The New York Rangers selected Kaapo Kakko with the second overall pick in the 2019 NHL draft, but he has not met expectations and has been mentioned in trade rumors. PuckPedia’s new tool, PuckGM, allows users to create their own trades, and one user suggested a trade that would send Kakko to the Seattle Kraken.
Rangers get:
- Oliver Bjorkstrand ($2.7 million retained)
Kraken get:
Filip Chytil
Kaapo Kakko
2025 first-round pick
The blockbuster deal would bolster the Rangers’ offense as Bjorkstrand, an All-Star in 2024, has two years left on his five-year, $27 million contract. Last season with the Kraken, he recorded 20 goals and 39 assists for 59 points in 82 games. Bjorkstrand could potentially join the top line on the right wing with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad, likely enhancing his offensive success.
In return, New York parts with significant assets, including their first-round pick, Kakko, and Chytil. Drafted second overall in 2019, Kakko has struggled in the NHL, recording 13 goals and 6 assists for 19 points in 61 games last season. However, he could help fill the void left by Bjorkstrand. Chytil, a first-round pick in 2017, has also faced challenges, skating in just 10 games last season and recording 0 goals and 6 assists. With health issues and the Rangers’ status as a legitimate Stanley Cup contender, they opted to trade two younger players in the proposed deal for a proven NHL player.
Rangers Bolster Offense With Acquisition of Reilly Smith
On July 1, the New York Rangers traded a conditional 2025 fifth-round pick and a second-rounder in 2027 to the Pittsburgh Penguins for Reilly Smith.
Smith, who is entering the final year of his three-year, $15 million deal, is projected to be the top-line right winger for the Rangers.
After the trade, Rangers general manager Chris Drury expressed his excitement about acquiring Smith.
“We’re very excited to get Reilly, a player we’ve been looking at and talking about for a while,” Drury said on a conference call, according to the New York Post. “He brings a lot of versatility to our lineup, has a winning pedigree from his time in Vegas, and is a proven playoff performer. We think he fits in nicely with our entire group. We were in discussions with many agents and had several options, but felt this was the best move we could make.”
Smith recorded 13 goals and 27 assists for 40 points in 76 games with the Penguins last season.
Leave a Reply