Kaapo Kakko said he believes the New York Rangers are treating him as a scapegoat after being made a healthy scratch for Sunday's 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues.
The 23-year-old expressed his frustration with the move Tuesday, saying his age played a part in head coach Peter Laviolette's decision.
"I was surprised, yeah," Kakko told reporters, including The New York Post's Mollie Walker. "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."
The Rangers are 3-10-0 in their last 13 games and sit one point out of a playoff spot entering Tuesday's slate.
Kakko has recorded four goals and 10 assists in 29 games this season, putting him on pace for 39 points. However, he pointed to his strong defensive game as a reason to keep him in the lineup.
"Haven't been on the ice too much when (opponents) score a goal," said Kakko, who ranks second on the team with a plus-10 rating. "I have not been the worst guy, but that was me out of the lineup."
Kakko added that he doesn't think it's his responsibility to seek an explanation from the coaching staff about what they want to see out of him moving forward.
"I'm not going to do that," he said. "They're going to say if they have something to say, but I'm not going there."
Laviolette said he understands Kakko's frustration.
"I'll probably keep those messages between him and I," Laviolette said. "I think it's OK to be frustrated, it's OK to be upset. Everybody wants to play, I get that 100%. I understand that."
Kakko has failed to meet expectations since being drafted second overall in 2019. His most productive season was in 2022-23, when he registered career-highs of 18 goals and 22 assists in 82 games while averaging 15:18 per contest.
The Rangers reportedly placed Kakko back on the trade block in November after fielding calls for him ahead of the 2024 deadline. Kakko signed a one-year, $2.4-million contract in the offseason. He'll be a restricted free agent at season's end and can become unrestricted in 2026.