The fading New York Rangers are 3-7-0 in their last 10 games and recently dealt away their captain, Jacob Trouba. After a 5-1 loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Saturday, Elliotte Friedman reported that the Rangers are ready to consider all options to further change up their roster.
Sunday, ahead of a matchup against the St. Louis Blues, Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette then said words that he uttered so many times before while coaching the Capitals: the club is working through some things in the room.
As for #NYR lineup changes, head coach Peter Laviolette won’t divulge specifics but says they’re working through some decisions in the room.
— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) December 15, 2024
Well, decisions, instead of things.
Those decisions turned out not to be a trade, but a healthy scratch of a talented young player and an injury.
First, superstar Artemi Panarin is out day-to-day with an upper-body injury per the team.
UPDATE: Artemi Panarin (upper body, day-to-day) will not play tonight.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) December 15, 2024
Then, Laviolette healthy-scratched Kaapo Kakko, the second overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Kakko, who is receiving only 13:23 of average ice time, has only 14 points (4g, 10a) in 29 games this season. His name has been frequently mentioned on the rumor mill.
Kaapo Kakko is a healthy scratch tonight in St. Louis. No injury, I’m told. Just a coach’s decision. #NYR
— Vince Z. Mercogliano (@vzmercogliano) December 15, 2024
For those who watched the Capitals stumble under Laviolette, this appears to be Part 3 of a four-part play — and we all know how this play ended.
We extend our condolences to Rangers fans though. These are the moments that test your hockey fandom and it’s no fun to go through.
Update: The Rangers lost to the Blues 3-2.
FINAL: The Rangers lose 3-2 in St. Louis. They have fallen in nine of 12 games.
We'll see what comes next.
— Peter Baugh (@Peter_Baugh) December 16, 2024
