NEW YORK, NEW YORK — In a dramatic development, the New York Rangers have welcomed back hockey legend Mark Messier, who has been appointed as the team’s new bench coach, according to ESPN. The shocking move brings the former Rangers captain, who led the team to its 1994 Stanley Cup victory, back to Madison Square Garden in a pivotal role aimed at reviving the Rangers’ struggling season.
However, Messier’s return comes amid growing tensions within the Rangers’ locker room, with forward Kaapo Kakko voicing his frustration over his recent healthy scratches. Kakko, who was benched during the Rangers’ tough 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues, expressed disappointment with his exclusion, questioning why he was the one chosen to be taken out of the lineup despite his positive numbers.
“I was surprised,” Kakko said. “I know you’ve got to do something as the coach when you’re losing games, but it’s easy to pick the young guy and put him out. That’s how I feel.”
Kakko has faced benchings under both current coach Peter Laviolette and former head coach Gerard Gallant, but his candid comments following this most recent scratch indicate growing frustration. “I haven’t been the worst,” Kakko added. “We’re all struggling right now, but I haven’t been on the ice too much when they score a goal.”
Despite the Rangers’ recent slump — with the team winning just three of its last 13 games — Kakko’s performance this season has not gone unnoticed. The 23-year-old forward has registered 4 goals, 10 assists, and a plus-10 rating in 29 games. His line, which had shown strong chemistry early in the season with Filip Chytil and Will Cuylle, has suffered in recent weeks, partly due to Chytil’s injury.
“Not too many goals against. It’s got to be better. Everyone’s got to be better,” Kakko said, referencing the team’s overall play and his third-line minutes. “Still, we’re not playing the most. The third line is playing 10-12 minutes.”
Adding fuel to the fire, The Athletic has reported that Kakko, a pending restricted free agent, is gaining attention from around the league, with whispers of a potential trade. Analyst Chris Johnston even placed him at No. 6 on his latest NHL trade board, speculating that a fresh start could benefit both Kakko and the Rangers.
Head coach Peter Laviolette responded to Kakko’s comments, noting the difficulty of the decisions he’s making: “We need to play a better brand of hockey. All of us.” While Laviolette declined to delve into specifics about his internal conversations with Kakko, the pressure is mounting as the Rangers try to right the ship.
With Messier now behind the bench and the drama surrounding Kakko continuing to unfold, the coming weeks will be critical for the Rangers as they attempt to break out of their slump and regain their playoff contention.
Stay tuned for further updates on this developing situation in New York.
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