By virtue of winning the Presidents’ Trophy and falling in the Eastern Conference Final, the Rangers will be waiting a while to make their first selection in the opening round of the draft on Friday as they hold the 30th overall selection. However, it appears they’re looking to make a selection earlier than that as Larry Brooks of the New York Post reports that GM Chris Drury is looking to package that pick along with winger Kaapo Kakko to move up in the draft order.
Earlier this month, Kakko accepted what would have been his qualifying offer this weekend, inking a one-year, $2.4MM agreement. But if anything, instead of the contract quashing any trade speculation, it has had the opposite effect as many have suggested that the new deal actually helps his trade value as now teams have certainty as to what the 23-year-old will cost.
Kakko was the second-overall pick back in 2019 after a very strong season in Finland’s top league and it looked like New York had a future core winger on their hands with the potential for more. However, while there have been signs of that potential over his first five NHL seasons, he hasn’t been able to show it consistently.
In 2022-23, Kakko had what looked like a possible breakout campaign, notching 18 goals and 22 assists. Those numbers don’t jump off the page for a fourth-year player but they were career bests and both sides were hoping he’d be able to build off that. But it didn’t happen. Instead, Kakko struggled this year, notching 13 goals and six assists in 61 games while seeing his playing time dip to a career-low 13:17 per night. It went even lower in the playoffs as he was just over a dozen minutes per game while recording just one goal and one assist in 15 appearances.
On the one hand, you have Kakko’s recent performance which wasn’t the greatest. On the other hand, here’s a still-young player who other teams might feel that a new team and system could help get him back on track. The Rangers will clearly be hoping that particular perception will help them move up the draft board on Friday.
Kakko plus #30 should fetch them #38 or so. Good luck.
The Sharks will take Kakko…….if you add a 2nd!
With the Knicks trade ,and the draft being held at the sphere that Jim Dolen built .He and Glen Sather will be at the table.Look for something major to go down
Sather announced his retirement this morning. Will he be at the table?
Remember when Dolan wouldn’t let them trade this pick to attempt to win a Stanley Cup just so he could make a pick in the Sphere? Great work!
Kakko and the 30th pick to the Sabres and the Rangers garb Carter Yakemchuk, who will be the eventual replacement for Trouba.
If Lindy Ruff gives his ok.
I’d trade the 16th pick(blues) for kakko and the 30th
I wouldn’t think Kakko let’s them move up much? Maybe 10 spots? Surely not into the top 12.
The Rangers have too many good players for Kakko and Lafernier to succeed. So a change of scenery would bring out the best in Kakko. Who would be that team who knows.. I think the team that would probably make that trade is Chicago at 18. I doubt anyone above them would do that trade without at least a 4th round pick attached as well.
I would trade a first, Kakko, and a 4th to get lower. The numbers for a draft pick above number 20 to play at least 100 games the NHL gets drastically lower.
Kaapo and Zac jones for Rutger Mcgorarty and Chaz Lucious.
Honestly the Islanders are the perfect pairing here. Won’t happen, but Kakko and #30 for #20 feels about right in terms of value and Kakko is a definite upgrade over a number of wingers the Islanders have been slogging out the past few seasons
Islanders want centres, not wingers.
Really? Not sure where you get that from. Horvat and Nelson have their top 2 lines covered and with Pageau, Cizikas and now Mclean to fill out the bottom 6 there’s almost zero chance they look to bring in another Center. If anything, they’d probably look to trade Pageau away to create salary cap relief to bring in a Winger
Agreed on Pageau buyout. I don’t see Kakko going to Islanders. I do see him being moved out West.
Kakko value is down, Maybe for a couple of second round pick or to advance outside the top twenty (there is a big 20 this year) but never to advance in the top twenty.
More the NYR wait to trade him, more Kakko lose his value, there is no place anymore in NY to develop the young Kakko.
One second round pick + prospect should be enough. If the Rangers can move the Trouba contract, they should consider going after Ehlers and using Kakko as a piece. A lot will hinge on the Igor contract of course, but they would extend their window with a player like Ehlers instead of Kane (who’s rumoured to be interested in going back)