Peter Laviolette was officially introduced as the Rangers head coach on Tuesday, and he stressed that the continued growth, and playing time, for Alexis Lafrenière and Kaapo Kakko will be a priority.
“When you’re talking about young players…those young players do need an opportunity to grow,” Laviolette said. “Given the opportunity to be counted on more. Inside of the team and the framework of a team, everyone wants to feel that responsibility. They want to be valued for what they do.
“You’re talking about a couple players who are coming off maybe their best years, and they’re still really young players. There’s a growth that goes with that.”
Kakko, 22, saw his average ice time slightly decrease last season under Gerard Gallant, but the former No. 2 overall pick played in all 82 games, logging a career-high 40 points behind 18 goals and 22 assists. Still, he hasn’t seen top line minutes in his first four NHL seasons, despite the promise he brought to New York. Lafrenière, also 21, is in a similar boat, as the former No. 1 pick averaged nearly the same ice time as Kakko last season, but logged a career-best 39 points in 81 games.
Laviolette told reporters that he wants to see those numbers grow in his first year behind the bench, and start leaning on the Blueshirts’ youth.
“You'd like to see them take the next step,” Laviolette said. “More minutes, a little higher up the lineup, more power play time. With that, there has to be opportunity.
“These conversations will take place. I would certainly like that. Those opportunities will be there for them to grab that ice time.”
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