In a stunning move, the New York Rangers have traded 23-year-old forward Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken. Going the other way are defenseman Will Borgen and two draft picks – a third-rounder and sixth-rounder in 2025. The trade ends Kakko’s tumultuous tenure in New York after being selected 2nd overall in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Kakko, who has struggled to live up to his draft hype, has just 4 goals and 14 points in 30 games this season. The Finnish winger had been the subject of trade rumors for years as he failed to carve out a consistent role with the Rangers. Most recently, Kakko was a healthy scratch on Sunday against St. Louis, a decision by coach Pete Laviolette that clearly didn’t sit well with the young forward.
“They’re going to say if they have something to say, but I’m not going there,” Kakko told reporters about the benching, claiming all he was told is he “needed to do something.”
For the Kraken, acquiring Kakko is a bet on untapped potential. The 6-foot-3 power forward was considered a can’t-miss prospect coming out of Finland but hasn’t been able to translate his skill into NHL production thus far. Seattle will hope a change of scenery can help Kakko finally break out.
Details of the Deal
In return for Kakko, the Rangers receive 25-year-old right-shot defenseman Will Borgen. A 2016 fourth-round pick of Buffalo, Borgen was selected by Seattle in the 2021 expansion draft and has developed into a solid top-4 blueliner, posting a career-high 25 points last season. However, he’s taken a step back under new Kraken head coach Dan Bylsma this year.
The Rangers are hoping a fresh start can help Borgen rediscover his game. New York also adds two mid-round picks in the 2025 draft. Kakko is a pending RFA this summer while Borgen will be a UFA, so both players could be on expiring deals with their new clubs.
Rangers Admit Defeat on Kakko
For New York, moving on from Kakko represents a disappointing end to a once-promising union. GM Chris Drury had been fielding offers for the Finn since last season but wanted to give him one more chance to prove himself. However, with Kakko still underwhelming and set to hit RFA status again, the Rangers decided to cut bait now rather than risk losing him for nothing in the offseason.
- Kakko’s Rangers career ends with 61 goals and 131 points in 330 games
- 2nd overall pick in 2019 will now get a fresh start in Seattle
Kraken Take Low-Risk Gamble
While the Kraken give up a solid piece in Borgen, the chance to buy low on Kakko’s tantalizing skill set was too good to pass up for GM Ron Francis. Seattle has performed above expectations in their second season but still lacks game-breaking offensive talent up front. If Kakko can finally put it all together, he could be a steal of an addition and a cornerstone player for the Kraken long-term.
The key for Kakko will be utilizing his rare combination of size, skating and puck skills more consistently. Throughout his Rangers tenure, he would show flashes of dominance but struggle to make an impact for long stretches. A more defined top-6 role in a lower-pressure environment with Seattle could be just what he needs to gain confidence.
Outlook and Analysis
This trade seems to carry more upside for the Kraken, though it’s a reasonable gamble for both sides. Kakko is a worthwhile reclamation project for Seattle to take on, while the Rangers get a useful right-shot D-man in Borgen plus some added draft capital for a player they likely would have lost in free agency anyway.
Still, there will be immense pressure on Kakko to live up to his potential with the Kraken. As a 2nd overall pick, expectations have always been sky-high – perhaps unrealistically so. But at age 23, the clock is ticking for him to establish himself as an impact NHLer. The Kraken offer a great opportunity for Kakko to rewrite the script on his career. Now we’ll see if he can seize it.
