Kakko comfortable playing with diabetes in Cup Qualifiers for Rangers

Kaapo Kakko is gearing up to play for the New York Rangers in the Stanley Cup Qualifiers despite being at risk for severe complications if he were to contract coronavirus as a Type 1 diabetic.

"I want to play, and I'm so young (19) that my diabetes is OK right now," the rookie forward said. "Just keep sugars down and it's going to be OK."

Kakko's decision to return for training camp was made after careful consultation with his doctors in Finland and the Rangers' medical staff.

People with Type 1 diabetes are not at greater risk of contracting COVID-19 than anyone in the general population, but they are prone to experience more severe symptoms and complications if they were to be infected, according to the American Diabetes Association.

"[Kaapo] and I had a conversation maybe two months ago," Rangers coach David Quinn said. "When I brought it up to him it had never crossed his mind what could be at stake and the fact that he could be more vulnerable. Obviously, we did our homework, and I actually said to him, 'You should look into it from your end too, not just the Rangers' standpoint. Talk to your doctors back in Finland, ask them if you're more at risk or how much more at risk you are than everybody else. And you need to be comfortable playing.'

"He's got a great future, and his health is first and foremost, the most important thing here. Based on all the information we have and all the information he got, he's here and eager and I don't think he has any concerns."

The Rangers (37-28-5, .564 points percentage) enter the Qualifiers as the No. 11 seed in the Eastern Conference and will play the No. 6 seed, the Carolina Hurricanes (38-25-5, .596), in a best-of-5 series at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, the hub city for the 12 East teams, beginning Aug. 1.

The winner will advance to the Stanley Cup Playoffs, and the loser will have a chance at the No. 1 pick in the 2020 NHL Draft in the Second Phase of the NHL Draft Lottery on Aug. 10.

Kakko scored 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 66 games this season.

Minnesota Wild forward Luke Kunin, a Type 1 diabetic, is participating in their training camp, with plans to go into the Qualifiers. The Wild (35-27-7, .558), the No. 10 seed in the Western Conference, will play the No. 7 seed, the Vancouver Canucks (36-27-6, .565), at Rogers Place in Edmonton, the hub city for the 12 West teams.

The Montreal Canadiens have agreed with forward Max Domi, who also has Type 1 diabetes, to hold him out of practice for the first 7-10 days to evaluate the situation before deciding on his availability to play against the Pittsburgh Penguins in the Qualifiers. Montreal (31-31-9. 500) is the No. 12 seed in the East; the Penguins (40-23-6, .623) are the No. 5 seed.