The NY Rangers just opened a plethora of options after re-signing Kaapo Kakko
Kakko could be used as a trade piece at some point in 2024-25
As the headline of this article indicates, Chris Drury created a plethora of options regarding Kaapo Kakko. A trade over the summer is still likely, and a potential bridge contract for 2025-26 and beyond, should he redeem himself in New York this year, is the other extreme.
Then there is the umbrella of options that have opened up if Drury keeps Kakko, only to trade him at some point during the season. This option, much like a potential offseason trade, contains a similar blueprint. The only difference is that they would be trading him to an organization that would most likely be down and out instead of a contender.
Moving Kakko to a contending team in this situation would signify he’s playing much better hockey, and that wouldn’t even be remotely logical. But, in a trade package that could even include a first-round pick, it means Kakko would have the remainder of the season to audition to stick around for at least another season for a non-contending team looking to take a chance on young talent that didn’t materialize elsewhere.
In return, the Rangers would get another solid player at the trade deadline for Kakko and other assets, setting the stage for yet another Stanley Cup run. So Kakko’s value, even if he underperforms again, counterintuitively increases in a situation like this.
Suppose the Rangers need a depth scorer, and someone like Jason Dickinson of what will be another struggling Chicago Blackhawks team is in the rumor mill. Dickinson would probably work well on the Rangers lower lines for a season and a half, and this is just one of many examples to use.
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