NASHVILLE – Third-year forward Kaapo Kakko, who was placed on injured reserve last Sunday after suffering an upper-body injury in Saturday’s game in Montreal, skated with the team for the first time since then at Thursday’s optional morning skate.
"It’s a good thing,’’ Rangers coach Gerard Gallant said.
Kakko is eligible to return to the active roster on Sunday. The Rangers are scheduled to practice that day at their MSG Training Center facility, and have a home game Monday against the Calgary Flames. Gallant on Wednesday said he isn’t a coach who necessarily would have to have an injured player go through a full practice before re-inserting him to the lineup.