As the start of the 2024-25 season gets closer and closer, Kaapo Kakko's future with the New York Rangers is looking more clear. The Rangers signed Kakko to a one-year $2.4 million contract at the beginning of the offseason with the potential of trading the young forward at some point in the summer. However, the market for Kakko was just not there, which explains why he remains on the roster today. “The deal with Kakko now, after five pro seasons and 300 NHL games, is that he’s not a player other teams are coveting,” The Athletic’s Arthur Staple wrote. [https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/5676712/2024/08/02/ny-rangers-prospects/] “Teams surely want him, and I’d guess Drury has received offers but nothing good – he’s a buy-low player now.” Sean Avery Illustrates Rangers Perfect Shift The 23-year-old forward is coming off of a season where he recorded 13 goals, six assists and 19 points in 61 games. It’s wise of Chris Drury to hold onto Kakko since he is still young and has potential to be an impact player despite his slow progression. It’s not worth it for the Rangers to trade Kakko for virtually nothing as opposed to just giving him one more chance to prove himself with the team. It would be one thing if there was no room for Kakko on the roster, but he still has a role on the bottom-six with some high upside especially defensively. This very well might be Kakko’s last chance in New York, so he has to make it count.
