The New York Rangers are in their Stanley Cup contention window and are expected to be active buyers throughout the season. One potential trade idea suggests the team could strengthen their forward lineup.
PuckPedia’s PuckGM tool allows fans to create their own trade scenarios, and one user proposed a deal involving the Rangers re-acquiring Andrew Copp from the Detroit Red Wings.
**Rangers receive:**
– Andrew Copp
**Red Wings receive:**
– Kaapo Kakko
– 2025 fifth-round pick
This trade seems logical as the Rangers would gain a more proven player in Copp, while Detroit would take a chance on the former second-overall pick Kakko and add a draft pick to their assets.
Copp is in the third year of his five-year, $28.13 million contract. The veteran forward previously played 16 regular season and 20 playoff games with the Rangers during the 2021-22 season after being acquired at the trade deadline. Following the Rangers’ playoff exit, he signed his current deal with the Red Wings.
Copp is a gritty forward who could slot in as New York’s third-line center, adding depth and scoring to the bottom six. Last season with Detroit, Copp appeared in 79 games, tallying 13 goals and 20 assists for 33 points.
Meanwhile, the Red Wings would acquire Kakko, the second overall pick from the 2019 NHL Draft, who has struggled to find consistency at the NHL level and has been linked to trade rumors. At just 23 years old, a fresh start could help Kakko unlock his potential as an impactful NHL player.
Kakko Frustrated With Role With Rangers
Kakko was occasionally a healthy scratch during both the regular season and playoffs for the Rangers last year. Despite this, he entered the offseason as a restricted free agent and ultimately signed a one-year, $2.4 million extension with the team. After the Rangers’ playoff exit, Kakko expressed his dissatisfaction with his limited role.
“Playoffs were different,” Kakko said. “Of course, everyone wants to play… I was not happy that I wasn’t in the lineup, but I still wanted the team to win. I was hoping we’d win and keep going so I could get back in the lineup at some point, but I can say I was not happy, and I think everyone in this room feels the same way—everyone wants to play.”
Kakko played 61 games last season, tallying 13 goals and 6 assists for 19 points. During the Rangers’ playoff run, he contributed 1 goal and 1 assist in 15 games.
Red Wings Hoping to be Playoff Team
Detroit narrowly missed the playoffs last season and began the 2024-25 NHL campaign with renewed confidence in their ability to reach the postseason. The Red Wings, who haven’t made the playoffs since the 2015-16 season, made significant offseason moves to strengthen their young core.
“We’re among the teams that have a shot at competing for a playoff spot,” said Yzerman. “If we stay healthy, our goaltending holds up, and players exceed expectations, we could make it. But, we could also just miss out by a point in the final game of the season. That’s the fine line. When I look at our current roster compared to last year’s, it’s different and might be a better fit in terms of player roles.”
Detroit bolstered their lineup by adding Vladimir Tarasenko, Tyler Motte, and Cam Talbot, and re-signed forward Patrick Kane during the offseason.
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