Rangers Trade Proposal Involves $5.5 Million Winger for Former Second-Overall Pick
Former second-overall pick Kaapo Kakko of the New York Rangers has been at the center of trade rumors, with one trade scenario suggesting he could be moved to the Calgary Flames.
Despite signing a contract extension with the Rangers this offseason, Kakko remains part of trade speculation. The website PuckPedia offers a tool called PuckGM that allows users to create their own trade proposals, and one such user suggested a trade where Kakko is sent to the Flames in a multi-player deal.
In the proposed trade, the Rangers would receive:
– Andrei Kuzmenko (with $2.8 million of his salary retained)
The Flames would receive:
– Kaapo Kakko
– Bryce McConnell-Barker
– A 2025 fifth-round pick (acquired from Minnesota)
This trade would provide the Rangers with a more offensively productive player in Kuzmenko, who is in the final year of his contract. Kuzmenko played for the Flames and Vancouver Canucks last season, recording 22 goals and 24 assists for 46 points in 72 games.
For Calgary, the deal would bring in two players and a draft pick to support their rebuilding efforts. Kakko, who has yet to meet expectations in New York, could potentially find a larger role with the Flames.
Bryce McConnell-Barker, drafted by the Rangers in the third round of the 2022 NHL draft, tallied 22 goals and 29 assists for 51 points in the OHL last season. He is set to play in the AHL for the 2024-25 season.
Along with the prospects, New York would include a fifth-round pick, which they obtained from the Minnesota Wild in the Ryan Reaves trade in November 2022.
Kakko Aiming for a Bigger Role with Rangers
This summer, Kakko signed a one-year, $2.4 million extension as a restricted free agent. He appeared in 61 games last season, scoring 13 goals and adding 6 assists for a total of 19 points. In the playoffs, he contributed 1 goal and 1 assist in 15 games.
After the Rangers’ elimination from the Stanley Cup playoffs, Kakko expressed his desire for a larger role and to be a regular in the lineup.
“Playoffs were different,” Kakko said via NHL.com. “Of course, everyone wants to play. … I wasn’t happy being out of the lineup, but I still wanted the team to win and hoped to get back in at some point. But I can say I wasn’t happy, and I think everyone in this room wants to play.”
Kakko is projected to be New York’s third-line right winger, playing alongside Filip Chytil and Will Cuylle, according to DailyFaceoff.com.
Rangers Unimpressed with Trade Offers for Kakko
Despite Kakko’s contract extension, trade rumors persist. However, according to NHL insider Vincent Mercogliano of USA Today, the Rangers have not been impressed with the trade offers for the former second-overall pick.
“More ice time could be available if Kakko is eventually traded, but one source indicated the Rangers were not thrilled with the offers received around the draft,” Mercogliano reported. “Teams were trying to buy low on the former No. 2 overall pick, with Rangers GM Chris Drury holding off unless a better offer comes in.”
Kakko has played in 300 NHL games, recording 57 goals and 60 assists for 117 points.
