Rangers’ Patience with Chytil Is a Blueprint for Kakko and Lafreniere

The expectations are high on Kappo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere. The New York Rangers only need to look to Filip Chytil to see the rewards of patience.

Patience is key for a front office in drafting and developing prospects. Fans are impatient because it’s not their job to be patient. Fans are always in a rush to see their “next star” step into the lineup.

Chris Drury and the New York Rangers are reaping the benefits of their patience as Filip Chytil has begun to heat up as one of the league’s best even-strength producers in the NHL this season.

Among players with at least 15 games played, Chytil currently sits 15th in even-strength points-per-60 and ninth in even-strength goals-per-60, according to Natural Stat Trick. The young Czech center has begun to exploit opposing defenders with the shot and dynamic skill that made him such an intriguing prospect when the 2017 draft came around.

Chytil thrives on the ‘Kid Line,’ centering Kaapo Kakko and Alexis Lafreniere. The trio has driven incredible results, including a 69.02-percent goals percentage, according to moneypuck.com. Chytil has been the catalyst for the trio, allowing Kaako and Lafreniere the ability to do the things that they excel at on the wings while the Czech pivot uses his skating, transition prowess, and puck skill.

His raw point totals aren’t blowing anyone out of the water. Chytil has 19 goals and 14 assists in 44 games. When you dig a bit deeper, his stats become more impressive. Only four of his points have come on the power play. Eleven of his 14 helpers are primary assists at even strength, the third most on the team behind Artermi Panarin and Mika Zibanejad.

Chytil isn’t just producing on the offensive end of the ice, either. He is one of the Rangers’ more reliable transition players, getting the puck into the offensive zone with a high level of effectiveness. His defensive game certainly isn’t Selke Trophy level, but the young center has been a positive impact, defensive player.

This is a massive turn from where Chytil was last year. Every trade rumor involving the Rangers acquiring a shiny new toy for their playoff run was centered around Chytil. New York had become a contender faster than they likely expected when they put out the open letter a few years ago.

Thankfully for the Rangers, their patience persisted.

Chytil has found his form since the calendar turned to 2023, playing at over a point-per-game pace. The 21st pick in the 2017 draft has taken the step Rangers fans and the front office have wanted to see for a few years. It took until Year 5, but at just 23 years old, there is still so much more to come from Chytil.

It’s not as if Chytil has altered the process in which he plays the game. Chytil has always centered his offensive game as a shooter on getting to the middle of the offensive zone and shooting from high-danger areas around the front of the net. He has always attempted to use his speed and agility as a skater to find space and create separation. Chytil has always been a positive contributor to the transition game.

The difference in Chytil’s game comes from physically maturing and getting the opportunity to succeed. He’s found most of his success playing with young players in Lafreniere and Kakko, who likely think the game in more of a dynamic and free-flowing way as hockey moves toward skill and speed.

That’s not to say Chytil wouldn’t find success with some of the Rangers’ top players, such as Panarin or Zibanejad. He hasn’t had much of an opportunity to play with them, though, as they’ve anchored the top line for a long time in Madison Square Garden. The fact is that Chytil has spent more time with Barclay Goodrow, Julian Gauthier and Dryden Hunt (who no longer plays for the Rangers) over the last two years than Panarin or Zibanejad.

Teams are beginning to understand – albeit slowly and with plenty of hesitation – that to pull the best out of your young skilled players, you need to play them with highly talented teammates. Asking a 20-year-old to come in and elevate a line with career bottom-six players is setting the young potential star up for failure.

It hasn’t always gone smoothly, but the Rangers have begun to figure that out. Their patience has been paying off with Chytil now that they’ve been more apt to play him with the other ‘kids.’ It’s given him the freedom to create and attack offensively with skill and fluidity.

Kakko has emerged as a solid two-way winger, and he’s been an excellent complement to Chytil. He’s been a superb forechecker and one of hockey’s most underrated board players. Kakko brings the ability to do the dirty work with the skill to make it pay off in the end.

Lafreniere has had flashes of brilliance and moments that give you hope, especially since joining the trio. Chytil’s strength as a skater has helped cover up some of Lafreniere’s shortcomings in that area. It allows Lafreniere to bring some cerebral tendencies as a dual offensive threat to the forefront.

We’ve already begun to hear media and fans alike including Kakko and Lafreniere in hypothetical trades going back to the summer. The Rangers need to be as patient with Kakko and Lafreniere as they’ve been with Chytil because the mix has generated impressive results and could be a line the team relies on when the playoffs come around. Having Kakko and Lafreniere with Chytil could be mutually beneficial for all parties.

Patience is key. That’s how the Rangers have allowed Chytil to unlock his potential. Now they need to do the same for Kakko and Lafreniere. need to do the same for Kakko and Lafreniere.