Kaapo Kakko Calls Out Head Coach Peter Laviolette For Making Him A Healthy Scratch
Kaapo Kakko was a shocking healthy scratch the other night for the Rangers, and he released a statement today where he called out his coach for doing that.
It looks like the Kaapo Kakko era in a New York Rangers jersey might be over. The 23-year-old forward had been subject to much trade speculation, and the move by Peter Laviolette to make him a healthy scratch Sunday night seemed to be the final straw.
Kaapo Kakko, frustrated by the move, released a statement showing frustration and calling his coach out directly for benching him. It just speaks volumes about his rocky, sometimes sad tenure in New York.
- Kaapo Kakko
The second selection of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Kakko at one juncture in time was considered a cornerstone for the Rangers moving forward.
To this point in his career, his early seasons have been marred by inconsistency and struggles to produce offensively.
Through his first three years, Kakko has failed to eclipse 25 points in a given season, with only pockets of the potential the organization believed he had.
Kakko finally made a breakthrough in 2022-23 when he scored 18 goals and 40 points in a full 82-game season.
But he backslid again this year; that got him benched several times by Peter Laviolette this past season, even in some big-time playoff games.
The presumption was that Kakko's one-year, $2.4 million contract he signed this offseason was his last-ditch chance to really prove himself with the Rangers.
Early in the year, Kakko had promise in a role alongside Filip Chytil and Will Cuylle, playing some of the best hockey. But as this team started to falter, Kakko's confidence started to dip along with it.
At this point, Peter Laviolette scratching Kakko is head-scratching, as he's nowhere near the biggest problem on this roster. He's become an easy scapegoat, carrying a very unfair load since he came into the league.
What would he say in response to Kakko's notion that it's easier to scratch a young guy than a veteran?
"There's been older players who have sat out, as well. The decisions that I make, they're tough decisions. Our team, Kaapo, our team - we need to play better. We're 3-10 in our 13 games and that's not good enough. We need to play a better brand of hockey, all of us."
- Peter Laviolette
Kakko does deserve some blame for not improving himself, but constant coaching changes and a swift pivot from rebuild to contention mode did stunt his development.
The time for Kakko to flip the script in New York is running out. It won't be a surprise if he gets traded before this season is over.
| POLL | ||
x |
