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Former Boston Bruins First-Round Pick Waived By Rangers
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- Former Boston Bruins First-Round Pick Waived By Rangers
A former Boston Bruins first-round pick has hit the waiver wire with the regular-season almost here.
According to PuckPedia, the New York Rangers have placed former Bruins defenseman Urho Vaakanainen on waivers.
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Vaakanainen hitting waivers comes after he posted six assists, 14 penalty minutes, 26 blocks, and an even plus/minus rating in 34 games with the Rangers during the 2025-26 season.
Teams looking for more defensive depth could consider taking a flier on Vaakanainen with a waiver claim. The eight-year NHL veteran has a decent amount of NHL experience and could work well as a bottom-pairing or seventh defenseman for another club.
Vaakanainen was selected by the Bruins in the first round of the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, 18th overall. He played four seasons with Boston from 2018-19 to 2021-22, where he posted six assists, 21 hits, 34 blocks, and a minus-2 rating.
Vaakanainen's time with the Bruins ended when he was traded to the Anaheim Ducks during the 2021-22 season in the deal that brought Hampus Lindholm to Boston.
In 221 career NHL games over eight seasons split between the Bruins, Ducks, and Rangers, Vaakanainen has posted three goals, 43 assists, 46 points, 141 hits, 232 blocks, and a minus-15 rating.
