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Kraken Hit Home Run With Acquisition Of Former New York Rangers Young Star Kakko

adam proteau
·2 min read

The Seattle Kraken got ahead of the NHL’s holiday roster freeze Thursday at midnight, pulling off a nice piece of business with the acquisition of right winger Kaapo Kakko from the New York Rangers in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen, a third-round draft pick in 2025 and a 2025 sixth-rounder.

The Rangers had healthy-scratched Kakko in Sunday’s game against St. Louis, and while this wasn’t the first time Kakko had been scratched as a Ranger, it would be the last. The 23-year-old Finnish native – selected second-overall by the Blueshirts in 2019 – had generated only four goals and 14 points in 30 games this season, but he’s only two years removed from an 18-goal, 40-point NHL season.

One of the reasons this at first glance is a major win for Seattle is the relatively small price they had to pay for Kakko. The 27-year-old Borgen is averaging only 15:12 of ice time this season, and he’s scheduled to be a UFA this coming summer. Trading Borgen and two draft picks that aren’t going to be assets guaranteed of an NHL career isn’t that much at all, and in return for them, Seattle gets a solid two-way forward in Kakko whose best days in hockey's top league are likely still ahead.

Related: Seattle Kraken's Will Borgen Among Growing Legion of Minnesota-Born NHL Skaters

Kakko can now develop away from the harsh spotlight of New York City, and the Kraken could have a long-term piece of the puzzle who still will only be an RFA next summer. Seattle GM Ron Francis helped out the Rangers in the defensive depth department with Borgen, but the reality is Borgen wasn’t a long-term fit with the Kraken, and Francis turned Borgen into a player who may stay in Seattle for the next decade or longer. That has to be considered a major win for the Kraken.

Sometimes you don’t need to wait until the trade deadline to capitalize on a player’s value. And in this case, that was true for Seattle. Borgen’s value wasn’t going to increase, and Kakko’s value was probably about as low as it would get. Francis recognized that disparity, and he made it work for the Kraken.

Seattle fans will no doubt welcome Kakko, and he now needs to jump-start a career that had stalled in New York. Time will tell how it all works out, but right now, the trade seems like a can’t-go-wrong move for the Kraken.