They were the darlings of the unexpected 2022 run to the conference finals, more famous as a unit than as individuals.
They were The Kids.
But two years later, they are more popularly identified simply as Alexis Lafreniere, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko, young hockey players at distinct junctures of their respective careers even as the Rangers do this all over again.
No longer a singular sensation.
They are separate and unequal.
Lafreniere is ascendant and a dynamic top-six fixture. Chytil is seeking to get back in the lineup after encountering yet another physical issue. Kakko is on the third line, playing solid, responsible two-way hockey but with limited offensive production.
The Kid Line was together for a total of 5:46 this season. There is a chance that head coach Peter Laviolette wouldn’t even know what The Kid Line signified. Once there was a FLY Line, too.
Lafreniere has recorded four goals and 10 points in the tournament to honor his 28-29-57 breakout season. He has brought a consistent physical edge and an obnoxious sheen to the ice to complement linemates Vincent Trocheck and Artemi Panarin.
“It’s great, it’s nice to watch him play like this,” Chytil said following practice. “I was with him every day on the same line so I know what he can bring. He is just getting better every day.
“Even when I didn’t have the opportunity to watch the games so much, I just watched his highlights. When we played together I said, ‘This is coming.’ ”
Chytil, of course, made his return in Game 3 of the Carolina series from the post-concussion issues that had sidelined him for the previous 188 days. But he woke up the morning of Game 4 not feeling well enough to skate and then reported soreness that kept him out of the rest of the series even as No. 72 returned to practice without restriction. He’s going to be an option for Laviolette.
“I said it after [Game 3], I can see what the team did the whole season and now what they are doing in the playoffs, but, yeah, I want to play,” Chytil said. “I didn’t join just to [support] guys from the stands and take a vacation in Carolina and Florida.
“I don’t want to create any other headlines like I did after [my] last game so I’m just going to say I can bring some speed to the game, I can bring some skill, creating chances, shooting, just going to bring my game.”
Kakko, meanwhile, has been on a checking unit with Alex Wennberg in the middle and Will Cuylle on the left. The unit has very impressive peripherals in combining for a 59.62 shot share percentage and an expected goal percentage of 64.65 while on for two goals for and one against.
But the unit has been offensively challenged. Kakko has one goal, the Game 4 opener against the Caps on which he converted a Nick Jensen turnover right onto his stick. Cuylle has one goal, the Game 4 breakaway against Carolina. None of the grinding and none of the work below the hash marks has produced a goal.
“I’m not expecting we’re going to score a goal every game but it would be nice to score sometimes,” Kakko told The Post. “Our line has been playing pretty good. We have the puck in the other end and are getting chances.
“But the whole line has two goals and that can be way more, especially how many chances we have every game. We all have the puck in the O-zone but it would help a little bit if we score a goal.”
This is kind of the story of Kakko’s five seasons through which he has been a possession machine working the walls, while diligent on the defensive side of the puck and in his own end of the ice. Fundamentally, the Finn is as adept as any second-overall you could identify. There is, though, that disconnect from winning possession and lighting the lamp.
“I feel that I’ve been faster and I have been creating chances, but I’ve had chances where I’m shooting to score a goal, and it’s also the confidence, you know?” Kakko said. “I’m not saying I’m not feeling good, I am feeling good and maybe that’s why we are spending a lot of time in the O-zone.
“But also for scoring goals, you get one and you feel better and you’re getting more chances and they are going in. Sometimes you need a little luck over there. I feel we’ve been hitting posts. I always think that is going to change and those are going to start going in, but it’s also the confidence.”
There surely will be substantive conversations this summer between Kakko’s camp and GM Chris Drury about the Finn’s place on the squad when he comes up on restricted free agency. The 2019 second-overall is yearning for a top-six spot. He has never been able to nail one down here.
That, though, is for another six weeks or so. There is a role for Kakko to play and he intends to do it to the best of his ability.
“When I played in Finland and was on the first line I could take risks to score goals, but I feel my role is a little different now,” said No. 24. “Our line is counted on as two-way. We have to play zero-zero and give our other lines the chance to play more offense.
“You can’t do anything stupid at the blue line. That’s your job. That’s how I see it.”
Kakko. Chytil. Lafreniere.
One 24, one 23, one 22, still kids, but The Kids no more.
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