Rangers GM Chris Drury faced with a tough decision regarding Kaapo Kakko's future
GM Chris Drury and the New York Rangers opted to sign RFA Kaapo Kakko, instead of trading him. They signed him to a one-year $2.4 Million dollar contract.
Despite there being a mass amount of trade rumors surrounding Kakko, he'd never be moved. But it appears the 2nd overall pick in 2019, may not be safe yet.
He could end up being trade bait at the deadline.
(NYR GM Chris) Drury will almost certainly be looking to add at the deadline, so if Kakko could be the difference in an impact trade getting done, perhaps he's part of a win-now move.
But GM Drury and the Rangers are hopeful it won't have to come to that, as he could show some of the promise that led to the Rangers drafting him.
According to Peter Baugh of The Athletic, that is the "Best Case Scenario" for the team and Kakko.
They point to Kakko's 40-point(18 G, 22 A) season in 2022-2023 to where he could once again give the team a reason to keep him.
Otherwise, the team will have to sell low on Kakko, and of course, no one would like that as that was the way it would've played out this summer.
This is a one-year "prove it" deal for Kakko and hopefully, he can elevate his game in 2024-2025.
Kakko has 117 points( 57 G, 60 A) in 300 NHL Games with a 14: 32 TOI with a plus/minus of +4.
POLL |
SEPTEMBRE 25 | 68 ANSWERS Rangers GM Chris Drury faced with a tough decision regarding Kaapo Kakko's future Do you think Kaapo Kakko will last the entire 2024-25 season with the Rangers? |
Yes | 34 | 50 % |
No | 34 | 50 % |
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