Urho Vaakanainen - NHL News & Rumors

Pockets assist Vaakanainen notched an assist in Tuesday's 2-1 loss to the Flames.

Impact Vaakanainen ended a 10-game point drought, though he had a three-point outing prior to that slump. In Tuesday's contest, he set up Artemi Panarin's 30th goal of the season. Vaakanainen is at 11 points, 34 shots on net, 43 blocked shots and a plus-3 rating over 42 appearances between the Rangers and the Ducks. He's been paired with Adam Fox in recent contests, so Vaakanainen may get a bit more residual offense, but he's still a shutdown defender by nature.

2 DAYS AGO • ROTOWIRE

Kadri, Coronato each score as Flames beat Rangers 2-1

Nazem Kadri and Matt Coronato scored first-period goals and the Calgary Flames beat the New York Rangers 2-1

3 DAYS AGO • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Rangers Agree to Terms with Urho Vaakanainen | New York Rangers New York Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury announced today that the team has agreed to terms with defenseman Urho Vaakanaine...

MARCH 7 • NHL.COM

Signs two-year extension Vaakanainen inked a two-year contract extension Friday.

Impact The 26-year-old defenseman was selected 18th overall by the Bruins in 2017 and was dealt from Anaheim to the Rangers on Dec. 6 in the Jacob Trouba trade. Vaakanainen has established himself with the Rangers and has two goals, seven assist and 26 blocked shots in 30 games with New York this season.

MARCH 7 • ROTOWIRE

Three points in win Tuesday Vaakanainen recorded a goal and two assists in Tuesday's 5-1 win over the Islanders.

Impact Vaakanainen gave the Rangers a 1-0 lead at the 6:22 mark of the first period, scoring with a shot from the top of the right circle that deflected off Islanders defenseman Scott Perunovich. It was his second goal across his last four outings, but his impressive outing didn't stop there, as he also notched two helpers throughout the rest of the game. He's up to nine points in 26 contests this season, with four of those points coming in his last four appearances.

FEBRUARY 26 • ROTOWIRE

Rangers' Urho Vaakanainen equates 4 Nations experience to NHL postseason Urho Vaakanainen is in his seventh NHL season, and the Rangers are his third team, but the 26-year-old defenseman never has reached the play...

FEBRUARY 21 • NYPOST.COM

Credited with goal Vaakanainen scored a goal in Saturday's 4-3 win over the Blue Jackets.

Impact Vaakanainen initially wasn't credited with the goal, but a late scoring change made it his first tally as a Ranger. It's also his first goal of the campaign to go with six assists over 28 appearances when accounting for his time with the Ducks at the start of the season. He's added 16 shots on net, 29 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating. Vaakanainen has typically maintained a third-pairing role over Zac Jones, though both could end up out of the lineup if the Rangers make any more moves to add defensemen.

FEBRUARY 9 • ROTOWIRE

Ready to play Vaakanainen (illness) will suit up Saturday versus the Blue Jackets, Mollie Walker of the New York Post reports.

Impact Vaakanainen will return to the lineup after a two-game absence. He'll bump Zac Jones back to the press box as a healthy scratch. Vaakanainen has earned five assists and a plus-3 rating over 16 contests since the start of January. He'll play on the third pairing in his return.

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Game-time call Saturday Vaakanainen (illness) is expected to be a game-time decision Saturday versus Columbus, per Mollie Walker of the New York Post.

Impact Vaakanainen has six assists, 12 PIM, 12 hits and 29 blocks in 27 appearances between Anaheim and the Rangers this season. He's missed the past two games due to the illness. If Vaakanainen plays Saturday, it will likely be as part of the third pairing.

FEBRUARY 8 • ROTOWIRE

Still under the weather Vaakanainen (illness) won't be in action versus the Penguins on Friday, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.

Impact Vaakanainen will miss his second straight game due to his illness and probably should be considered a long shot at this point to play in the second game of the Rangers' back-to-back versus Columbus on Saturday -- though it's at least not a daytime contest. With Vaakanainen unavailable, Zac Jones figures to stay in the lineup after logging 13:30 of ice time against Boston on Wednesday.

FEBRUARY 7 • ROTOWIRE

Sitting out Wednesday Vaakanainen (illness) won't play versus the Bruins on Wednesday.

Impact This will be Vaakanainen's first game out of the lineup since he returned from an upper-body injury in December following his trade to the Rangers from the Ducks. Zac Jones will get a chance to check into the lineup. Vaakanainen can be considered day-to-day ahead of Friday's game versus the Penguins.

FEBRUARY 5 • ROTOWIRE

Finland names Jokiharju and Vaakanainen as 4 Nations replacements for Heiskanen and Hakanpää

Finland is adding defensemen Henri Jokiharju of the Buffalo Sabres and Urho Vaakanainen of the New York Rangers to its roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off

FEBRUARY 1 • ASSOCIATED PRESS

Logs assist in Thursday's win Vaakanainen notched an assist and two blocked shots in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Flyers.

Impact Vaakanainen has three helpers over his last five contests. He's played well during a stretch in which the Rangers are 7-0-3, which has helped the Finn stay in the lineup over Zac Jones. Vaakanainen is up to five assists, 12 shots on net, 26 blocked shots and a plus-2 rating through 23 appearances between the Rangers and the Ducks this season.

JANUARY 24 • ROTOWIRE

Produces helper in win Vaakanainen logged an assist in Thursday's 5-3 win over Utah.

Impact Vaakanainen has held a third-pairing role since making his Rangers debut Dec. 17, which has largely kept Zac Jones out of the lineup. Vaakanainen hasn't done much on offense with two helpers over 14 contests. He's at three assists, nine shots on net, 22 blocked shots and an even plus-minus rating over 19 appearances between the Rangers and the Ducks this season.

JANUARY 17 • ROTOWIRE

Bags apple Saturday Vaakanainen registered an assist and a plus-2 rating during Saturday's 7-4 loss to the Capitals.

Impact Vaakanainen's helper on Filip Chytil's third-period strike marked his first point since arriving to the Rangers as part of the Jacob Trouba trade on Dec. 6. The 26-year-old is currently slotted on the top power-play unit, but the Finnish blueliner may not enjoy such a plumb special teams assignment for long if he can't generate offense more regularly and therefore remains a merely speculative fantasy asset.

JANUARY 4 • ROTOWIRE

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.

DECEMBER 17, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

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

DECEMBER 7, 2024 • 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, 2024 • 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, 2024 • 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, 2024 • 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, 2024 • 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, 2024 • 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, 2024 • 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, 2024 • 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, 2024 • ROTOWIRE

URHO VAAKANAINEN NEWS

NEWS

BIO

STATS

VIDEOS

GAME LOG

INJURIES

Kadri, Coronato each score as Flames beat Rangers 2-1

Finland names Jokiharju and Vaakanainen as 4 Nations replacements for Heiskanen and Hakanpää