SUNRISE, Fla. — Kaapo Kakko, for the moment, is back in the Rangers’ lineup.
But the winger was still less than thrilled Monday when his Game 2 healthy scratch came up.
“All the players want to play,” Kakko said. “So, not happy.”
Kakko has yet to record a point in this Eastern Conference Final, though he played a role in Alex Wennberg’s overtime winner in Game 3, and has just a goal and an assist in these playoffs as a whole.
He readily admitted that he has not played his best game against the Panthers.
But the Finn’s second-ever healthy scratch in the playoffs, after Game 6 of the Conference Finals in Tampa two years ago, appeared to leave him stewing — even a few days after the fact.
Kakko was “not really” given a reason for being out of the lineup, and when asked about coach Peter Laviolette’s communication with him, he pursed his lips, paused and let out a sigh.
“It’s part of the game,” Kakko said. “Somebody’s not playing. I think I can’t say much about it. We just need to win six more games so I’m not thinking about it.”
If there was a bit of wondering already about Kakko’s future with the Rangers, that is now a massive question hanging over the player, who will be a restricted free agent this summer.
If there is not a top-six opportunity awaiting him in New York, and if these playoffs ultimately leave a poor taste in his mouth, it’s easy to construct a scenario in which moving on ends up being the best course of action for both sides.
Of course, the middle of the Eastern Conference Final is not the time for such questions.
And for the time being, Kakko’s bigger concern is getting himself going in time to impact the series.
There is still ample time for the former second overall pick to change the narrative.
After generally playing up ice, if not scoring the puck nearly enough, for much of the playoffs, the third line of himself, Wennberg and Jack Roslovic was caved for much of Game 3.
It was noteworthy, too, that Florida looked to take advantage of last change by playing Aleksander Barkov’s line against the trio when the opportunity arose.
“Just get the pucks in the O-Zone,” Kakko said. “I think the whole line, we need to do that more. I think that’s all of us. … We just need to get there and maybe can be a little better.”
