On September 9 in Rangers history: Kaapo Kakko’s insane goal

What happened on September 9 in the history of the New York Rangers

When the New York Rangers won the second overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft Lottery, the only question was whether the Devils, picking first, would take Jack Hughes or Kaapo Kakko.  With Hughes the consensus number one pick and a center, there was little suspense the night of the draft.  The Rangers ended up with Kakko and on this date in 2019, it looked like they had a gem.

The Rangers usually participate in the prospects tournament in Traverse City, Michigan.  It’s an opportunity for young players to get a jumpstart on their more experienced colleagues just before training camp is set to begin.  Kaapo Kakko got his first taste of North American hockey in Traverse City and on this date, he scored a goal that had Ranger fans salivating.   It was an overtime goal that gave the Baby Rangers a 4-3 win.  Watch it.  He’s wearing number 45.

It felt like a long time  coming. Kakko had missed the first two games of the tournament with an illness.  When he finally played, it was worth the price of admission.   He not only scored the overtime game winner, but assisted on the other three goals. He had helpers on two goals by Vitali Kravtsov and also on Patrick Newell’s game-tying goal.

Video of the goal made the rounds of social media. While it was a spectacular performance, it might have been too much, too soon, raising expectations for the young Finn.  Consider the competition. Kakko had played against men in the top professional league in Finland and had starred at the World Championships, playing against NHL players.  He was head and shoulders better than the competition at Traverse City and it showed in that brief display of skill.

Kakko got a dose of reality when he made it to the varsity and while 10 goals and 23 points in 66 games was a decent output for an 18-year-old, many felt that his rookie season was a disappointment.   Perhaps if he had been a little more ordinary in that prospect tournament, those expectations would have been more realistic.

Today’s birthdays

Only 13 NHL players have been born on September 9 including two New York Rangers. One possible future also calls this date his birthday.

Brett Berard was born this date in 2002 in East Greenwich, Rhode Island. Hopes are high for the left winger who is in his second year at Providence College.  He was drafted in the fifth round of the 2020 NHL Entry Draft, 134th overall.  He justified the pick with his play at the 2021 WJC has a high energy forward for the gold medal-winning team USA.

Keith Yandle was born on September 9, 1986 in Boston, Massachusetts.  The defenseman is an iron man, going into the 2021-22 season with a streak of 922 consecutive regular season games played. He was traded to the Rangers from Arizona at the deadline in 2015 and played one full season with the Blueshirts before his rights were traded to Florida after the 2015-16 season.  An offensive blueliner, Yandle has played 15 years in the NHL and signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Flyers for this season.

Kevin Hatcher was born on this date in 1966 in Detroit, Michigan.  He was an outstanding defenseman for the  Washington Capitals for nine years, scoring 34 goals in 1992-93. Only three other NHL defensemen have scored as many goals in a season.  Past his prime, he was a Ranger for one season, traded to New York from Dallas in 1999 as a 33-year old. He played 16 full seasons in the NHL and is in the top eight among U.S. born defensemen in games played, goals and points.