BREAKING: Rangers Sign Another Top 26-year-old defenseman to revamped defense
After making two moves on Thursday, the New York Rangers focused on signing Urho Vaakanainen to a two-year, $3.1 million contract on Friday, just before the NHL Trade Deadline at 3 p.m. ET.
The 26-year-old was set to become a restricted free agent with arbitration rights after the season, but the Rangers secured him at a reasonable price for a reliable third-pair defenseman. Since being acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in early December in exchange for former Rangers captain Jacob Trouba, Vaakanainen has performed well in that role. He has recorded two goals—having only scored once in 141 NHL games before joining the Rangers—along with nine points while averaging 15:59 of ice time across 30 games.
Among Rangers players with at least 20 games played, Vaakanainen ranks ninth in blocked shots per 60 minutes, averaging 3.25.
Since Adam Fox suffered an upper-body injury five games ago, Vaakanainen has taken on a larger 5-on-5 role and showcased his versatility by playing both the left and right sides. With the Ducks last season, he played in a top-four role and averaged 17:29 of ice time per game.
Originally selected 18th overall by the Boston Bruins in the 2017 NHL Draft, Vaakanainen has developed later in his career. He played a personal-best 68 games with Anaheim last season, posting a career-high 14 points (one goal, 13 assists).
Vaakanainen has fit in well with the Rangers, even recording the first three-point game of his career (one goal, two assists) in a 5-1 win over the New York Islanders on Feb. 25.
Rangers revamped defense corps this season
Vaakanainen is the second defenseman the Rangers have acquired this season who later signed a new contract. Will Borgen, who was brought in from the Seattle Kraken in the Kaapo Kakko trade shortly after Vaakanainen arrived, agreed to a five-year, $20.5 million deal. Borgen was set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season.
Overall, the Rangers added four defensemen this season. In addition to Vaakanainen and Borgen, they also acquired Calvin de Haan last week from the Colorado Avalanche and Carson Soucy in a trade with Colorado on Thursday.
These recent moves have resulted in a surplus of left-shot defensemen on the roster. With Adam Fox (a right-handed shot) currently sidelined, five of the team’s seven healthy defensemen shoot left-handed. How things will be arranged once Fox returns remains uncertain, but for now, Zac Jones has moved to his off side, as Vaakanainen did previously.
Soucy is set to join the Rangers in Ottawa for Saturday’s game against the Senators. Despite not practicing with his new teammates on Friday, head coach Peter Laviolette expects him to be in the lineup.