The 22-year-old forward getting comfortable playing against top-end talent to start the 2023-2024 campaign.

Kaapo Kakko is getting comfortable skating on the Rangers first line alongside club staples Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. 

The now fifth-year forward smiled after today's morning skate, "It was a good road trip, five games in a row, that was good."

Kakko is no stranger to flanking the top unit playing several games with them last season, but this year he's had the opportunity to play for a longer time, "We've been playing a lot, we've been playing a lot of big minutes so it's good. It's been fun."

The first line competes well against top-end talent but only accounts for 2 even-strength goals heading into the tenth game of the season. Kakko acknowledged the trio's strive for consistency, "There's been some good games and some games where we aren't the best. So I think we need to find that way of playing good every night."

He detailed some of what the unit is looking to bring as they gel together, "I think there are still things we need to bring into the o-zone. Keeping the puck more, trying to find [space] behind the net and find someone in front of the net," he continued, "[There are] a couple of things we've done better than last year I feel, but we know what to do and I think it's getting better."

Confidence is high for the young winger, as the team looks toward a heavy-weight tilt against the Carolina Hurricanes this evening,  "All the games we win feel so good, it's good to get back home. Tonight's just one game but still, it's going to be a hard-fought game for us. They have a good team also. We are ready to go." 

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