The New York Rangers traded Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday, ending his difficult time with the team.
In return, the Rangers got defenseman Will Borgen, a 2025 third-round pick, and a 2026 sixth-round pick from Seattle. This trade happened less than 36 hours after Kakko expressed frustration about being a healthy scratch.
It’s unclear if his comments influenced the timing of the trade, as Rangers general manager Chris Drury had been wanting to shake up the roster for several weeks.
“Kaapo is a young dynamic forward who brings skill and offense to our club,” said Kraken GM Ron Francis in a statement. “We’re excited to have him join us.”
Kakko, who was surprised by coach Peter Laviolette’s decision to bench him in the Rangers’ game against St. Louis on Sunday, had said, “It’s easy to take the young guy and put him out.”
The Rangers have been struggling, losing 11 of their 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 second overall pick in the 2019 draft and a native of Finland, was a healthy scratch during the Rangers’ run to the Eastern Conference final last spring.
He was also rumored to be part of 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 gets a fresh start with the Kraken at 23 years old.
Borgen, 27, was picked by Seattle in the 2021 expansion draft from Buffalo. His addition gives the Rangers a right-shot defenseman with 261 NHL regular-season and playoff games of experience to replace Trouba.
“(I) want to thank Will for everything he’s done for our franchise,” said Francis. “As an original member of the Kraken, we wish him all the best in New York.”
After making the trade, the Rangers sent defenseman Victor Mancini to their AHL affiliate in Hartford and called up forward Matt Rempe, who has spent most of the season in the minors.
