Kaapo Kakko Blasts Rangers For His Healthy Scratch
To say that Kaapo Kakko wasn't happy about his healthy scratch on Sunday in the New York Rangers 3–2 loss to the St. Louis Blues is an understatement.
The disgruntled former No. 2 overall pick came out and blasted the Rangers on Tuesday for their decision to plunk him in the press box:
Kaapo Kakko didn’t hold back.
— BarDown (@BarDown) December 17, 2024
(via: @mollieewalkerr) pic.twitter.com/OsLqKKqGMa
“I was surprised, yeah," Kakko told the media. "I know you got to do something as a coach when you’re losing games, but I think it’s just easy to pick a young guy and boot him out. That’s how I feel, to be honest.”
And the 23-year-old didn't stop there.
#NYR Kaapo Kakko: “Haven’t been on the ice too much when [opponents] score a goal… I have not been the worst guy, but that was me out of the lineup.”
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) December 17, 2024
“Haven’t been on the ice too much when [opponents] score a goal… I have not been the worst guy, but that was me out of the lineup.”
A look at the stats seems to bear out what Kakko was referring to.
But Kaapo Kakko needs to be scratched right? #NYR pic.twitter.com/vwXaIUXfUP
— Talkin’ Rangers (@talkin_rangers) December 16, 2024
A lot of heat has come down on Blueshirts veterans Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, and despite their having far worse stats, and far more minutes than Kakko, it’s the youngster who was benched on Sunday and he has a point.
The 5-on-5 numbers show that Kakko has 12 points and a plus/minus rating of +10 in 29 games. 33-year-old Kreider has 3 points and a -4 rating, while Zibanejad has 9 points and is a -15.
Tuesday night's game against the worst team in the NHL, the Nashville Predators, saw Kakko draw back in, on the third line alongside Zibanejad. But it was another embarrassing defeat for the Rangers, 2-0.
New York has now lost 11 of their last 14 games, and have fallen to 15-15-1, and currently out of a playoff spot.
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