Kaapo Kakko

Four years out from his draft year, Kakko hasn't really delivered on the promise of a No. 2 overall pick. He did take a big step forward in 2022-23 with 18 goals, 22 assists and 125 shots on goal while playing in all 82 games. The Rangers have often had Kakko on the third line, but he started to get some top-line looks last season, and that could be a spot for him in 2023-24 as well. Playing alongside established forwards like Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider raises Kakko's ceiling a bit more than his usual role alongside Alexis Lafreniere and Filip Chytil. If Kakko can make more progress, it's fair to expect a 20-goal, 50-point campaign from the 22-year-old winger. Perhaps there's room for even more if Kakko's game fully clicks.

It was another frustrating season for Kakko, the No. 2 overall pick from 2019. He missed well over two months in the latter part of the year due to a leg issue, limiting him to just 43 regular-season games. Kakko managed just seven goals and 18 points in that span when primarily playing on New York's third line and No. 2 power-play unit. Kakko displayed flashes of brilliance early in the Rangers' run to the Eastern Conference Finals, but it got so bad at the end that he was a surprise healthy scratch in Game 6 against Tampa Bay, New York's final game of the year. It would be foolish to give up on Kakko at age 21, but a breakout certainly doesn't appear imminent.

Kakko's rookie season back in 2019-20 was a disaster, both in terms of scoring (10 goals, 23 points in 66 games) and advanced analytics. The offensive numbers (9 goals, 17 points in 48 games) weren't much better last year, but his defensive play improved immensely, giving real hope there is a breakout forthcoming for the former No. 2 overall pick. Kakko is expected to move into the Rangers' top six this season with Pavel Buchnevich having been traded to the Blues, meaning he is likely to play on a line with either Artemi Panarin or Mika Zibanejad. That, along with an expected bump in power-play time make Kakko an ideal late-round fantasy sleeper. Kakko won't turn 21 years of age until mid-February.

Kakko's rookie season was disappointing in a lot of ways, but some growing pains were to be expected for an 18-year-old getting his first taste of not only NHL hockey, but North American hockey in general. The second overall pick from the 2019 draft finished the shortened 2019-20 regular season with 10 goals, 13 assists, 13 power-play points and 109 shots on net, but he also posted an ugly minus-26 rating. Looking ahead to 2020-21, Kakko is expected to see time on the Rangers' third line and second power-play unit. That assignment likely won't lead to a substantial jump in ice time, but it's safe to assume Kakko will do more with his opportunities in year two following a full season of NHL hockey and an elongated offseason of training. Fantasy managers shouldn't expect huge things from Kakko this season, but a 15-plus goal, 35-plus point pace isn't unrealistic, making him worth snagging with a late-round pick in this year's drafts.

Although the Devils opted to take American pivot Jack Hughes with the first overall pick in this year's draft, Kakko, who the Rangers took second overall, was considered by many to be the most NHL-ready players in this year's class. The Finnish forward spent the 2018-19 campaign competing against men in his native country, racking up 22 goals and 38 points in 45 games with TPS Turku of the Liiga. The 18-year-old will be stepping into a major role from the get-go as a rookie in 2019-20, logging top-six minutes while also working on New York's top power-play unit, giving him 30-plus goal and 60-plus point upside. Kakko will be a real-life and fantasy stud for years to come.