The New York Rangers announced on Friday, just hours before the 2025 NHL Trade Deadline, that defenseman Urho Vaakanainen has signed a two-year, $3.1 million contract extension with the team. The deal carries an average annual value of $1.55 million.
Prior to signing the extension, the 26-year-old defenseman was set to become an unrestricted free agent on July 1. Rangers President and General Manager Chris Drury secured Vaakanainen, who was acquired from the Anaheim Ducks in a trade on Dec. 6. The deal sent defenseman Jacob Trouba to Anaheim in exchange for Vaakanainen and a fourth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.
A native of Joensuu, Finland, Vaakanainen has played in 171 NHL games across stints with the Rangers, Ducks, and Boston Bruins, tallying 34 career points.
Since joining the Rangers, he has recorded nine points (two goals, seven assists) and a plus-2 rating in 30 games. Since making his debut with New York on Dec. 17, he ranks tied for third among team defensemen in assists, fourth in points, and tied for fourth in plus/minus.
Standing at 6’2″ and weighing 205 pounds, Vaakanainen was originally drafted by Boston in the first round (18th overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft. Most recently, he represented Finland in the February 4 Nations Face-Off. On the international stage, he also played in three consecutive World Junior Championships (2017-19) and helped Finland secure medals at the 2016 (gold) and 2017 (silver) World U-18 Championships.
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