Kaapo Kakko Has One Last Chance With Rangers

Kaapo Kakko has one last chance to prove himself to the New York Rangers.

The odds of Kakko staying with the Rangers looked grim even when he signed his one-year, $2.4 million qualifying offer shortly after New York got eliminated in the Eastern Conference Final.

Trade rumors were swirling around that involved Kakko, but no deal ultimately materialized and Kakko remains a member of the Rangers.

While it’s possible Kakko could still be moved before the start of the 2024-25 season, the probability of the Rangers trading him this late in the offseason is low.

Being that he is under contract for just one more season, Kakko will have a tremendous amount of pressure to perform or else his time in New York will be finished.

The Rangers drafted Kakko with the second overall pick in 2019 to be a monumental piece for the franchise.

However, five years into his NHL career, Kakko has underperformed and is yet to really flash off the potential he showed prior to being drafted.

The 23-year-old is running out of chances and this upcoming season will be the most important of his young career.

By not trading Kakko, it’s a sign that the Rangers are not just willing to give him up for nothing and given this circumstance that they are currently in, the team would rather hold onto their first round pick.

It’s a make or break season for Kakko as we will see what he is truly made of.