Kaapo Kakko to skip NHL Scouting Combine

Projected top-two pick Kaapo Kakko won't attend this week's NHL Scouting Combine, according to NHL.com's Adam Kimmelman.

The combine started Monday and runs through Saturday at the KeyBank Center and HarborCenter in Buffalo, N.Y., where 103 prospects will participate in interviews and fitness testing.

Kakko has enjoyed a massive year and is fresh off winning a gold medal at the 2019 World Championship for his native Finland. He's expected to be the second overall pick - which is held by the New York Rangers - behind American center Jack Hughes.

The 18-year-old winger led TPS Turku with 22 tallies this season, setting a Liiga record for goals by a player 18 years old or younger. He also scored the golden goal at the world juniors in the dying minutes of the championship game and notched six tallies at the worlds this month in Slovakia.

Kakko is the top-ranked European skater heading into June's draft. His NHL fate will be determined June 21 in Vancouver, British Columbia.

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