Gerard Gallant, Asked if He Wanted to Clarify Decision to Scratch Kaapo Kakko in Game 6: 'No'
Before Game 6 NYR Head Coach Gerard Gallant made the bold decision to scratch second overall pick Kaapo Kakko. The move spurred a wave of confusion over the hockey world, as Kakko's underlying analytics were among the best on the team:
Source: @CJTDevil
When asked initially about the decision in his post-game presser, Gallant simply offered 'no comment.' Today, in his season-exit press conference, he offered a similar response when asked if a conversation was necessary:
He did go on to suggest that Kakko--and first overall pick, Alexis Lafreniere--are critical components of the Rangers' future. However, he offered a puzzling bit on that subject:
The interesting part, is where he says he would be disappointed if Kakko & Lafreniere aren't in the Rangers' top-six forwards. As if Gallant himself isn't directly in charge of that decision. Furthermore, the Rangers aren't exactly in a position of strength headed into the offseason, having only $13 million to fill more than half a dozen roster spots.
The decision to scratch one of NYR's most effective forwards in an elimination game is a microcosm of the decision-making that saw Gallant dismissed from Florida's bench & later Las Vegas'. At least, one can reasonably ascertain so. Gallant has a history of general success, but a short shelf life. Is this more of the same, or will he be able to finally coach a team to hockey's highest peak, the Stanley Cup?
| POLL | ||
JUIN 13 | 152 ANSWERS Gerard Gallant, Asked if He Wanted to Clarify Decision to Scratch Kaapo Kakko in Game 6: 'No' Did Gallant make a mistake in scratching Kaapo Kakko? | ||
| Yes | 88 | 57.9 % |
| No | 64 | 42.1 % |
| LIST OF POLLS | ||
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YESTERDAY
JUNE 6, 2026
| ||||
| G | A | PTS | ||
| Mitch Marner | 3 | 1 | 4 | |
| Tomas Hertl | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Jordan Staal | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Shea Theodore | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| Sebastian Aho | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Brayden McNabb | - | 2 | 2 | |
| Taylor Hall | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jordan Martinook | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Andrei Svechnikov | 1 | - | 1 | |
| Jackson Blake | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jack Eichel | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Brett Howden | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Seth Jarvis | - | 1 | 1 | |
| William Karlsson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Eric Robinson | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Jaccob Slavin | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Logan Stankoven | - | 1 | 1 | |
| Frederik Andersen | - | - | - | |
| Rasmus Andersson | - | - | - | |
| Ivan Barbashev | - | - | - | |
| COMPLETE STATS | ||||