"Easy to pick the young guy": Rangers' Kaapo Kakko makes his feelings crystal clear after being healthy scratched

The New York Rangers continue to struggle after their strong 12-4 start to the 2024-25 season, a stretch in which they were viewed as legitimate Stanley Cup contenders.

However, they have inexplicably fallen off in both their play and ability to win, going 3-10 in their last 13 games. Before their most recent loss to the St. Louis Blues, coach Peter Laviolette announced that forward Kaapo Kakko would sit out as a healthy scratch.

Kakko has since spoken out about the decision, expressing clear frustration with being scratched.

“I was surprised, yeah," Kakko told reporters. "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.”

"Haven’t been on the ice too much when (opponents) score a goal," Kakko said of his own performance this season. I have not been the worst guy, but that was me out of the lineup.”

Meanwhile, Laviolette pushed back on Kaapo Kakko's comments, emphasizing that veterans have also been benched for poor performance.

"There’s been older players who have sat out as well," Laviolette responded at his media availability later on Tuesday. "The decisions that I make, they’re tough decisions."

"Kaapo, our team, we need to play better. We’re 3-10 in our last 13 games, so that’s not good enough. We need to play a better brand of hockey."

The Rangers are back in action Tuesday night against the also-struggling Nashville Predators.

Is Kaapo Kakko's time with the New York Rangers coming to a close?

The Rangers have made one significant move this season, trading former captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks. Longtime Rangers forward Chris Kreider has also been rumored to be on the trade block, according to general manager Chris Drury.

Kaapo Kakko, drafted second in the 2019 NHL draft, has spent his entire NHL career with the Rangers. In the summer of 2022, he agreed to a two-year contract worth $4.2 million. This past offseason, he signed a one-year, $2.4 million deal.

In 329 career games, Kakko has tallied 61 goals and 70 assists, with four goals and five assists in 44 postseason appearances.