New York Rangers Winger Kaapo Kakko Reportedly Wants a Fresh Start Elsewhere

Everyone knows the New York Rangers are listening to offers on almost everyone. Chris Kreider was named in the infamous memo credited with beginning the spiral in which the Rangers find themselves. K'Andre Miller has been a name brought up by ESPN's own Kevin Weekes, but the one emerging now is the only player who actively wants to depart the organization was named by Sportsnet's own Elliotte Friedman a few weeks ago, Finnish winger Kaapo Kakko.

According to SDPN's Steve "Dangle" Glynn, the Finnish winger wants a more prominent role, but the Rangers cannot provide that to him. Glynn referred to the Blueshirts winger on his latest podcast as "the only player that wants out." Kakko wants more money and a significant role, which he won't get in New York, so he'd like to find a new destination. It makes sense and would conclude all the rumors we've heard circling the Finn for his New York tenure.

There's been plenty of interest in Kakko over the years, too. Organizations like Ottawa, Vancouver, Carolina, and Pittsburgh have all had their eyes on the Turku, Finland native. If the Blueshirts wish to move him, there will be no lack of suitable trading partners, but the Rangers must find a way to get value for this player if they do that. Ideally, a swap of underperforming youngsters would be a solution for everyone. Finding that will be more difficult, though.

As for the immediate future of the Blueshirts, The Athletic reportedly has Kakko at sixth on their latest trade board, meaning that he will almost certainly be on the move in the coming days. We'll see where this goes, but the Rangers are enduring the winds of change, and they will struggle for a time as those changes occur. Growing pains are never easy, but they'll hopefully get better.