Kraken forward Kaapo Kakko, the 2nd-overall selection of the New York Rangers at the 2019 draft, has been paying dividends since being acquired on December 18th for two lower round NHL Draft picks and 2nd defenseman Will Borgen.
Seattle General Manager Ron Francis, who we’ve constructively criticized a fair amount, should be commended for addressing a glaring need and getting the better end of the deal.
The 23-year-old Finn has a five-game point streak as of Sunday, with eight points posted during that time frame. Overall he’s tallied 13 points over his 14 games with the Kraken.
“I’m good in the O-zone, that’s my game over there,” Kakko told us upon his arrival in December. “Make plays, try to score some goals. But I’m pretty good in D-zone too, bit of a two-way player. That’s my game right now and try to bring it over here.”
He’s a mobile, big body who hasn’t entered his prime, especially considering the limited ice time he received while in New York. His tenure there brought slow development, very little to no opportunities on special teams, and ultimately frustration, for a player who began to voice his displeasure and was looking for a way out.
“A fresh start,” is the terminology he used repeatedly when arriving in Seattle.
Kakko can also use some of the momentum he’s established while representing his native country in the Four Nations Face-Off coming up in February in Montreal and Boston. The NHL will shut down for two weeks as the best players from Finland, Sweden, Canada and the USA battle it out for supremacy in a round robin that concludes on the 20th.
Expect him back in Team Finland’s line-up next season during the Winter Olympics.
Recently, the 6-foot-1, 215-pound winger has found some magic with linemates Matty Beniers and Jaden Schwartz. Kakko posted three assists in Saturday’s 4-2 win over the LA Kings with Schwartz picking up a hat trick.
“It’s a combination of the speed of each one of them, the puck play of each one of them, and I think that the line has fed off Kakko’s presence in the offensive zone,” Kraken head coach Dan Bylsma pointed out postgame. “His ability to hang on to the puck, it’s allowed Schwartzy to dart into spots and be at the net, and Matty to get to good spots, and there’s a lot of determination in their success as well.”
“I like playing with those guys, I think it’s been pretty good, we’re playing a lot,” Kakko said after Thursday night’s 2-1 loss in Winnipeg to the Jets. “I feel pretty good right now so, just need to keep going and hopefully get a couple wins.”
Mission accomplished Saturday. The Buffalo Sabres roll in next for a matinee on Monday.
As he and many others expected, the change of scenery has served Kakko and the Kraken well.
