Rangers could package Kaapo Kakko in a draft trade-up

The New York Rangers are at the start of a pivotal offseason. The Blueshirts came two games short of the Stanley Cup Finals after a franchise-best regular season that featured 114 points and the President’s Trophy.

A couple of moves have already been made, including re-signing restricted free agent Kaapo Kakko to a one-year, $2.4 million contract and placing veteran forward Barclay Goodrow on waivers in hopes of getting his $3.641 million cap hit off the books — which they did as the San Jose Sharks claimed the veteran forward.

However, despite re-signing Kakko, the former second-overall pick could be getting traded.

The Rangers could trade Kakko to move up in the draft

According to a report from Larry Brooks of the New York Post, the Rangers are looking to move Kakko alongside their first-round pick to move up in the draft:

“There are, however, multiple indications that Kaapo Kakko’s one-year, $2.4 million deal signed a couple of weeks ago was in fact a trade proxy, with the Blueshirts aggressively shopping the 23-year-old Finn. This is sort of a sell-low scenario but sources report that Drury is also attempting to use Kakko in conjunction with the club’s own 30th-overall selection to move up in the first round.”

Larry Brooks of The New York Post

The 23-year-old scored just 13 goals and registered six assists across 61 games. In the postseason, Kakko was even a healthy scratch at one point and had just a goal and an assist across 15 games. The Blueshirts currently have four selections in the upcoming 2024 draft, the aforementioned 30th pick alongside 127, 159, and 191.

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Where could the Rangers potentially trade up to?

A potential deal could be with the San Jose Sharks for the 14th overall pick, which originally belonged to the Pittsburgh Penguins but went to the Sharks in the deal for Erik Karlsson.

The Sharks already have the first overall pick, so they could be willing to move down in the first round with their second pick, and Kakko would immediately play in their top six, making it a win-win for both sides.

Another option could be the Minnesota Wild, which has the 13th overall pick and a veteran-based roster looking to retool rather than rebuild. They could benefit from adding a youthful forward like Kakko. Time will tell if the Rangers trade up, but it seems like a real possibility.