Kaapo Kakko Linked To Minnesota Wild In Potential Trade

Things have gotten tense between Kaapo Kakko and the New York Rangers.

After getting scratched for New York’s Sunday night game against the St. Louis Blues, Kakko made his frustrations with the decision public.

“I was surprised, yeah,” Kakko said via Mollie Walker of The New York Post. “I know you got to do something as a coach when you’re losing games, but I think it’s just easy to pick a young guy and boot him out. That’s how I feel, to be honest.

“Haven’t been on the ice too much when [opponents] score a goal… I have not been the worst guy, but that was me out of the lineup.”

Kakko is now certainly a candidate to be traded before season’s end if he wasn’t already and ESPN’s Emily Kaplan reported that the Minnesota Wild are interested in his services.

“One of the guys that is getting a lot of interest is Kaapo Kakko,” Kaplan said. “I could tell you there is a lot of teams, many in the Western Conference, circling around him. One of the teams I’ve heard recently is the Minnesota Wild.”

The Rangers have lost 11 of their past 14 games as trade rumors and drama continue to loom over the franchise.

Kakko signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Rangers over the summer and is set to become a restricted free agent this upcoming offseason.

The 23-year-old forward has recorded four goals, 10 assists and 14 points in 30 games while averaging 13:17 minutes.