Seattle Kraken right winger Kaapo Kakko is starting to find his groove with his new team.
Kakko was selected with the second overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers, but never became 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 Kraken right wing Kaapo Kakko, #84, throws a toy sockeye salmon to fans following a win against the Utah Hockey Club at Climate Pledge Arena. (Joe Nicholson-Imagn Images)
This season with the Rangers, Kakko scored just four goals and 10 assists in 30 games this season, averaging just 13:17 minutes of ice time per game. The Finnish forward played on the third line and did not receive regular power play minutes.
On December 15, Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette made Kakko healthy, 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 front-line minutes and producing.
Playing alongside left back 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. (Images by Bob Frid-Imagn)
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 was getting 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 a chance to showcase his skills in the international tournament among the best. 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 scored 22 points (12 goals, 10 assists) in 24 games.
Seattle Kraken right wing Kaapo Kakko, #84, celebrates his second goal of the game with teammates during the third period against the Buffalo Sabers at KeyBank Center. (Images by Timothy T. Ludwig-Imagn)
Finland will compete against Canada, Sweden and the United States in the 4 Nations Showdown from February 12-20.
Until the tournament begins, Kakko will look to continue adapting and producing for his new team.
The Kraken’s next game is against the Pittsburgh Penguins on Tuesday at 7:00 pm ET.
