Leafs Emerge As Potential Suitor For Former 2nd Overall Pick According To Recent Report From Darren Dreger

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Chris Gerics
November 28, 2024 (10:09 PM)

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The Maple Leafs have emerged as a possible destination for former 2nd overall pick Kaapo Kakko per NHL Insider Darren Dreger.

It's not too often in the NHL do you see a former 2nd overall pick tossed around in trade talks, however, that's what Kaapo Kakko has gotten into, the Rangers forward has been identified by NHL Insider Darren Dreger as a potential player for the Maple Leafs as the Rangers contemplate a fire sale.

Speaking on Insider Trading, Dreger mentioned that Kakko has been looking for a fresh start outside of New York and while he won't be cheap; he's worth it.

"Lots of teams are swirling around beyond what's speculated.

I'm told Kaapo Kakko's name has resurfaced. It's not like the Rangers are willing to give him away they drafted him 2nd overall in 2019.

Ice time is a bit of an issue and Kakko probably wants a fresh start, but if you're putting a piece like that out there, the return has to be exactly what the New York Rangers are looking for."

So how could Kakko help the Maple Leafs and what would be the cost to acquire him? Let's take a look.

How a Kaapo Kakko Trade Benefits Toronto In Two Ways

Adding a former second overall pick is a pretty incredible feat regardless of what team you are.

Kakko has not lived up to the hype as of yet, and only has 129 points in 321 games for the Rangers since being drafted in 2019.

6'2, and still only 23 years old, it's hard to imagine the Rangers giving up on Kakko so easily, but if he hasn't taken the reigns yet it might be time for him to find greener pastures, especially if Alexis Lafreniere keeps things up.

He's doing the best he can though, quietly putting together one of the better seasons of his career so far.

Toronto benefits from not only adding an exciting young forward who fits their needs and is still a few years away from his prime with the potential to be elite if given more chances.

He would be afforded more than the career 14:27 of ice time he's accrued and give Toronto another deadly option.

He's good in a pinch as a faceoff man, and while he hasn't been the exciting offensive dynamo, he's a smart hockey player who plays great two-way hockey; something Toronto needs from their Top 9.

But who goes the other way? Toronto would be more than likely to want to dangle Nick Robertson given his relative comparison to Kakko, at least in terms of age and potential.

Robertson has been less than stellar, to say the least, and has only one goal so far this season although he oozes potential and a chance to play more in New York could be the recipe for his success.

Both men can be big breakout stars but haven't found themselves yet in their current situation and a swap could do wonders for not only both players, but both teams.

A potential trade could look like this:

Toronto Acquires:

(RW) Kaapo Kakko

New York Acquires:

(RW) Nicholas Robertson
2025 2nd Round Pick (TOR)
2026 3rd Round Pick (TOR)

It gives both players the fresh starts they need, and it also gives New York draft assets that can be used to either look for their future pieces or use those picks to send elsewhere to acquire an NHL-ready player.

Either way, it's a win-win.

FAQ: Darren Dreger Names Kaapo Kakko as Prime Target For Maple Leafs

Q1: Why did Darren Dreger name Kaapo Kakko as a trade target for the Maple Leafs?

A1: Kaapo Kakko's name was suggested due to his name being recently surfacing again in trade talks amidst a struggling Rangers team who is looking to shake things up.

Q2: Who gets traded from Toronto for Kaapo Kakko?

A2: Nick Robertson goes the other way for Kakko. Robertson provides the same potential as Kakko and is equally desperate for a fresh start, especially since he already tried to hold out for a trade earlier this summer.

In closing, Kaapo Kakko to the Toronto Maple Leafs would be a blockbuster trade that sees the Leafs acquire a former second-overall pick with the potential to be elite and a huge part of their future, and New York gets to revitalize Robertson and get some draft assets on the side.