Rangers Roundup: NHLPA Executive Board approves deal, Kakko’s next test, and more

Anthony Scultore Updated: Jul 8, 2020

The progress to playing hockey again continues. Last night, the NHLPA Executive Board voted on and approved the CBA extension, along with the Return to Play protocols.

All that remains is for the entire NHLPA membership to pass it. The process is should take around 48 hours and is expected to be approved.

https://twitter.com/FriedgeHNIC/status/1280699038443147264?s=20

One more test for Kaapo Kakko to pass

We’ve reported on this for several weeks, but there’s some unwarranted speculation out there that Kaapo Kakko will be ruled out of playing this summer. A Finnish site, Suomi Kiekko has a misleading headline that reads, “NHL line: Kaapo Kakko is not allowed to participate in the playoffs”.

Kakko will need to pass the PPME (Jim McIsaac)

I can confidently say that is absolutely false. What the author does is take the language of the RTP plan about players having to go through a Pre-participation Medical Exam (PPME), and jump to the conclusion that because Kakko has type-1 diabetes, he will not play.

While true that Kakko and ALL players must go through the exam, we’ve already have been told by John Davidson that they expect to have him in the lineup. The 19 year-old rookie has already gone through testing and is in NY training with teammates.

Ask yourself, if the Rangers, their medical doctors, and infectious disease specialists, didn’t think he could pass the exam, why would they fly him out of Finland? The question is completely rhetorical.