Rangers GM Taking Calls On Former Top Pick
New York Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko has been an enigma during his time in the NHL, with many fans feeling he was finally turning the corner coming off a career best 82 game season where he scored 18 goals and 40 points. Unfortunately for the Finland native that hasn't been his story.
The 2023-24 campaign hasn't been kind to Kakko who only has 5 goals and 6 points in 28 games this season. Kakko recently returned to the lineup from a lower-body injury that cost him 21 games.
The 21 year old, has found his scoring touch since returning, scoring 3 goals in 8 games. This has kicked off trade buzz for Kakko with teams calling general manager Chris Drury.
The Rangers recently lost center Filip Chytil to an injury for the remainder of the season, this leaves a gaping hole in their center depth behind Mika Zibanejad and Vincent Tricheck.
Could Drury use build a package around Kakko to land a center? They are one of the rare teams with cap space, holding over $5M at their disposal.
TSN's Darren Dreger revealed on a recent segment of «Insider Trading that teams are calling on Kakko.
«Kaapo Kakko is perhaps an asset that Chris Drury considers using as trade bait,» Dreger said. «New York has cap space and the assets like Kakko to acquire a significant piece.»
"Losing [Filip] Chytil for the remainder of the season is a big blow for the Rangers, but New York has cap space, and potentially the assets like Kakko, to acquire a significant piece," Dreger said on Tuesday's edition of Insider Trading."
With holes to fill in the Rangers lineup, Kakko's time in the Big Apple could be coming to a close.
| POLL | ||
JANVIER 31 | 848 ANSWERS Rangers GM Taking Calls On Former Top Pick Which 2019 draft pick will have the best career? | ||
| Dylan Cozens | 273 | 32.2 % |
| Kaapo Kakko | 122 | 14.4 % |
| Matthew Boldy | 224 | 26.4 % |
| Trevor Zegras | 229 | 27 % |
| List of polls | ||
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![Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530544.webp "Feb 13, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team USA forward Brady Tkachuk (7) celebrates his goal against Team Finland in the third period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: David Kirouac-Imagn Images")
![Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) plays the puck and Team United States defenseman Charlie McAvoy (25) defends in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images](https://i.marqueur.com/habsetlnh/medium/530571.webp "Feb 15, 2025; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; [Imagn Images direct customers only] Team Canada forward brandon Hagel (38) plays the puck and Team United States defenseman Charlie McAvoy (25) defends in the second period during a 4 Nations Face-Off ice hockey game at the Bell Centre. Mandatory Credit: Eric Bolte-Imagn Images")
