Kaapo Kakko signs 1-year extension with New York Rangers

The New York Rangers signed forward Kaapo Kakko to a one-year contract extension worth $2.4 million, the club announced Thursday.

Kakko, 23, was an impending restricted free agent. The new salary represents what his qualifying offer would have been had the Rangers not locked him into a new deal.

He was selected second overall by New York in the 2019 NHL draft. Kakko had his best season in 2022-23, producing 18 goals and 40 points in 82 games.

This past regular season was tough on Kakko as he collected just 19 points in 61 games. He added one goal and an assist in 15 playoff games during the Rangers run to the Eastern Conference finals. Kakko was a healthy scratch in Game 2 of that series against the Florida Panthers before reentering the lineup in Game 3. New York lost the series 4-2.

This extension gives Kakko a chance at a bounce-back campaign in the coming year and affords the Rangers some cost certainty as free agency opens July 1.