Why Kraken are taking chance on former No. 2 draft pick Kaapo Kakko

Kate Shefte, The Seattle Times on Dec 19, 2024

Published in Hockey

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

SEATTLE — The Seattle Kraken made a hopeful deal Wednesday afternoon, trusting they can help Kaapo Kakko rediscover the promise that made the New York Rangers take him No. 2 overall.

"He's played 300 games, but he's still only 23 years old," Kraken general manager Ron Francis said Thursday. "So we just think there's the potential for upside. That's why we made the deal, to take that chance and work with him. Hopefully we can both get his game to where he wants it to be, and where we want it to be."

Francis said they'd been "kicking the tires" on a deal to patch the hole left when captain Jordan Eberle had surgery on his pelvis in late November. He's expected to be away until at least February. On the other side of the country, Chris Drury's New York Rangers were tumbling down the standings, winning three of their past 14 games.

The general managers texted for about a week, per Francis, but talks accelerated in the past 48 hours, continuing during the Kraken's charter flight to Chicago on Wednesday. Maybe he was on the move either way, but Francis reasoned Kakko's comments to New York media about his healthy scratch on Sunday could have been a factor.

A "frustrated" Kakko told the New York Post that he didn't think he'd been "the worst guy" lately for the sinking Rangers, but "I think it's just easy to pick a young guy and boot him out."

"It's kind of an awkward situation, right? You got a disgruntled guy in your locker room," Francis said. "So did that speed things up? It probably did. But at the end of the day, I think (Drury) wasn't just going to do something to do something."

Kakko said he suspected a shake-up. The native of Turku, Finland, had gotten out of a sauna in Dallas with plans to get dinner with the team when he saw he had multiple missed calls from Drury.

He got the news that his six-year tenure in New York was over, that the Kraken had given up defenseman Will Borgen and two draft picks to acquire him. He flew in to meet the Kraken in Chicago, got some sleep, met the team and headed out for morning skate. He had brief discussions about the power play and style of play, and expected to debut Thursday evening against the Blackhawks.

The Kraken reassigned forwards Ryan Winterton and Mitchell Stephens, the latter of whom had been with the Kraken since Nov. 30, to the American Hockey League. This seemingly cleared the way for Kakko to jump directly into the lineup for the streaky, currently struggling Kraken (15-16-2).

"I hope I can get a chance over here," Kakko said. "That's what the coach is telling me over here — just play your game. (That) they can trust me. I think that's all that I need.

"It's on me, so I'm exciting about that, and ready to get out there."

Francis said he'll get that chance right away, dropping into the top-six forwards and onto the power play.

"It's our job to work with him and try and help him find his game and his confidence," Francis said.

While Kakko was learning of his fresh start, Francis met Borgen one-on-one, on the eve of his 28th birthday, to wish him many happy returns, merry Christmas, and good luck in New York.

Francis said he hopes the change is also good for Borgen, who saw his average ice time dip this season. The Kraken signed alternate captain Adam Larsson to a four-year extension in September and another right-shot defenseman, Brandon Montour, to a splashy free-agent deal in July. Borgen, who was once in the Kraken's top four defensemen, would have a hard time edging out either of those two for quite a while. He was all but assured of staying on the third pairing.

Francis said they would be sticking with Josh Mahura, signed as a free agent last summer to a league-minimum deal, in Borgen's spot for the time being.

Borgen is set to become an unrestricted free agent this summer, while Kakko would be a restricted free agent without a new deal. Kakko said there were trade talks before he re-upped with New York following a "bad year." They didn't amount to anything and he signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Rangers in June.

Kakko has already chosen No. 84. He wore No. 24 in New York, but that already belongs to Kraken defenseman Jamie Oleksiak. He went back to a number he's worn in international play.

Kakko and Kraken winger Eeli Tolvanen won World Juniors gold with Finland in 2019. Kakko scored the game winner with1:26 left in the game to send Finland over the U.S., 3-2, in the championship game. Tolvanen, 25, enjoyed a career reboot in Seattle after some healthy scratches of his own in Nashville. The hope is that the former and current teammates will one day have that in common.

Kakko has type 1 diabetes and celiac disease. He's in good hands with both, but particularly the latter. The Kraken, who open a four-game road trip Thursday night in Chicago, have a small dinner group of gluten-avoidant players featuring 23-year-old defenseman Ryker Evans, who also has celiac disease, and goaltender Joey Daccord, who picks the restaurants.