ESPN Reports: Mark Messier Makes Shocking Return to the New York Rangers as New Bench Coach

In a surprising turn of events, the New York Rangers have brought back hockey icon Mark Messier as their new bench coach, ESPN reports. The former Rangers captain, who famously led the team to its 1994 Stanley Cup win, returns to Madison Square Garden in a critical role aimed at steering the struggling team back on track.

Messier’s return coincides with rising tensions in the Rangers’ locker room, highlighted by forward Kaapo Kakko’s frustration over recent healthy scratches. Kakko, sidelined during the team’s 5-3 loss to the St. Louis Blues, openly questioned the decision, expressing disappointment at being singled out despite his solid performance metrics.

“I was surprised,” Kakko admitted. “I understand the need for changes when you’re losing, but it’s easy to bench the younger player. That’s how it feels.”

Kakko’s benchings, which have occurred under both current coach Peter Laviolette and former coach Gerard Gallant, reflect a growing discontent. “I haven’t been the worst,” he added. “We’re all struggling, but I haven’t been on the ice much when goals are scored against us.”

Despite the team’s recent slump — with only three wins in their last 13 games — Kakko has been a bright spot this season, recording 4 goals, 10 assists, and a plus-10 rating across 29 games. His early-season chemistry with linemates Filip Chytil and Will Cuylle has suffered due to Chytil’s injury, but Kakko remains focused on team improvement.

“Not too many goals against us, but we all need to be better,” Kakko said, addressing the team’s overall struggles and his limited ice time on the third line. “Still, we’re only playing 10-12 minutes a game.”

Adding intrigue, The Athletic reports that Kakko, a pending restricted free agent, is drawing interest from other teams, with trade speculation heating up. Analyst Chris Johnston ranked him sixth on his latest NHL trade board, suggesting a move might benefit both sides.

Head coach Peter Laviolette acknowledged the challenging decisions, emphasizing the need for improved team play. “We need to play better hockey. All of us,” he stated, while declining to elaborate on discussions with Kakko.

With Messier now on the bench and Kakko’s situation evolving, the Rangers face a pivotal stretch as they strive to turn their season around and stay in the playoff race.