Rangers Roundup: Mika Zibanejad still in Sweden, Kaapo Kakko in NY, and Alex Georgiev awaits a visa Kaapo Kakko(Getty Images)
You can add another name to the list of overseas Rangers to make it back to the States. 19 year-old future star, Kaapo Kakko arrived in New York today.
Kaapo Kakko back in “Wow! It’s a nice City”
The kid who famously said about New York, “Wow! It’s a nice City” is back. According to report in the NY Post, he is expected to join his Rangers teammates next week.
Kaapo Kakko is back in New York and currently quarantining in accordance with the NHL’s COVID-19 protocol before he can join the Rangers for informal workouts at the team’s practice facility, his agent, Mike Liut, told The Post. The Finnish winger is expected to be on the ice sometime next week.
New York Rangers Training Camp: Taxi Squad for the shortened season Libor Hajek (AP/ Frank Franklin II)
When the league returned to play last season for the “playoffs” each team brought an expanded roster to it. The New York Rangers had 30 players which included 27 skaters and 3 goaltenders.
For next season, they are talking about expanding the rosters by two, maybe even three players. However, they need to discuss how that will work against the cap. Another item on the docket are “taxi squads”.
According to early reports, these taxis squads would consist of 5 skaters and 1 goalie. The caveat, is they would have to be on an AHL salary (under the $1.075 million threshold you are allowed to bury in the AHL without a cap penalty). No impact to the cap.