Back to the New York Rangers Newsfeed

Rangers’ crucial Kaapo Kakko decision paid off

Watching Kaapo Kakko go through a bit of a struggle left Rangers coach David Quinn with two options for his 18-year-old rookie.

“You can either demote him and put him in a fourth-line role and take him off the power play, or you can give him one more opportunity to get engaged and get their game to where they need it to be, and where we need his game to be,” Quinn explained after his team’s 4-0 win over the Devils on Saturday afternoon in Newark.

So Quinn moved Kakko up to a line with Artemi Panarin and Ryan Strome for the rare moments when this penalty-plagued game was played at even strength.