Kakko wasn’t able to deliver on a consistent enough basis to stick. That may have relegated Kakko to the third line for most of his NHL career, but some of those units have been of great importance to the Rangers. The current line of Kakko, Filip Chytil and Will Cuylle has been one of the most consistently effective trios in the NHL so far this season.

They have not been on the ice for a five-on-five goal against yet, and they led all NHL lines in expected goals for at 4.8 as of Monday afternoon, according to MoneyPuck.com. Whether it’s spending heaps of time in the offensive zone, cycling with puck possession or creating around the net, the Rangers third line has presented all the tools to alleviate scoring pressure off the top six — aside from the results. Despite being on the ice for five Rangers goals, Kakko, Chyti...