Confirmed Signing with Link: [NYR] RW Kaapo Kakko signs extension with the Rangers (1 year, $2.4M)

[elmaco]

I feel like young 40 point players get paid like $4M these days.

120 point guys get paid about 12mil, math checks out. It's not intentional but the market is right now at the place where 1 point equals about 100k in salary.

 

[TGWL]

He struggled early. Got injured and then came back putting up 11 goals in 35 games. The organization would be happy with that goal scoring pace of 25 goals, if it continues. The last 6 games of the season and the playoffs he did nothing and that's concerning after he was playing much better.

As far as why Kakko didn't refuse to sign and play chicken with the Rangers to see if they would leave him unqualified, odds are he wasn't getting 2.4M in free agency.

This would have just went to arbitration for roughly the same thing. This doesn't end in free agency just because he didn't accept the qualifying offer.

 

[AirGut]

I wonder if they agreed to trade him before July 1st.

With a player like him, the Rangers or other teams would not want to qualify him and leave arbitration open as a possibility. He is one of those players who is in the wheelhouse where they aren't going to get a number high enough that their team could choose to walk away, but they might get an inflated number based on how the criteria admissible in arbitration paints a more positive picture than their current value.

He is easier to trade with a cheap 1 year contract and cost certainty.

As far as why Kakko didn't refuse to sign and play chicken with the Rangers to see if they would leave him unqualified, odds are he wasn't getting 2.4M in free agency.

This guy, putting his foot down and refusing a contract offer from the New York Rangers Hockey Club?

 

[uncleben]

If you told me back in 2020 that in 4 years Kakko and Jalen Chatfield would be signing extensions on the exact same day, I can't imagine I would've expected Chatfield to have the higher AAV

 

[KirkAlbuquerque]

They could still trade him, as unlikely as it is

 

[RangersFan1994]

He will be dealt at the draft to move up, if not I'll be shocked. Gut feeling. Doubt they just give him away

 

[Hobnobs]

As far as why Kakko didn't refuse to sign and play chicken with the Rangers to see if they would leave him unqualified, odds are he wasn't getting 2.4M in free agency.

That's not how RFA and qualifying offers work...

 

[SingnBluesOnBroadway]

As far as why Kakko didn't refuse to sign and play chicken with the Rangers to see if they would leave him unqualified, odds are he wasn't getting 2.4M in free agency.

That's also not how it works.

 

[BleedBlue14]

I feel like young 40 point players get paid like $4M these days.

He probably would've if he was an RFA last year. But under the Rangers current coach, and this past season he was a 25 point player who didn't seem to find any traction in the system.

Good chance he rebounds

 

[FoxysExpensiveNYDigs]

Steal lol

 

[Jared Dunn]

This does not count out a trade

 

[Oscar The Grouch]

What a horrendous draft pick.

 

[pld459666]

I feel like young 40 point players get paid like $4M these days.

Hes not a lock for 40, and he did have a subpar season so I get the lack of any significant increase.

But to suggest, not you per se, that he's no more than a 4th line dime a dozen player is silly.

 

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

Wow... total busts make 2 and a half million dollars now.

Good thing it's only 1 year. Prolonging the inevitable I guess.

 

[Noldo]

How long Kakko could have waited before accepting the qualifying offer?

I am a bit perplexed that he choose the safe way, but I guess his agent has good idea of the market and there were no easy way to get someone to offer him a higher contract. Could Rangers have promised that they will attempt to trade him?

 

[dirtydanglez]

I wonder if they agreed to trade him before July 1st.

With a player like him, the Rangers or other teams would not want to qualify him and leave arbitration open as a possibility. He is one of those players who is in the wheelhouse where they aren't going to get a number high enough that their team could choose to walk away, but they might get an inflated number based on how the criteria admissible in arbitration paints a more positive picture than their current value.

He is easier to trade with a cheap 1 year contract and cost certainty.

As far as why Kakko didn't refuse to sign and play chicken with the Rangers to see if they would leave him unqualified, odds are he wasn't getting 2.4M in free agency.

the $2.4m offer he signed counts as a qualifying offer. if he refused to sign it he wouldn't get to go to free agency. also i think he gets $2.4m in free agency.

 

[Captain Mountain]

Seems like ALOT !?? From the playoffs he looked very invisible to me, what do I know

Takes NYR down under 10 million in cap with a good amount of people to sign

This isn't a lot at all relative to his comparables. Its also literally the salary he was paid this season - this was basically the floor of his contract.

 

[GhostfaceWu]

Over pay this guy is staring down the same track as puljujarvi

 

[zizbuka]

I mean this contract was “literally” predictable. It’s his qualifying offer amount and the Rangers were certainly not going to give him multiple seasons.

It is what it is. You’re not gonna let him walk for free. He may not be good either. But now you got some more time to figure that out.

But is he a UFA after next season now?

 

[The Crypto Guy]

But is he a UFA after next season now?

Nope

 

[SeanAveryTheGreatOne]

If I were GM I would have convinced him to sign for 10 years at $2M in Bitcoin, then sat back and patted myself on the back as he blossomed into the next Petr Prucha

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

I mean this contract was “literally” predictable. It’s his qualifying offer amount and the Rangers were certainly not going to give him multiple seasons.

It is what it is. You’re not gonna let him walk for free. He may not be good either. But now you got some more time to figure that out.

Agree with your take. Fairly routine.

Not sure what Brooksie thinks is "excellent" about it.

 

[Albatros]

Over pay this guy is staring down the same track as puljujarvi

Puljujärvi is a fringe NHLer with bottom-six upside if he can overcome his injuries, Kakko is a middle-six player already as things are with top-six upside.

 

[viceroy]

I sense another frustrating year coming for Kakko.

It's cool. It's not like the Rags are in a shrinking contention window or anything.

What a horrendous draft pick.

I wonder if they suspected that his use of a petite stick would become an issue in the future?

Hes not a lock for 40, and he did have a subpar season so I get the lack of any significant increase.

You know maybe the 40pt season 2yrs ago was the outlier.

the $2.4m offer he signed counts as a qualifying offer. if he refused to sign it he wouldn't get to go to free agency. also i think he gets $2.4m in free agency.

Really? I thought he'd get around a mil as a show me type contract. I just think he's one of those I play my way guys who won't change for anyone. Like Galchenyuk and others.

Puljujärvi is a fringe NHLer with bottom-six upside if he can overcome his injuries, Kakko is a middle-six player already as things are with top-six upside.

The guy's been in the league for a while now. I think he is what he is. Don't see any top 6 potential in him anymore. The problem is in his cabeza.

 

[truthbluth]

Untouchable for Eichel imo.