The New York Rangers are free-falling. After a loss to the St. Louis Blues on Sunday night, they officially lost their early season points binge. They are currently sitting outside the playoff picture. The Ottawa Senators are ahead of them in the standings, which is ironic since a Brady Tkachuk rumor is part of his whole debacle.
The Rangers are beyond repair in some people’s minds. They already started selling assets, using a shady move to get Jacob Trouba to Anaheim. Somehow, the Ducks paid them an asset to take on Trouba’s contract despite them apparently threatening Trouba with a trip to waivers where any team could claim him. They’ve floated a few names already, including Chris Kreider.
The Devils have only made one trade with the New York Rangers, and it could have been a disaster. They sent Yegor Rykov and a second-round pick to the Blueshirts for Michael Grabner. It made sense on paper, but Grabner was a clear regression candidate after he was having a career year. He was also in a contract year. Grabner was awful, but the Devils were salvaged because Rykov never turned into anything and the second-round pick was used to move up in the draft to take K’Andre Miller (who was once considered a top young defenseman but is now considered a trade piece).
Knowing the history, and the added price the Devils would have to pay, who makes sense for a trade piece?
1. Kaapo Kakko
Do we think the Rangers would ever trade Kaapo Kakko to the New Jersey Devils? Let’s say this, we wouldn’t want to trade him if the shoe was on the other foot. However, it might make sense. Kakko was a healthy scratch for the Rangers on Sunday, as Peter Laviolette said he’s trying to get “fresh legs out there.” Nobody wants to hear that as a player.
Kakko has 14 points in 29 games. He hasn’t been what the Rangers thought he’d be at this point. They expected him to make the jump, but he just never did. He does have some Alexander Holtz vibes, where the Rangers were hoping he would eventually become what he was drafted to be. It’s just best to cut bait and hope he doesn’t burn you later.
The Devils should take the chance because it’s not a huge risk. Kakko signed a one-year deal this offseason, so he’s likely heading back to free agency in the offseason. The Devils can see if he fits and cut him loose if he doesn’t. The issue here is the Rangers are going to ask for a package that makes more sense to them than anyone else. Kakko is still a name, and Rangers fans will demand something for him. What that something is would be anyone’s guess, but it’s worth the ask.