The New York Rangers have seemingly been attempting to trade Kaapo Kakko for the last several weeks. But so far, they have been unsuccessful.
However, according to Vince Mercogliano of Lohud, Kakko has not been traded due to a lack of trying. The Rangers just simply have not yet received an offer that they feel is worth accepting.
The Rangers are seemingly “dangling” Kaapo Kakko in trade discussions
Mercogliano recently stated on his podcast, New Ice City, that he is under the belief that the Rangers have been “dangling” Kakko in recent trade discussions (h/t Phil Kocher on X):
“I’m pretty sure they’re dangling Kaapo Kakko and will pursue deals to possibly move him this summer. I think they’re not thrilled with the offers that they’ve gotten so far which is why he’s still on the roster.”
The Rangers have had a relatively quiet summer so far. They have made a few low-key moves to upgrade their roster, but did not make any of the big blockbuster deals that they were expected to at the start of free agency. If a big deal takes shape, it could be by way of trading Kakko.
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Why the Rangers are looking to move on from Kakko
Kakko has had a disappointing start to his career with the Rangers. While he certainly possesses talent and has made an impact over the past few years, Kakko has not lived up to the expectations of a former No. 2 overall draft pick.
Kakko has received opportunities to play on the first line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, but he has failed to rise to the occasion and truly blossom into a top-six player. The team is still hunting for a quality right winger to play on that line.
In 2023, Kakko recorded just 19 points (13 goals, six assists) in 61 games — a steep drop-off in production compared to his 40 points in 82 games the season prior. Kakko missed time due to an injury this season but was not an incredibly impactful player when he returned to the ice.
At this point, it feels as though Kakko has settled into a bottom-six role as a gritty third-line player. That is a valuable player and skill set for an NHL roster to have in its possession, but it’s not the player and skill set that the Rangers envisioned for Kakko. Ultimately, it seems like they would prefer to trade him for whatever they can before his trade value decreases any further.
