NHL: New York Rangers at Carolina Hurricanes - Source: Imagn — NHL insider confirms whether Kaapo Kakko's frustrating comments impacted trade from NY Rangers (IMAGN)

NHL insider confirms whether Kaapo Kakko's frustrating comments impacted trade from NY Rangers

Modified Dec 19, 2024 14:01 GMT

Following a pretty tumultuous tenure with the New York Rangers, former first-round draft pick Kaapo Kakko has been traded. His recent negative comments seem to have stoked the fires that led to his New York departure, but one hockey insider claims that's not the case.

Kevin Weekes said:

"Per sources, I’m told the Kakko trade was in no way connected to his comments yesterday. [The Rangers] like and respect him. He’s a pending RFA and one year away from [unrestricted free agency], this move is best for both sides, they wish him nothing but the best."

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The former second-overall pick lands with the Seattle Kraken, who are five points better than the Rangers this year. The Rangers have experienced a startling skid of late, and they're looking at trades to try and recoup assets.

That began with the Kaako trade, but it might not end there. There are rumors about Chris Kreider, Jacob Trouba, and virtually everyone else not named Alexis Lafreniere or Igor Shesterkin.

What did Kaapo Kakko say about the Rangers?

Though he was traded a short time later, the comments Kaapo Kakko made about being benched are circulating. He was a healthy scratch for the third time in his NHL career recently.

He said via the New York Post that he was surprised at the decision:

“I know you’ve 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.”

Kakko said:

“I have not been the worst guy, but that was me out of the lineup.”

Coach Peter Laviolette defended his decision, saying a lot of players have been scratched at times and some of them were even older than Kakko.

“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 last 13 games and that’s not good enough. We need to play a better brand of hockey, all of us,” Laviolette said.

The Rangers received Will Borgen and two draft picks for Kakko from the Seattle Kraken.