Anaheim Ducks forward Frank Vatrano has been the subject of trade rumors, with one proposal suggesting the New York Rangers could re-acquire the All-Star forward.
Vatrano is entering the final year of his three-year, $10.95 million contract with the Ducks. He was previously linked to the Rangers during last year’s trade deadline, but no deal materialized. As the 2024-25 NHL season approaches, rumors about a potential trade involving Vatrano have resurfaced.
The website PuckPedia has introduced a tool called PuckGM that allows users to create their own trades, and one user proposed a deal where the Rangers would receive Vatrano.
In this proposed trade:
**Rangers would get:**
– Frank Vatrano
**Ducks would get:**
– Kaapo Kakko
– 2026 third-round pick
In this scenario, the Rangers would acquire Vatrano in exchange for Kaapo Kakko, a former second-overall pick who has yet to meet expectations, along with a third-round pick.
Vatrano was previously acquired by the Rangers on March 16, 2022, from the Florida Panthers in exchange for a fourth-round pick. During his time with the Rangers, Vatrano tallied 8 goals and 5 assists for 13 points in 22 games, adding another 5 goals and 8 assists for 13 points in 20 playoff games.
After his tenure with the Rangers, Vatrano signed a three-year contract with the Ducks and earned All-Star honors in the 2023-24 NHL season.
If Vatrano were to return to the Rangers, he would bolster the scoring on a right wing that already includes Alexis Lafreniere and Reilly Smith.
Kaapo Kakko, on the other hand, was drafted second overall in 2019 but has struggled to find consistency in the NHL. He recently signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract extension with the Rangers. If traded, Kakko could take over Vatrano’s current role as the Ducks’ second-line right winger.
New York Had Interest in Vatrano at The Deadline
At the 2024 NHL trade deadline, the Rangers showed interest in Vatrano, and according to ESPN’s Amy Kaplan, New York and Anaheim had discussions about a possible trade.
In Kaplan’s March 7 column, she mentioned that the Ducks proposed a multi-player deal involving Vatrano and Kakko.
“I’ve heard the Ducks offered the Rangers a package deal a few weeks ago that included Henrique and Vatrano for Kakko and a first-round pick. The Rangers clearly thought that was too steep a price,” Kaplan wrote.
In the trade scenario mentioned, the Rangers wouldn’t need to give up a first-round pick, which might make the deal more appealing to New York and lead to Vatrano’s return.
Rangers Haven’t Been Thrilled With Trade Offers For Kakko
Even though the Rangers extended Kakko’s contract for one year in June, it didn’t eliminate the possibility of trading the former second-overall pick.
Kakko remained on the trading block, but according to USA Today reporter Vincent Mercogliano, the Rangers haven’t been impressed with the offers they’ve received.
“More ice time could become available if Kakko is eventually traded, but one source mentioned that the Blueshirts weren’t pleased with the offers they received during the draft,” Mercogliano reported. “Teams were trying to buy low on the former No. 2 overall pick, and Drury wisely held off unless someone is willing to increase their offer.”
Kakko has played in 300 NHL games, tallying 57 goals and 60 assists for a total of 117 points.
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