First look at New York Rangers newly acquired defenseman Urho Vaakanainen at team practice
Photo credit: Yardbarker
The New York Rangers have gotten a look at new defenseman Urho Vaakanainen this morning. While he won't be able to help the 14-10-1 right away he showed up to Tarrytown.
He took a red-eye flight to make it to the Big Apple and mentioned how news of the trade "shocked" him. A statement like that doesn't exactly make Pet Verbeek or GM Chris Drury look good.
But while he took part in practice today, he was wearing a non-contract green jersey. He said he felt better shooting the puck, and stick-handling.
Vaakanainen was placed on injured reserve this week, prior to being traded to the New York Rangers.
Vaakanainen, who is on injured reserve due to an upper-body issue, has been traded from Anaheim to the Rangers on Friday along with fourth-round pick in exchange for Jacob Trouba, according to Pierre LeBrun of TSN. Vaakanainen has an assist and seven blocks in five appearances this season.
Vaakanainen looks like he's improving, but there's no word of when the former 1st-round-pick will be available to return to the ice.
Vaakanainen has an assist and seven blocks in five appearances this season. He set a career high in 2023-24 with 68 games played, resulting in him recording a goal, 14 points, 55 hits and 79 blocks with Anaheim. When healthy, Vaakanainen might have a spot on the Rangers' third pairing, but New York's main motivation for making this trade was likely to move Trouba's contract. Trouba comes with an $8 million cap hit for this campaign and 2025-26, and the Rangers didn't retain any salary.
Vaakanainen was a 2017 1st-round pick by the Boston Bruins' and has played 141 games in the NHL. He's scored 25 points( 1 G, 24 A) and 40 PIMs.
This will be his third-team he's played for in the NHL, will he be a long-term solution for the Rangers defensive woes, or just a callup from Hartford?
Previously on NYRangersInsider
| POLL | ||
DECEMBRE 7 | 809 ANSWERS First look at New York Rangers newly acquired defenseman Urho Vaakanainen at team practice Do you think defenseman Urho Vaakanainen of the New York Rangers will be sent to the AHL once he's healthy? | ||
| Yes | 645 | 79.7 % |
| No | 164 | 20.3 % |
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