The Rangers already made a trade, but if they want to continue to upgrade ahead of the deadline, is Kaapo Kakko worth moving? Would Kakko benefit from a change in scenery?

It wasn’t that long ago when the New York Rangers embarked on a rebuild, sending a letter to fans to signal the new direction. They’ve been able to turn the tides quickly, but surprisingly, the top two draft picks they made during that time haven’t exactly been complete difference-makers.

Kaapo Kakko was supposed to be the first pillar of the rebuild, drafted second overall in 2019 after a fantastic season in the Liiga. A year later, they selected Alexis Lafreniere first overall, and the Rangers were set to have their two-headed monster up front that could be the focal point of their offense moving forward.

The thing about development is that it’s not always linear, and first and second overall picks are not all made equally. Not everyone is Auston Matthews or Jack Eichel. That’s just the reality of developing players. When those players are coming into a team that winds up being much better than expected, as the Rangers were immediately after selecting Lafreniere, it can be even harder for those players to establish themselves.

While Lafreniere has quietly developed into one of the league's sneaky good goal-scorers at even strength, Kakko remains a player who has been lost in the shuffle a little bit. He seemed to finally hit his stride last season, reaching the 40-point mark for the first time in his career, but this season has been a major step back.

While the Rangers have their first-round picks in each of the next three drafts, they only have one pick in the second and third rounds over the next three years combined. If the Rangers truly plan on keeping their first-round pick this year, per TSN’s Darren Dreger, their next best asset for the trade deadline may ultimately be trading Kakko.

The Finnish winger has been a steady defensive presence throughout his young career. Even with his underwhelming 2023-24 season, his defensive metrics remain positive. He works hard, which has never been an issue, and he wins the puck along the boards at a high level.

An acquiring team would be getting a player who fits nicely in the bottom six and has shown flashes of higher-end offensive potential, especially last season when he was playing in the Rangers' top six. Kakko has a very good shot and does a lot of the dirty work for his line, which helps create chances for more skilled linemates, something he hasn’t had much of this year until recently.

Having just turned 23, Kakko still has plenty of runway. If the Rangers were to include him in a deal, he wouldn’t be the first player they’ve traded early in their careers just to see them flourish. J.T. Miller was once a young Rangers forward, as was Pavel Buchnevich. Sometimes, a change of scenery and a fresh start with an increased opportunity can be exactly what a player of Kakko’s stature needs.

The Rangers are in win-now mode. They have their sights set on a Stanly Cup this spring, and they may need to alter the lineup a bit up front to get there. Kakko's inclusion in a trade provides some value for the opposing team and likely prevents Kakko from being roadblocked by the incoming player.

Trading Kakko might ultimately be the best course of action for the player and the club. The Rangers can add for now, while Kakko can move on to what could be a better opportunity without the weight of being the team's second overall pick on his shoulders.

The verdict on Kakko is still very much out. The young winger still has plenty of time in his NHL career to carve out a role in an NHL top six. It just may not be the Rangers'.