On June 13, the New York Rangers announced they had signed right winger Kaapo Kakko to a one-year extension worth $2.4 million. However, despite this move, NHL insider Elliotte Friedman from Sportsnet reports that trade rumors surrounding Kakko are far from over.
Kakko had been a frequent subject of trade speculation last season and heading into this summer. The expectation was that his recent extension might quell those rumors, but Friedman suggests otherwise. “I think this is a little bit of a strategy by team and agent to say, ‘Let’s eliminate the guesswork so if there is anywhere else out there that makes sense for him and is willing to propose us a fair deal, we’re all going to know what the numbers are,” Friedman said on the “32 Thoughts” podcast on June 14.
The one-year deal provides clarity for other teams on Kakko’s salary for the upcoming season, potentially facilitating trade discussions. Friedman reiterated on “The Jeff Marek Show” that the Rangers might still consider trading Kakko this summer. “This could be a really active trading season, if there’s another team that’s out there that likes Kakko, they don’t have to sit there and say, ‘Well what’s his number going to be?’ Or, ‘We have to negotiate a contract,'” Friedman explained. “The business is taken care of, and it just makes life easier on everyone involved.”
Friedman believes that both the Rangers and Kakko would be content if he remains with the team next season or if he is traded. “If all things stay equal and Kakko and the Rangers are still married next season, everyone’s going to be okay with that,” he said. However, he also noted that the Rangers are open to proposals if they arise.
Kakko was drafted second overall by the Rangers in the 2019 NHL Draft, but his career in the NHL has been inconsistent so far.
Rangers’ Hopes for Kakko’s Potential
Since joining the NHL, Kakko has struggled to establish himself as a consistent player. His career-high in points is 40, and he faced challenges this past season, including being a healthy scratch for Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Final, which was a source of frustration for him. “Of course, everyone wants to play,” Kakko said, via NHL.com. “I was not happy I [was] not in the lineup, but I still wanted to win.”
Despite these struggles, Rangers general manager Chris Drury remains committed to Kakko’s development. “We were talking about Laf at this time last year and refuting rumors that I was trying to trade him… Kaapo Kakko is still a young player… We’re going to continue to try and find everything we can do to help him reach his potential,” Drury stated, according to USA Today’s Vince Z. Mercogliano.
This past season, Kakko recorded 13 goals and 6 assists for 19 points in 61 games.
Rangers’ Pending Free Agents
Following the extension for Kakko, the Rangers now face decisions on seven pending free agents. The team has three unrestricted free agent forwards: Jack Roslovic, Alexander Wennberg, and Blake Wheeler. On defense, Erik Gustafsson and Chad Ruhwedel are pending UFAs, with Braden Schneider and Ryan Lindgren as pending RFAs.
New York has just over $9 million in cap space, according to CapFriendly, which will play a crucial role in how they manage these free-agent negotiations and potential trades.
As the offseason progresses, the Rangers’ management will have to navigate these uncertainties and make strategic decisions to bolster their roster for the upcoming season.
