Kaapo Kakko Thriving In His New Role With Kraken

It’s safe to say that a fresh start has benefited Kaapo Kakko.

The New York Rangers traded Kakko to the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 18 and he has taken off ever since.

In 10 games with the Kraken, the 23-year-old forward has recorded three goals, four assists and seven points.

He is also averaging 15:59 minutes per game compared to his 13:17 minutes with the Rangers, which is a substantial increase.

Kakko scored two goals on Saturday night as he propelled Seattle to a 6-2 victory over the Buffalo Sabres. It marked the first time he scored twice over the span of one game in nearly three years.

It was clear that Kakko’s time in New York had run its course and now he is playing more freely without all the pressure he faced with the Rangers.

He’s not the second overall pick anymore with all these high expectations. Kakko is just another one of the guys and all eyes are not glued to his every move anymore.

That must be a refreshing feeling for Kakko, something that he fully deserves.