TARRYTOWN – Count Kaapo Kakko among those who had inflated expectations for his rookie season.

The No. 2 overall pick made the rare jump straight to the NHL at 18 years old with lofty dreams of instant success.

“I played really well last season (in Finland’s Liiga) and I really enjoyed my time every day, every practice,” Kakko said following Monday’s practice at the MSG Training Center. “So, before this season, I was thinking I could do the same. ‘I can play like last season.’ But it’s such a different league.”

It’s taken some time for him to accept that.

“Sometimes it’s not so easy,” he said. “Of course, I want to do it now.”

Kakko isn’t shy about admitting he envisioned much more than 16 points (seven goals and nine assists) for himself through his first 44 games with the New York Rangers.

In 45 games last season with his Finnish team, TPS, he compiled 38 points.

“Usually before the games, I feel so good,” he said. “Sometimes after the game I’m feeling bad when we lose the game and I’m playing not-so-many minutes.”

Earlier this season, that disappointment would consume him at times.

And while he still feels it — patience is not a virtue for many teenagers — he’s finding more productive ways to cope.

“He and I have talked,” Rangers coach David Quinn said. “This was all new to him. He’s never been on a third line. He’s never not been the top guy. He’s always been the guy that scored. It’s taken some time for him to realize that doesn’t happen.”

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The Kids' Line

One of the biggest adjustments for Kakko has been the in-your-face physicality of the NHL game.

Opposing teams have tried to test his mettle with body checks like the one Columbus forward Pierre-Luc Dubois laid on him Sunday, which sent the 18-year-old crashing into the boards.

Brett Howden was quick to skate over and defend his linemate.

“The boards made a louder noise than what actually happened,” Howden admitted. “But hey, we're there to look out for each other and nobody's going in the fight alone.”

At 21, Howden is the elder statesman on what’s been called “The Kids’ Line” with him, Kakko and 20-year-old Filip Chytil.

Quinn made the risky decision to group them together on the same line after Christmas, which interestingly enough has aided the confidence of all three forwards.

“It's three young guys just going out there trying to do the best they can,” Howden said. “We're just trying to feed off each other. Everybody brings something different to the table on our line.”

“We’re almost the same age, so we’re not shy to talk on our line,” Chytil added. “Play with speed and energy — that’s our saying.”

Both Kakko and Howden refer to Chytil as the driving force.

“He opens up a lot of room on the ice with his speed,” Howden said. “He pushes defenders back, and he gives me and Kaapo lots of room. His play has really carried our line.”

All three are quick to note that they’d like to contribute more offensively — “The next step is we need to score goals,” Kakko said — but Quinn has praised their all-around game.

He recently noted that he’s been showing video clips of that line to the entire team.

“We’ve been harping on all the good things we’ve done — whether it be on the forecheck or the O-zone off the rush — and that young line has been a lot of the examples we’ve been using,” Quinn said. “I like the pace that they’re playing at. I like the fact that they’re being responsible with the puck. They’ve got to continue to work on their D-zone coverage, as most 18, 20 and 21-year-olds have to. But we really like their game.”

'Just learn'

Kakko has noticeably been spending more time around Chytil and Howden, calling them, “good friends.”

And while neither Chytil nor Howden can relate to the pressure that comes with being the No. 2 overall pick, they’ve both dealt with relatively high expectations as former first-round picks.

“They can lean on each other,” Quinn said. “It can’t always come from the coaches. It has to come from the players, as well, and I think those guys have done a good job.”

Kakko has impressed with how quickly he’s improved his English, which has made him more comfortable around his teammates.

In many respects, it's been a necessity. Kakko's family and friends are all back in Finland.

He'll return there this week during the all-star break for the first time since the season started.

Quinn said that Kakko "had a big smile on his face" when they talked about having more than a week off, which will give him a much-needed physical and mental break.

"I think it will be so good for me," Kakko said. "Hopefully get some rest and be ready after that."

Ideally, Kakko will return and finish the season on an upswing, building momentum heading into his sophomore campaign. He showed glimpses during Tuesday's 4-2 loss to the Islanders, earning a chance to play on top line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider for the final two periods.

But regardless of the second-half results, Kakko has slowly come to realize that success won't come overnight and he can still gain a lot from soaking up the experience — even when he's not scoring as often as he would like.

“Now I’m thinking, ‘Just learn,’ ” Kakko said. “We have (Henrik Lundqvist) and Mika and (Artemi Panarin). I can watch what those guys are doing every day. Maybe next year, or in a couple more years, I can be one of the best players in the league.”

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