New York Rangers Healthy Scratch Former No. 2 Overall Pick; Trade Speculation Intensifies
The New York Rangers have already made one huge trade this season, and now a healthy scratch of Kaapo Kakko suggests another may be on the way.
This season has been a shocking one in the Big Apple, with just three wins in the last 10 game for the Rangers signalling that big changes could be on the way for a pre-season Stanley Cup favourite.
After trading captain Jacob Trouba, speculation has continued in New York that another deal could be on the way, and now we have our biggest indication yet that something is on the horizon.
For their Sunday clash with the St. Louis Blues, New York are making Kaapo Kakko a healthy scratch, even with Artemi Panarin out for the night due to injury, signalling that this could be a move made for trade purposes.
Kakko has been a name in New York that many feel was on the way out for quite some time, and after being patient for so long with his development, it's more likely than not that the Rangers have now simply given up on him.
The 23-year old Kakko was the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, and after posting a career high of 40 points during the 2022/23 season, many believed he was well on his way to fulfilling his potential.
Unfortunately, in 90 games played since that season, Kakko has just 17 goals and 33 points, and while fellow young star Alexis Lafreniere takes huge steps forward, Kakko just simply hasn't done that yet.
With age still on his side, the belief around the league is that Kakko could still turn into a solid middle-six NHLer in the coming years, but with New York looking to make a Stanley Cup run in 2024/25, don't be shocked if the team look to get a deal done before their season gets too out of hand.
