Though Will Borgen’s recent success and well-earned contract extension have rightfully been a hot topic lately, Urho Vaakanainen’s improvement and play has flown under the radar. Borgen gets credit for stabilizing the Rangers shutdown defense pair and helping K’Andre Miller right the ship. But Vaakanainen has played a crucial role in stabilizing the Rangers’ defense as well, notably giving the Rangers a solid enough third pair.
The Rangers traded defenseman Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks in exchange for Urho Vaakanainen and a 2025 fourth-round pick, in a move the Rangers desperately needed to make to address locker room concerns. Before the trade, Vaakanainen, a former 1st round pick in 2017, had only appeared in five games for Anaheim this season due to an upper-body injury.
Vaakanainen has battled injuries throughout his career, which subsequently led to his inclusion in the Hampus Lindholm trade to Boston in 2022. However, he managed to stay healthy last season, suiting up for a career-high 68 games and recording one goal and 13 assists. When he made his Rangers debut on December 17 against the Nashville Predators, expectations were uncertain.
Urho Vaakanainen is a solid, defense-first, bottom-pairing player. He won’t drive offense or fill the scoresheet, but he’s reliable in his own zone, makes a good first pass, and is a noticeable upgrade over Drury. His skating ability also aligns well with Peter Laviolette’s forechecking (2-1-2 and 1-3-1) and defensive zone (hybrid man-zone) schemes.
So far, he’s lived up to that role, improving steadily. In 20 games with the Rangers, Urho Vaakanainen has a +2 rating, five assists, and averages 15:19 of ice time per game. His arrival—and the adjustment period that followed—has coincided with the Rangers’ resurgence. During this stretch, the team’s defensive corps has found stability, helping them go on a ten-game point streak and positioning themselves firmly in the playoff race.
Vaakanainen, alongside Borgen, has brought much-needed steadiness to the blue line, forming a reliable second pairing with Braden Schneider. Earlier in the season, the Rangers struggled mightily in their own zone, but with Trouba’s departure and the arrivals of Borgen and Vaakanainen, the defensive unit has become more mobile and structured. That shift has played a major role in the team’s turnaround.
While Borgen has rightfully earned praise for his contributions—particularly in aiding K’Andre Miller’s development—Urho Vaakanainen also deserves recognition for his impact. His presence has helped transform the Rangers’ defense, making him an unsung hero in their push back into contention.
