Rangers sign Urho Vaakanainen to two-year contract extension
The New York Rangers announced Friday that defenseman Urho Vaakanainen has been signed to a two-year contract extension.
#NYR and Urho Vaakanainen have agreed to terms on a two-year contract extension. pic.twitter.com/Af8jkSPpfD
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) March 7, 2025
The Rangers’ blueliner signed for $3.1 million, with an annual average value (AAV) of $1.55 million.
New York has signed Urho Vaakanainen to a two-year, $3.10 million contract extension ($1.55 million AAV). https://t.co/guAhMJJqVI
— Daily Faceoff – Fantasy (@DFOFantasy) March 7, 2025
The 26-year-old defender has two goals and seven assists in nine points in 30 games with the Rangers this season after being acquired in a trade with the Anaheim Ducks that sent former Rangers captain Jacob Trouba out west.
The Joensuu, Finland, native has played 171 career games between the Rangers, Ducks and Boston Bruins, scoring three goals and 31 assists. Last season in Anaheim, the 6-foot-2 defender had a career-high 13 assists and career-high 14 points.
Vaakanainen represented Finland in February’s 4 Nations Face-Off, as well as in three consecutive World Junior Championships between 2017 and 2019. Taken No. 18 overall in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, Vaakanainen helped Finland win gold at the World Under-18 Championships.
The Rangers are 31-26-5 with 67 points this season, fifth in the Metropolitan Division. They’re right in the thick of the Eastern Conference playoff race, one point behind the Columbus Blue Jackets for one of the Wild Card spots, and just five points back of the New Jersey Devils in the Metropolitan.
Forward Artemi Panarin leads New York in both goals and points, scoring 26 goals and 38 assists for 64 points in 60 games. J.T. Miller, whom the team acquired just a month ago, is second in points with 16 goals and 33 assists for 49 points in 52 games.
Defenseman Adam Fox, who won the Calder Trophy in 2021, has five goals and 43 assists for 48 points in 58 games.