New York Rangers right wing Kaapo Kakko has signed a one-year, $2.4 million extension with the team. He's coming off a two-year, $4.2 million contract and was set for restricted free agency. Kakko has had an up-and-down career in the NHL since being selected second overall by the Rangers in the 2019 draft. Following a 40-point campaign, the 23-year-old totaled only 13 goals and 19 points in 61 appearances this term. Kakko has amassed 117 points (57 goals, 60 assists) in 300 career games, leaving plenty of fantasy managers frustrated. However, he is still young enough to develop into a regular scorer.
Kaapo Kakko In Danger Of Being Scratched For Game 2
New York Rangers right wing Kaapo Kakko is reportedly in danger of being a healthy scratch for Game 2 against Florida on Friday. The 23-year-old has largely been ineffective in the 2024 postseason, finishing with only two points (one goal, one assist) in 11 outings. Matt Rempe is seen as his potential replacement in the lineup. The move would give the Rangers a lot more muscle on the ice, as Rempe has racked up 23 hits in seven playoff outings. Offensively, he's contributed one goal with three shots on goal while averaging 6:18 of ice time.
The New York Rangers are reportedly taking calls to gauge trade interest in forward Kaapo Kakko. The former second-overall pick appeared to turn a corner with a career-high 18 goals and 40 points while skating in all 82 games last season but has just five goals and six points on 34 shots across 28 games this time around. His average ice time is down to a career-low 13:27, and while he has spent time on the top line alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider, he is currently skating on the Rangers' third line with Jonny Brodzinski and Will Cuylle. The Rangers drafted Kakko second overall, one spot behind Devils superstar Jack Hughes in 2019. He has disappointed with 49 goals and 104 points across his first 267 NHL contests.
New York Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko (lower body) has not been ruled out for the club's road game against the St. Louis Blues on Thursday. The young winger has missed the past 19 games with a lower-body injury and has not appeared since getting injured Nov. 27 against the Buffalo Sabres. The former No. 2 overall pick skated in a regular jersey at practice on Wednesday for the first time since getting injured. Kakko has largely disappointed, considering his draft status, as he has just three points in 20 games on the season despite seeing some time on a line with Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. The 22-year-old appeared to turn a corner with 18 goals and 40 points in 82 games last season but now has just 101 points in 259 games across his five-year NHL tenure.
New York Rangers right wing Kaapo Kakko left Monday's meeting with Buffalo early due to a lower-body injury. He got through only 6:45 of action. The team has already called in extra help from the minors, which suggests Kakko is facing a spell on the sidelines. It's been a miserable season so far for Kakko, as the former second-overall pick has registered only two goals and one assist in 20 games. He's played limited minutes on the third line, so Kakko's absence likely won't change the dynamics of the Rangers team, which has played superbly early in the season.
New York Rangers right wing Kaapo Kakko (lower body) is listed as week-to-week after suffering yet another injury over the weekend against Detroit. He had only recently returned to action from a lengthy layoff and managed to skate in just four games before getting hurt again. Kakko took an awkward fall in the opening period and appeared to have hurt his right leg. The team expects to get him back for the playoffs, and he could even be available for the final few regular season games. Injuries have limited Kakko to just 41 games this season. He's scored seven goals and boasts 16 points.
New York Rangers right wing Kaapo Kakko (upper body) will be back in action Saturday against Ottawa. He will make his first appearance since Jan. 21. The former second-overall pick joins Barclay Goodrow and Alexis Lafreniere on the third line. Kakko has all the talent in the world but it's been another underwhelming season on his part. With 37 games played, the 21-year-old has bagged only nine goals and 14 points. Boosting the numbers from a third-line spot won't be an easy task either. The Rangers will also have Kevin Rooney (upper body) back on Saturday.
New York Rangers right wing Kaapo Kakko scored two goals to take down the Coyotes 3-2 Wednesday night. He tied things up at one and potted the game-winner with just a little over two minutes left in regulation. The Finnish youngster produced three shots in total and finished the night with a plus-three rating. Kakko has been skating on the first line, but he was stuck on an ugly dry spell prior to Wednesday, going seven straight games without a single point. He has five goals and 10 points for the season now with 25 games played.
Kaapo Kakko Records Two Assists, Six Shots Wednesday Night
New York Rangers right wing Kaapo Kakko dished out a pair of assists in Wednesday's 4-1 win over Philadelphia while recording a game-high six shots. The Finnish youngster helped Jacob Trouba to get a power-play goal early in the game and he tallied his second assist on Chris Kreider's 16th marker of the season. Kakko was recently moved to the top line to skate with Kreider and Mika Zibanejad. Sitting on the second line, he wasn't in a bad spot either, but Kakko is now getting a bit more playing time and that should allow him to up his productivity. He's on eight points through 17 games.
Kaapo Kakko Joins First Line Wednesday Night, Has An Assist
New York Rangers right wing Kaapo Kakko moved up to the first line on Wednesday against the Islanders and finished a 4-1 victory with an assist. He notched his third helper of the season in the third period when the whole first line combined for Chris Kreider's 15th goal of the season. This was a very interesting development, especially after Dryden Hunt had actually practiced on the first line. He had to settle for a second-line spot on Wednesday. Kakko has been hot lately and sits on a five-game point streak. Teaming up with Kreider, who's among the league's best goal-scorers, and Mika Zibanejad should give the young Finn a further boost.
New York Rangers right wing Kaapo Kakko suffered an upper-body injury in Saturday's 3-1 win over Montreal and will miss at least a week of action after he was placed on Injured Reserve. The Finnish youngster has had a pointless start to the season in three games, he's been an attractive fantasy piece as the 20-year-old has been skating with Artemi Panarin and was also set to fill in for Ryan Strome (COVID protocols) on the top power-play unit on Saturday before getting hurt. The Rangers have a three-game slate next week. The Blueshirts are in trouble with forwards dropping left, right and center, but Strome might not be out for long. The next game is on Monday versus Toronto.
New York Rangers right wing Kaapo Kakko ended a 19-game goal drought on Monday by scoring twice in a 5-3 victory over Buffalo. Chris Kreider also had two markers, both on a power play. It's taken a long time for Kakko to settle in the NHL, but he could be set for a nice run now. The second pick of the 2019 draft joined the team's second line during Monday's contest and was praised by Rangers' acting coach Kris Knoblauch after the game. Artemi Panarin led the line with three assists, while Ryan Strome extended his point streak to six games with two assists. The Blueshirts have three more games this week, starting with Thursday's road outing in Philadelphia.
Kaapo Kakko
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Rangers
