The New York Rangers traded ahead Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken the day earlier than the vacation commerce freeze for defenseman Will Borgen and two draft picks in 2025 (third spherical and sixth-round).
#NYR have acquired defenseman Will Borgen, a 2025 Third-Spherical choose and a 2025 Sixth-Spherical choose in change for Kaapo Kakko. pic.twitter.com/4OTAZWuFBs
— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) December 19, 2024
New York chosen Kakko with the 2nd total choose within the 2019 NHL Draft. This isn’t a shock, as his identify had been rumored in commerce talks for fairly a while now. All through the offseason and into this, NHLRumors.com reported that this might be a make-it-or-break 12 months for Kaapo Kako. To not point out, this might more than likely be Kakko’s final 12 months with the Rangers.
NHL Rumors: A Change of Scenery May Be Needed for Kaapo Kakko
Kakko understood that coming into this season, he needed to earn over a one-year contract of $2.4 million. He did so instantly when he was eligible to signal his qualifying supply.
?Evening Cap Recap ?
Kaapo Kakko Traded by New York Rangers to Seattle Kraken
This Was Get Me Outta Right here Commerce #nyr #seakraken @ALaRocco0801 @92In82 pic.twitter.com/ggpaqKWQdj
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) December 19, 2024
Nonetheless, there was at all times rigidity between him and the Rangers group. On Tuesday, after being a wholesome scratch on Sunday towards the St. Louis Blues, Kakko let his emotions be identified earlier than the sport towards the Predators.
“I used to be stunned, yeah,” Kakko said via Mollie Walker of The New York Post. “I do know you bought to do one thing as a coach while you’re dropping video games, however I believe it’s simply simple to select a younger man and boot him out. That’s how I really feel, to be sincere.”
“Haven’t been on the ice an excessive amount of when rating a aim… I’ve not been the worst man, however that was me out of the lineup,” Kakko continued
NHL Rumors: Jacob Trouba and Kaapo Kakko in New York Futures
After ending at 10:14 on ice towards the Nashville Predators on Tuesday and having three pictures on the aim, Common Supervisor Chris Drury traded him to Seattle the subsequent day.
The return of two draft picks, a 3rd and a fifth within the 2025 NHL Draft, and defenseman Will Borgen was a “Get Me Out of Right here Commerce.”
The New York Rangers have traded Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken for defenseman Will Borgen & two 2025 draft picks (third spherical, sixth spherical).
Kakko will probably be good in Seattle. After his feedback no shock he obtained dealt this rapidly. #nyr #seakraken @FullPressNHL @myNHLTradeRumor
— Jim Biringer (@JimBiringer) December 19, 2024
There may be a lot untapped potential for the 2nd total choose from 2019. He’s a defense-first winger who has nice puck-protecting expertise. With the best heart, his offensive items can lastly be tapped.
Kaapo Kakko, acquired by SEA, is a younger defence-first winger. Drafted as a puck-protecting expert wing, a scarcity of creativity and playmaking talent has caught him as a puck retrieving third wheel and restricted his upside considerably. Kraken have their work reduce out right here. #SeaKraken pic.twitter.com/AYhbc2w9qo
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) December 19, 2024
Simply have a look at a few of the picks from former Common Supervisor Jeff Gorton, the New York Rangers chosen since 2017. The one one remaining is Alexis Lafreniere from 2020. He has not even reached his full potential but.
In consecutive years from 2017-2020, the New York Rangers drafted excessive. They picked:
Lias Anderson (seventh)
Vitali Kravtson (ninth)
Kaapo Kakko (2nd)
Alex Lafreniere (1st)Some misses there…
— Mark Spector???? (@SportsnetSpec) December 19, 2024
The Rangers get Borgen, who’s an unrestricted free agent on the finish of the season, just like defenseman Ryan Lindgren. Borgen, at finest, is a pair defenseman.
Will Borgen, acquired by NYR, is a 3rd pair defenceman who kills penalties, throws hits, and takes pictures from the perimeter. #NYR pic.twitter.com/PY2ukdFdEn
— JFresh (@JFreshHockey) December 19, 2024
It feels just like the rebuild is ongoing with the Rangers. This can be the primary of a number of more moves now that Jacob Trouba and Kaapo Kakko have been traded.
