There would be a strategy behind the New York Rangers’ decision to settle the Kaapo Kakko file by granting him a one-year contract extension even before the official start of the NHL off-season.
The 23-year-old Finn signed an agreement on Thursday that will earn him $2.4 million next season.
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And according to Sportsnet reporter Elliotte Friedman, this decision could above all facilitate a possible transaction. Kakko, a winger selected second overall in the 2019 draft, has never been able to convince since his debut with the Rangers.
After showing interesting flashes during the 2022-2023 season by scoring 18 goals and 22 assists, he fell back to neutral in 2023-2024 with a meager haul of 13 goals and six assists in 61 games.
It may be time for a change of scenery for him and one thing is certain, there are certainly a few teams that could be interested in his services in the hopes of seeing him unlock.
And this new contract, according to Friedman, brings a certain “clarity” to the subject.
“I think there’s a little bit of strategy between the team and his agent saying ‘let’s eliminate the unknowns, if there’s a spot that makes sense for him and they make a fair offer, we “We’ll all know what the numbers are,'” Friedman said on his “32 Thoughts” podcast Friday.
“If there’s a team somewhere that likes Kakko, they won’t have to wonder what his salary demands will be, or think about negotiating a contract with him. That’s a settled issue and it makes life easier for everyone,” he later explained on the “Jeff Marek Show.”
It remains possible, however, that Kakko will not be traded and continue the adventure with the Rangers, the reporter said.
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