Kaapo Kakko practices with top line while Jimmy Vesey takes Vitali Kravtsov's spot
Rangers right wing Kaapo Kakko skates during training camp in Tarrytown, N.Y. on Sept. 22. Credit: Errol Anderson
GREENBURGH, N.Y. — Gerard Gallant was not happy with the Rangers’ performance in Wednesday's 5-4 preseason loss to the Boston Bruins at Madison Square Garden, but he said the rink-length wind sprints he had the players do after Thursday’s practice were not intended as punishment because he was mad at them.
“Just getting them ready, hopefully,’’ the Rangers' coach said of the extra conditioning. “It’s not about being mad. (That) doesn't do you any good. No, we want to get ready. I mean, we haven't had a whole lot of big skates (in training camp) and it's good timing for it.’’
Gallant also changed up his forward lines Thursday, breaking up the Kid Line of Alexis Lafrenière, Filip Chytil and Kaapo Kakko by moving Kakko – who scored two goals Wednesday – up to the top line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. The coach also dropped Vitali Kravtsov from the second line to what looked like a fifth line, with bubble players Julien Gauthier and Dryden Hunt, and inserted tryout hopeful Jimmy Vesey -- who played on the top line Wednesday -- into Kravtsov’s spot on the second line. Utility forward Barclay Goodrow took Kakko’s place with Lafrenière and Chytil.
“We just sort of tweaked the lines a little bit today,’’ Gallant said. “Management wants to see some different people in different spots.’’
Putting Kakko on the top line was the biggest move. The 21-year-old Finn, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, had played with Kreider and Zibanejad in the first preseason game before returning to the Kid Line for Game 3 against the Devils and again for Wednesday’s game. That trio was clearly the Rangers’ best line in both those games.
After Wednesday’s game, the question was put to Gallant as to whether he preferred to keep the Kid Line together or split it up and move the players around in order to try help other lines.
“Exactly,’’ he said. “Obviously, if they're playing that way, you'd like to keep them together. But we’ve got to get the other guys going, too.’’
Making the move after a big night by Kakko might be an attempt by Gallant to capitalize on timing. The 6-2, 206-pound Kakko has been an up-and-down player in his three NHL seasons, prone to exciting production when he is scoring and his confidence is high, and long droughts when he is not scoring and his confidence is low.
Kakko was asked Wednesday night if two goals in a preseason game might help his confidence.
“Yeah, I think so,’’ he said. “It doesn't matter, preseason games or no. You feel good after (scoring), always.’’
Notes & quotes: Ds Ryan Lindgren (lower-body injury) and Jacob Trouba (upper-body injury) did not practice. The Rangers say they are day-to-day … C Gustav Rydahl was assigned to AHL Hartford and C/RW Jonny Brodzinski was placed on waivers, and will go to Hartford when he clears … G Igor Shesterkin, who was a last-minute scratch Wednesday with a stomach flu, practiced fully and is fine, Gallant said.
Colin Stephenson covers the Rangers for Newsday. He has spent more than two decades covering the NHL and just about every sports team in the New York metropolitan area.
