Seattle Krakens right winger Kaapo Kakko is starting to find his new team.
Kakko was selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers, but he never broke out to become the superstar executives thought he would be.
During his Rangers career, he never scored more than 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists in 2022–2023) in a season.
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Seattle Krakens right wing Kaapo Kakko, #84, tosses a toy sockeye salmon to fans after a win against the Utah Hockey Club at the Climate Pledge Arena. (Joe Nicholson-Imagn Photos)
This season with the Rangers, Kakko had just four goals and 10 assists over 30 games this season, averaging just 13:17 minutes of ice time per game. match. The Finnish forward played on the third line and did not receive regular power play minutes.
On December 15, Rangers manager Peter Laviolette designated Kakko a healthy scratch, and then Kakko was traded to the Kraken a few days later. The Kraken acquired Kakko in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen and their third- and sixth-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft. With the Kraken, Kakko is finally receiving consistent first line minutes and producing.
Playing alongside left wing Jaden Schwartz and center Matty Beniers, Kakko has eight points (three goals, five assists) in 11 games.
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Seattle Kraken forward Kaapo Kakko, #84, handles the puck against the Vancouver Canucks in the third period at Rogers Arena. (Bob Frid-Imagn photos)
Kakko is getting more consistent power play minutes and is averaging 15:58 seconds of ice time per game, nearly three minutes more than he got with the Rangers. The 23-year-old has been playing especially well of late with seven points (two goals, five assists) in his last seven games.
Kakko will also play for Team Finland in the upcoming 4 Nations Face-Off, which will give him a chance to showcase his skills in the best-versus-best international tournament. As a teenager, Kakko was very successful on the international stage. Kakko won gold at the IIHF U18 World Championship in 2018, and won gold at both the World Junior Championship and World Championship in 2019 when he was 17 and 18 years old.
In those three tournaments combined, Kakko had 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) in 24 games.
Seattle Krakens right wing Kaapo Kakko, #84, celebrates his second goal of the game with teammates in the third period against the Buffalo Sabers at KeyBank Center. (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Photos)
Finland will compete against Canada, Sweden and the USA in the 4 Nations Face-Off from the 12th-20th. February.
Until the tournament begins, Kakko will look to continue to settle in and produce for his new team.
The Kraken’s next game is against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday at 19:00 ET.
