Rumour Officially Confirmed for New York Rangers Forward Kappo Kakko: Is He On His Way to Montreal?

The availability of Kaapo Kakko for trade has been officially confirmed. This is quite the news!

The revelation came from Darren Dreger, who highlighted that the absence of Filip Chytil ($4,437,500) grants the team considerable maneuverability.

Speculation quickly linked Kakko to the Montreal Canadiens (CH), noting that Jeff Gorton and Nick Bobrov, who played pivotal roles in selecting Kakko second overall in the 2019 draft, are now with the CH. Yet, not everyone is thrilled with this association, given Kakko's challenges in cementing his role within the league.

To date, Kakko's performance, with 104 points (49 goals) from 267 NHL games and merely 6 points in 28 matches this season, falls short of expectations. He was drafted just after Jack Hughes and before Kirby Dach.

Discussions had also encompassed a potential trade involving Sean Monahan (prior to his move to the Winnipeg Jets), highlighting the Rangers' broader needs, especially in defense.

Craig Button, an ex-NHL executive, mentioned he'd have traded Monahan for Kakko in an instant, seeing value in a player who could consistently deliver 45-50 points per season.

Button's perspective suggests that adding a player like Kakko could be beneficial, especially noting that last season, Nick Suzuki was the only player to exceed 40 points, with Cole Caufield achieving the same the year prior.

At just 22, Kakko has plenty of potential left to explore. Marc-Olivier Beaudoin underscores that Kakko's limited playtime and the Rangers' immediate focus on winning have stifled his development. A shift to the CH could offer him more opportunities to score.

Hence, it's advised to look beyond Kakko's draft status and consider his future contributions. While he may not reach a point-per-game status, he could still be a valuable asset, particularly in exchange for a rental player.

Despite Kent Hughes' surprising move to trade Monahan to the Winnipeg Jets, this doesn't diminish the CH's interest in Kakko. The CH remains poised to propose a trade, possibly involving different assets.

For a deal to materialize, the Rangers' GM will need to navigate past any existing tensions with the CH's management. Recent reports suggest some friction, particularly over the CH hiring two former employees dismissed by Drury, namely Nick Bobrov and Jim Ramsay.

Given these circumstances, the CH will need to present an outstanding offer to secure Kakko.