Kakko was traded from the Rangers to the Kraken on Wednesday in exchange for Will Borgen, a 2025 third-round pick and a 2025 sixth-round pick, Arthur Staple of The Athletic reports.
The Rangers continue to retool their roster amid a brutal slump, and this time, it'll lead to them parting with the second-overall pick from 2019. Kakko has yet to live up to that draft position -- his best season was in 2022-23 when he had 18 goals and 40 points in 82 games. Kakko should slot into a middle-six role and have a better chance at power-play time in Seattle, but his new team's offense-by-committee approach is unlikely to unlock more scoring in his game.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Hands out helper Sunday
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Kakko logged an assist and two hits in Sunday's 7-5 loss to the Kraken.
Kakko has contributed three points over his last nine games. The 23-year-old winger set up a Filip Chytil tally in the second period of Sunday's loss. Kakko has 14 points, 41 shots on net, 17 hits, 14 PIM and a plus-10 rating over 26 appearances, though he's slowed down after starting the season hot. Despite the drop in production, he remains firmly in a third-line role.
Kakko scored a power-play goal, had two shots on net and blocked an attempt in Saturday's 4-3 win over Montreal.
Kakko won it for the Rangers with just 24 seconds left in the third while Montreal's Kirby Dach was in the box serving a double-minor for high-sticking. It was the first power-play tally (second point) for Kakko, who is a regular on the second unit. He's up to four goals, nine assists, 38 shots, 13 hits, seven blocks, 14 PIM and a plus-11 rating over 23 outings.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Goal, assist in win
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Kakko scored a goal on three shots, added an assist and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Canucks.
Kakko and Will Cuylle set up each other's goals in this contest. With four points over his last four games, Kakko is starting to find some offense again after he opened November with four scoreless outings. The winger is up to three goals, 11 points, 27 shots on net, 14 PIM and a plus-12 rating through 17 appearances in a third-line role this season.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Sends helper in win
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Kakko logged an assist and two hits in Sunday's 2-0 win over the Kraken.
Kakko set up a Zac Jones tally in the third period. This was Kakko's second point in the last three games, though that follows a stretch of four contests in which he was held off the scoresheet. The winger is up to two goals, seven assists, 24 shots on net, nine hits, 14 PIM and a plus-10 rating over 16 outings this season. He's been solid in a third-line role, but that usage doesn't promise consistency.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: First goal in eight games
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Kakko scored a goal in a 6-3 loss to Winnipeg on Tuesday.
The goal was his first in eight games, and the point was his first in five contests. Kakko has managed a modest eight points (two goals, six assists) in 14 games, and if he can maintain the pace, he'll establish a new career mark in points (40 is his best; 2022-23). Kakko could even see an uptick in production, as his 8.3 shooting percentage is well below his 12.0 career mark.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Deals helper in loss
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Kakko notched an assist in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Capitals.
Kakko set up linemate Will Cuylle for a first-period goal. That duo, along with center Filip Chytil, have emerged as a strong third line for the Rangers' deep offense. Kakko has seven points this season, five of which he's earned over the last four contests. The Finnish winger has added 14 shots on net, 12 PIM and a plus-9 rating through nine appearances overall.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Goal, two assists in win
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Kakko scored a goal on three shots and had two assists, including one on the power play, in Tuesday's 7-2 win over Montreal. He added one block, one hit, two PIM and a plus-2 to his line.
Kakko caught goalie Cayden Primeau napping with his shot from the right faceoff circle to cap the scoring on the night. The 23-year-old forward earlier assisted on tallies by Braden Schneider and Filip Chytil. Kakko is off to a strong start with five points and a plus-7 through six outings.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Slides helper Saturday
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Kakko recorded an assist and went plus-3 in Saturday's 6-5 overtime loss to Utah.
Kakko and linemates Will Cuylle and Filip Chytil were effective at both ends of the ice in the high-scoring contest. Through two games, Kakko has one assist, six shots on net and a plus-4 rating, and he's maintained a spot on the second power-play unit. The winger is still relatively unproven on offense after he was limited to 19 points in 61 regular-season games last season, one year after a 40-point effort.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Agrees to one-year deal
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Kakko signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Rangers on Thursday, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.
Kakko was set to become a restricted free agent in July after completing his two-year, $4.2 million contract. He struggled in 2023-24, recording just 13 goals and 19 points across 61 regular-season contests after setting career highs with 18 goals and 40 points in 82 regular-season outings in 2022-23. The 23-year-old can't be counted out, but he certainly hasn't lived up to his potential after being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Look for him to open next season as a part of the Rangers' middle six.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Offers helper Saturday
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Kakko logged an assist in Saturday's 4-3 loss to the Hurricanes in Game 4.
Kakko set up a Will Cuylle tally in the first period. Through eight playoff outings, Kakko has two points, 12 shots on net, six hits and a plus-1 rating. The winger had just 19 points over 61 regular-season games, and his lack of steady offense is a large reason why he's been limited to a bottom-six role in the postseason.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Finds twine early in Game 4
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Kakko scored a goal on three shots in Sunday's 4-2 win over the Capitals in Game 4.
Kakko tallied just 57 seconds into the contest. He snapped a nine-game point drought with the goal. Over four playoff outings, Kakko has eight shots on net, six hits and a plus-1 rating while logging bottom-six minutes. With the Rangers enjoying relatively good health, Kakko doesn't have an obvious path to a larger role, so his offense is likely to remain limited.
Kakko scored an unassisted goal during Thursday's 3-2 shootout win over Colorado.
The tally is Kakko's 11th goal of the year. While he has just 16 points through 52 games, his scoring rate has improved some over recent weeks. He now has three goals and four points over the last seven games.
Kakko scored a power-play goal on four shots in Saturday's 4-0 win over St. Louis.
Kakko put the finishing touches on the Rangers' shutout victory, burying a rebound on the power play to extend the lead to 4-0 in the third period. The goal was Kakko's first point in six games, though he continues to play a solid two-way game on New York's third line. The 23-year-old Kakko is up to eight goals and 12 points through 42 games this season.
Kakko scored the game-winning goal in Tuesday's 3-2 victory over the Stars.
The 23-year-old winger gave the Rangers a 2-0 lead midway through the second period, taking advantage of the open ice during a 4-on-4 situation and going top shelf on Scott Wedgewood from the faceoff dot. Kakko hasn't had a multi-point performance all season, but he has found his way onto the scoresheet in five straight games and has four goals and seven points in the last nine contests. The second overall pick in the 2019 Draft has yet to put together a breakout campaign in the NHL, but he might be heating up for the stretch run.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Scores Thursday
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Kakko scored a goal on two shots in Thursday's 7-4 win over Montreal.
Kakko put the finishing touch on the Rangers' offensive outburst Thursday, skating through the Habs' defense before beating Sam Montembeault with a wrister to extend New York's lead to 7-3 midway through the third period. The 23-year-old Kakko now has points in three straight games and six points (four goals, two assists) in 13 contests since returning from a 21-game stint on IR. While he's been limited to primarily a third-line role, Kakko's demonstrated some chemistry with Will Cuylle and Jonny Brodzinski on the third line. Kakko's up to six goals and nine points through 33 games this season.
