New York Rangers reportedly may part with Kaapo Kakko this summer
After years of not reaching his potential in The Big Apple, the New York Rangers could be moving on from former second overall pick Kaapo Kakko this summer.
In a post in The New York Post, Larry Brook says that he expects Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko to be available for trade this summer and could be apart of a bigger deal, if one materializes.
Prior to being selected with the second overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, there was a lot of hype surrounding the top international draft prospect, Kaapo Kakko and he hasn't lived up to the expectations of being taken that high.
The Turku, Finland native has now appeared in five seasons in the National Hockey League, with his highest point total in a single campaign being 40 during 2022-23. This past season, Kakko's production reduced by 50 percent, putting up 19 points (13 goals, six assists) in 61 games. During the Rangers' run to the Eastern Conference Final, he only had two points in 13 games.
It's clear that Kaapo Kakko needs a fresh start with a new organization and that remaining with the New York Rangers isn't an ideal option for either side. The 23-year-old is set to become a restricted free agent this summer with a qualifying offer of $2.4 million.
It'll be interesting to see how many team call New York Rangers General Manager Chris Drury to see if they can work out a deal to acquire Kaapo Kakko before the start of the 2024-25 season.
Source - Larry Brook/New York Post: Kaapo Kakko's Rangers tenure should be over � but only at right trade price
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Do you think the Rangers will trade Kaapo Kakko? | ||
| Yes | 97 | 78.2 % |
| No | 27 | 21.8 % |
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