Urho Vaakanainen - NHL News & Rumors

Suiting up Tuesday Vaakanainen (upper body) will make his debut with the Rangers on Tuesday against the Predators, per Vince Z. Mercogliano of USA Today.

Impact Vaakanainen was acquired in a trade by the Rangers from the Ducks on Dec. 6. The left-shot blueliner hasn't suited up since Nov. 13 due to his injury. Vaakanainen will skate on the third pair alongside Chad Ruhwedel, and Connor Mackey will come out of the lineup.

3 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

NYR Practice: Urho Vaakanainen, Brett Berard and Zac Jones Media Availability | December 7, 2024

DECEMBER 7 • YOUTUBE

Rangers Acquire 2025 Fourth-Round Pick and Urho Vaakanainen in Exchange for Jacob Trouba | New York Rangers New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has acquired a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Dr...

DECEMBER 6 • NHL.COM

Dealt to Big Apple 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,...

Impact 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 the Rangers' 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.

DECEMBER 6 • ROTOWIRE

Placed on injured reserve Vaakanainen (upper body) was put on injured reserve Wednesday.

Impact Vaakanainen hasn't played since Nov. 13, so he can be activated at any time, but it seems safe to believe Anaheim wouldn't have made this move unless he wasn't an option for Wednesday's tilt against Vegas. The 25-year-old has an assist and seven blocks in five appearances in 2024-25. Cam Fowler (upper body) was activated off injured reserve in a corresponding move.

DECEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Not playing Sunday Vaakanainen won't be available for Sunday's home contest versus Ottawa.

Impact Vaakanainen will miss his eighth consecutive game. Drew Helleson has received consistent playing time on the third defensive pairing as a result of Vaakanainen's absence.

DECEMBER 2 • ROTOWIRE

Not playing Sunday Vaakanainen (upper body) won't be available for Sunday's home contest versus Ottawa.

Impact Vaakanainen will miss his eighth consecutive game. Drew Helleson has received consistent playing time on the third defensive pairing as a result of Vaakanainen's absence.

DECEMBER 2 • ROTOWIRE

Remains unavailable Vaakanainen (upper body) won't be in the lineup Friday versus the Kings, according to Derek Lee of The Hockey News.

Impact Vaakanainen hasn't played for Anaheim since Nov. 13. He has an assist and seven blocks in five outings in 2024-25. When available, Vaakanainen might serve on the third pairing.

NOVEMBER 29 • ROTOWIRE

Still out Wednesday Vaakanainen (upper body) won't play Wednesday versus the Kraken.

Impact Vaakanainen will miss his sixth game in a row. At this point, he can be considered out indefinitely until the Ducks provide an update on the defenseman's status. Drew Helleson is likely to stay in the lineup on the third pairing during Vaakanainen's absence.

NOVEMBER 28 • ROTOWIRE

Out Monday Vaakanainen (upper body) isn't available for Monday's tilt against Seattle, per Derek Lee of The Hockey News.

Impact Vaakanainen hasn't been in the lineup since Nov. 13. He has an assist and seven blocks in five appearances in 2024-25. Vaakanainen might draw into the lineup as a member of the third pairing once he recovers, but he also might be a healthy scratch.

NOVEMBER 26 • ROTOWIRE

Won't play Friday Vaakanainen (upper body) won't play Friday versus the Sabres, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports.

Impact This will be Vaakanainen's fourth straight game out of the lineup. Drew Helleson has been playing in place of Vaakanainen. It's unclear if the 25-year-old will be able to play Monday versus the Kraken, as there has not been much information about his recovery.

NOVEMBER 23 • ROTOWIRE

Out again Tuesday Vaakanainen (upper body) won't play Tuesday versus the Blackhawks, Derek Lee of The Hockey News reports.

Impact Vaakanainen is set to miss his third contest with this injury. The 25-year-old defenseman does not have a clear timeline to return. His next chance to play is Friday versus the Sabres.

NOVEMBER 20 • ROTOWIRE

Unavailable Monday Vaakanainen (upper body) won't suit up Monday against Dallas.

Impact Vaakanainen will miss his second straight contest, and it's not yet known if he's close to returning. The 25-year-old has collected an assist through five appearances this season. Drew Helleson will make his second appearance of the season on the third defensive pairing.

NOVEMBER 19 • ROTOWIRE

Dealing with upper-body injury Vaakanainen will miss Friday's game with an upper-body injury and is considered day-to-day beyond that.

Impact Vaakanainen sustained the injury Wednesday versus Vegas. The 25-year-old defenseman could be in the mix to cover for the absence of Cam Fowler (upper body) once Vaakanainen is able to return.

NOVEMBER 16 • ROTOWIRE

Suffers undisclosed injury Vaakanainen (undisclosed) missed Thursday's practice, per Derek Lee of The Hockey News, and consequently isn't expected to play Friday versus Detroit.

Impact Vaakanainen suffered the injury during Wednesday's 3-2 loss to Vegas. He has an assist in five appearances with Anaheim in 2024-25. When healthy, Vaakanainen is an option for the third pairing, though he also spends time in the press box.

NOVEMBER 15 • ROTOWIRE

Draws assist Friday Vaakanainen logged an assist in Friday's 5-2 loss to the Wild.

Impact Vaakanainen stayed in the lineup for the second game in a row since Cam Fowler (upper body) was unavailable. The 25-year-old Vaakanainen has played in three games this season, earning two shots on net, five blocked shots, two PIM and a plus-1 rating. He'll likely see a fairly limited role when he plays while also being a candidate to be scratched when the Ducks' defense is fully healthy.

NOVEMBER 9 • ROTOWIRE

Not getting much playing time Vaakanainen was scratched for the 10th time in 11 games when he sat out Sunday's 4-2 loss to the Blackhawks.

Impact Vaakanainen signed a one-year deal to remain with the Ducks in July after he was not given a qualifying offer in June. The 25-year-old defenseman has served as a healthy scratch most of the time, though he's now the only spare blueliner in Anaheim after Tristan Luneau was reassigned to AHL San Diego on Friday. Vaakanainen may rotate into the lineup for one of the Ducks' younger defensemen at times, but it would likely take another player's injury for him to have a chance at steady playing time.

NOVEMBER 4 • ROTOWIRE

Staying with Ducks Vaakanainen signed a one-year deal with Anaheim on Monday.

Impact Vaakanainen scored 14 points in 68 games with the Ducks last season and did not receive a qualifying offer before hitting free agency. The 25-year-old should fill a bottom-four role during the 2024-25 campaign.

JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE

Does not receive QO Vaakanainen will become an unrestricted free agent Monday after not receiving a qualifying offer from the Ducks, Eric Stephens of The Athletic reports.

Impact Vaakanainen scored 14 points in 68 games last season and did not receive consistent playing time down the stretch. He was a first-round pick in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft but has been held to 24 points in 136 career NHL contest.

JULY 1 • ROTOWIRE

Can't keep steady role Vaakanainen was scratched for four of the Ducks' last 11 games.

Impact Vaakanainen set a career high with 68 games played in 2023-24, picking up 14 points, 67 shots on net, 55 hits and 79 blocked shots. He was generally solid in a bottom-four role, but he couldn't maintain an everyday role in the second half of the season. Vaakanainen is a pending restricted free agent.

APRIL 19 • ROTOWIRE

Picks up assist Thursday Vaakanainen registered a shorthanded assist in Thursday's 4-2 loss to the Kraken.

Impact Vaakanainen helped out on an Isac Lundestrom tally early in the third period. With four helpers over 12 appearances in March, Vaakanainen has put together a solid month for a depth defenseman. He's at 14 points, 63 shots on net, 74 blocked shots, 44 hits and 24 PIM through 62 appearances this season, though he's no guarantee to be in the lineup every game.

MARCH 29 • ROTOWIRE

Bags apple in win Vaakanainen recorded an assist in Thursday's 4-0 win over the Blackhawks.

Impact Vaakanainen has two assists, five shots on net, eight hits and nine blocked shots over his last six outings. The 25-year-old defenseman continues to see steady bottom-four usage for the Ducks, but the team's scoring troubles will suppress his offense. For the season, the Finn is at 13 points, 63 shots on net, 71 blocked shots, 42 hits, 24 PIM and an even plus-minus rating through 60 appearances.

MARCH 22 • ROTOWIRE

Records assist Tuesday Vaakanainen posted an assist in Tuesday's 7-2 loss to the Blackhawks.

Impact Vaakanainen set up the second of Brett Leason's two goals in the loss. While he's not a huge scoring threat, Vaakanainen has three helpers over his last nine outings. He's still at risk of the occasional healthy scratch with the Ducks carrying eight defensemen. Vaakanainen has 12 points, 58 shots on net, 63 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating through 55 appearances in a bottom-four role.

MARCH 13 • ROTOWIRE

Posts helper Vaakanainen registered an assist in Sunday's 2-1 loss to the Canucks.

Impact Vaakanainen has two helpers over his last six games. The 25-year-old defenseman is still at risk of being an occasional scratch, but the Ducks' trades of Jamie Drysdale and Ilya Lyubushkin have opened up more consistent playing time for the remaining blueliners. Vaakanainen has a career-high 11 points with 54 shots on net, 60 blocked shots, 30 hits and a plus-1 rating over 52 appearances.

MARCH 4 • ROTOWIRE

Supplies assist in loss Vaakanainen recorded an assist and two hits in Wednesday's 7-4 loss to the Blue Jackets.

Impact Vaakanainen snapped a five-game point drought Wednesday after being scratched Monday versus the Sabres. The 25-year-old defenseman has been a regular presence in the Ducks' lineup this season, though he still sits out every now and then. He's collected 10 points, 49 shots on net, 57 blocked shots and a minus-1 rating over 47 appearances.

FEBRUARY 22 • ROTOWIRE

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