Rangers fans may get confused when they see the lineup the Rangers put on the ice for their first game of the pre-season against the New Jersey Devils.
Despite head coach David Quinn's insistence that the top line is already determined and will consist of Artemi Panarin, Mika Zibanejad, and Pavel Buchnevich, it will be rookie Kaapo Kakko on the right wing in Wednesday's game, according to the NY Post. Quinn said that he simply wanted to see Kakko in an NHL game, and one can assume that he wanted to see him play with the two best line mates possible.
While Buchnevich came on late last season and showed what he capable of, Kakko, the 2nd overall pick of this year's draft, is considered a future star on the team. His performance at the Traverse City prospects tournament which included a 4-point game and a highlight reel goal, would seem to be a clincher that he will start the season with the big club.
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