Rangers' Kaapo Kakko has begun skating on his own
Kaapo Kakko #24 of the Rangers is helped off the ice after an injury during the second period against the Buffalo Sabres at Madison Square Garden on Monday, Nov. 27, 2023. Credit: Jim McIsaac
GREENBURGH — Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko, who suffered what appeared to be a severe knee or lower leg injury late last month in a game against Buffalo, has begun skating on his own, coach Peter Laviolette said Friday.
“He’s been out there maybe three or four times,’’ Laviolette said at the Rangers’ morning skate before Friday night’s game at Madison Square Garden against the Edmonton Oilers.
Kakko was injured in the second period of a loss to Buffalo at the Garden on Nov. 27 when he got tangled up with the Sabres’ Erik Johnson and went down awkwardly. It was feared that the 22-year-old Finn might have suffered a season-ending injury, but the Rangers said he would be back. He missed his 11th game Friday.
Filip Chytil, who missed his 21st game with what the team has called an upper-body injury and most observers believe is a concussion,, continues to skate on his own. Chytil, who was injured in a game against Carolina at the Garden on Nov. 2, has been skating on his own since mid-November but has yet to skate with his teammates, even in a non-contact jersey.
“They’re improving,’’ Laviolette said of Chytil and Kakko. “I understand it’s been a slow process, especially with Fil. But [they’re] getting better.’’
Knoblauch memories
Edmonton coach Kris Knoblauch, who was hired Nov. 12 by the Oilers while coaching the Rangers’ AHL affiliate in Hartford, left a positive impression on the Rangers who played for him in the minor leagues.
“I figured at some point he’d get an NHL head-coaching job, I just didn’t know when,’’ defenseman Zac Jones said. “He’s a little more soft-spoken than all the coaches I’ve had in the past, but he was really good about teaching players, which I loved. He was really big on development, and I really enjoyed having him as a coach for three years.’’
Blue notes
Jonathan Quick, who had a career .922 save percentage against Edmonton and who shut out the Oilers on Oct. 26, started in goal for the Rangers . . . LW Jimmy Vesey, who has been wearing a full face shield since taking a puck in the mouth in practice last week, lost one of his two front teeth Friday.
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.
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