Seattle Kraken right winger Kaapo Kakko is starting to find his rhythm with his new team.
Kakko was selected second overall in the 2019 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers, but he never managed to become the superstar executives thought he would become.
During his career with the Rangers, he has never scored more than 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists in 2022-2023) in a season.
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Seattle Kraken right wing Kaapo Kakko, #84, tosses a toy sockeye salmon to fans after a victory against the Utah Hockey Club at Climate Pledge Arena. (Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images)
This season with the Rangers, Kakko has only four goals and 10 assists in 30 games this season, averaging just 13:17 of ice time per game. The Finnish forward played on the third line and did not benefit from regular minutes on the power play.
On December 15, Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette left Kakko healthy, then Kakko was traded to the Kraken a few days later. The Kraken acquired Kakko in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen and his third and sixth round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft. With the Kraken, Kakko is finally receiving consistent frontcourt minutes and producing.
Playing alongside left winger 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 Images)
Kakko is enjoying more consistent power play minutes and is averaging 15:58 seconds of ice per game, nearly three minutes more than with the Rangers. The 23-year-old has played especially better lately, with seven points (two goals, five assists) in his last seven games.
Kakko will also play for Team Finland in the upcoming 4 Nations showdown, giving him the opportunity to showcase his skills in the international best-on-best tournament. As a teenager, Kakko enjoyed great success on the international stage. Kakko won gold at the IIHF U18 World Championship in 2018, and won gold at 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 Kraken right wing Kaapo Kakko, #84, celebrates his second goal of the game with his teammates during the third period against the Buffalo Sabers at KeyBank Center. (Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn Images)
Finland will face Canada, Sweden and the United States in the 4-nation showdown from February 12-20.
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 7 p.m. ET.
