The New York Rangers traded Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday, ending the winger’s tumultuous time in the organization.
The Rangers received defenseman Will Borgen, a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round pick from Seattle in the deal, which came less than 36 hours after Kakko expressed displeasure with being a healthy zero. It was unclear whether his comments had anything to do with the timing of the trade, given general manager Chris Drury’s desire for several weeks to change his roster.
“Kaapo is a young, dynamic forward who brings skill and offense to our club,” Kraken general manager Ron Francis said in a statement. “We are excited to have him join us.”
Kakko said Tuesday that he was surprised by coach Peter Laviolette’s decision to bench him during the Rangers’ game Sunday in St. Louis, saying it was “easy to take the young man and take him out.”
New York has lost 11 of its last 14 games, including five of seven since trading captain Jacob Trouba to Anaheim. The team was shut out Tuesday night in Nashville.
Kakko, the No. 2 pick in the 2019 draft and a native of Finland, was a healthy scratch once during the Rangers’ run to the Eastern Conference finals last spring and was rumored to have been involved in trade talks over the summer even after signing a one-year contract as a restricted free agent. With 14 points in his first 30 games this season, he now has a fresh start with the Kraken at age 23.
Borgen, 27, was a 2021 Seattle expansion draft pick out of Buffalo. His acquisition gives New York a right-handed defenseman with 261 NHL regular-season games and playoff experience to replace Trouba.
“(I want to) thank Will for everything he’s done for our franchise,” Francis said. “As an original member of the Kraken, we wish him all the best in New York.”
After making the move, the Rangers optioned defenseman Victor Mancini to Hartford of the American Hockey League and recalled forward Matt Rempe, who has spent most of the season so far in the minors.
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