Rangers place Kaapo Kakko, Filip Chytil on LTIR
The New York Rangers have placed forwards Kaapo Kakko and Filip Chytil on long-term injured reserve, Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman reported on Tuesday.
A bit more: Adam Fox expected to be activated from LTIR and play vs DET tomorrow. Filip Chytil & Kaapo Kakko headed to LTIR. Chytil is for cap reasons. Kakko hurt last night and will miss time. The good news is that he is expected to return this season. https://t.co/tagnCszdBS
— Elliotte Friedman (@FriedgeHNIC) November 28, 2023
Friedman also reported that Kakko is expected to return at some point during the 2023-24 season. Chytil’s injury is retroactive to Nov. 3, meaning he can be activated at any time. The Chytil move is purely for cap space, and he can be recalled at any point.
The Rangers recalled forwards Jonny Brodzinski and Adam Edstrom from the AHL’s Hartford Wolf Pack on Tuesday, then sent Connor Mackey back to Hartford.
UPDATE: Jonny Brodzinski and Adam Edstrom have been recalled from the Hartford Wolf Pack. Connor Mackey has been assigned to Hartford.
— NY Rangers PR (@NYR_PR) November 28, 2023
Kakko, 22, suffered a lower-body injury during the Rangers’ game against the Buffalo Sabres on Monday. The injury occurred late in the second period when Kakko went into the boards with Sabres’ defenseman Erik Johnson and awkwardly fell on his leg.
The second-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has had a slow start to the season with just two goals and one assist for three points in 20 games, which has him on pace for just 12 points on the year.
Across five NHL seasons, Kakko has scored 46 goals and 55 assists for 101 points in 259 career games.
The Rangers are 15-4-1 with 31 points through their first 20 games of the season, putting them first in the Metropolitan Division, the Eastern Conference and the entire league, as of Nov. 28.
The team hosts the Detroit Red Wings on Wednesday. Puck drop is at 7:30 p.m. EST.