The New York Rangers might still be looking for additional reinforcements this summer, even though they had a relatively quiet start to the free agency period. Earlier in the offseason, the team acquired winger Reilly Smith via trade, but they have not yet managed to move some of the players they’ve been trying to trade. One player on the trade block is former No. 2 overall draft pick Kaapo Kakko.
The Rangers reportedly had multiple trade discussions involving Kakko at the beginning of the offseason, but a deal was not reached. However, a recent mock trade suggests that the Rangers could finally trade Kakko in exchange for a talented young winger to boost their offensive capabilities.
Rangers mock trade sends Kaapo Kakko to the Flames in exchange for Andrei Kuzmenko
While using PuckPedia’s new PuckGM tool to simulate a trade, a user proposed a deal that would send Andrei Kuzmenko from the Calgary Flames to the Rangers in exchange for Kaapo Kakko (via Heavy.com):
**Rangers receive:**
– Andrei Kuzmenko ($2.8 million retained)
**Flames receive:**
– Kaapo Kakko
– Bryce McConnell-Barker
– 2025 fifth-round pick (Minnesota’s)
Trading away Kakko has clearly been a priority for the Rangers this offseason. However, including Bryce McConnell-Barker in the deal would be unexpected. McConnell-Barker is the Rangers’ top center prospect and is gearing up for his first full AHL season. The 20-year-old forward, a third-round pick in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft, spent the past two seasons with the Soo Greyhounds of the OHL, tallying 77 points in 68 games in 2022-23 and 51 points in 52 games in 2023-24.
What would Andrei Kuzmenko bring to the Rangers?
Kuzmenko, a 28-year-old winger standing 5-foot-11, spent the 2023-24 season with both the Vancouver Canucks and Calgary Flames after a mid-season trade. He recorded 46 points (22 goals and 24 assists) in 72 games, a significant decrease from his 2022-23 season total of 74 points (39 goals and 35 assists) in 81 games.
If the Rangers were to acquire him, they would hope to see Kuzmenko return to his previous high level of production. A forward capable of scoring over 70 points in a season would be a valuable addition to the Blueshirts’ top-six, which struggled during the 2024 Stanley Cup playoffs.
Entering the final year of his contract, Kuzmenko might be a one-year rental if a trade happens. Nonetheless, the Rangers would be optimistic that his skills could enhance their top-six lineup, potentially forming a dynamic first line with Chris Kreider and Mika Zibanejad.
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