Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Garners helper in shootout loss
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Kakko logged an assist in Tuesday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Red Wings.
Kakko got on the scoresheet for the second game in a row -- he hadn't done that since a five-game streak from Jan. 11-18. The 23-year-old set up a Matty Beniers tally in the first period of Tuesday's contest. Kakko is up to nine goals, 31 points, 77 shots on net, 49 hits and a plus-8 rating through 52 outings overall between the Kraken and the Rangers.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Nets goal in loss
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Kakko scored a goal and added two hits in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Flames.
Kakko had gone eight games without a goal, though he had six assists in that span. The 23-year-old winger got the Kraken on the board in the second period. He's up to nine goals, 30 points, 76 shots on net, 49 hits and a plus-8 rating through 51 appearances between the Kraken and the Rangers this season. This is the second time in six seasons that Kakko has reached the 30-point mark, and his career high of 40 points from 2022-23 is very much within reach given how well he's played since he was traded to Seattle.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Manages assist Tuesday
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Kakko notched an assist and two blocked shots in Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the Ducks.
Kakko has gone seven games without a goal, but he has six assists in that span. He continues to look like a natural fit on the Kraken's top line with Matty Beniers and Jaden Schwartz. Kakko has 15 points over 19 contests with Seattle, compared to 14 points over 30 outings with the Rangers to start the season. The winger has added 72 shots on net, 46 hits, 30 PIM and a plus-8 rating overall.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Puts up helper in win
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Kakko produced an assist and three shots on goal in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Penguins.
Kakko set up Matty Beniers' insurance tally in the third period. The 23-year-old Kakko had gone two games without a point entering Saturday, something he hadn't done since his first two outings with the Kraken. The winger is up to 14 points in 17 contests for Seattle, matching his output from 30 games with the Rangers earlier in the campaign. He's added 72 shots on net, 44 hits, 30 PIM and a plus-9 rating this season.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Distributes three assists
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Kakko notched three assists, two shots on goal, two blocked shots and a plus-2 rating in Saturday's 4-2 win over the Kings.
Kakko has three goals and five assists during his five-game point streak. The winger helped out on all three of Jaden Schwartz's goals in Saturday's win. Kakko has meshed well with Schwartz and Matty Beniers in a top-line role for the Kraken, earning 13 points over 14 outings since being acquired from the Rangers. For the season, the 23-year-old Kakko has eight goals, 19 assists, 66 shots on net, 43 hits, 30 PIM and a plus-12 rating over 44 appearances.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Snags helper Thursday
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Kakko provided an assist, fired two shots on net and added two hits in Thursday's 2-1 loss to the Jets.
Kakko has three goals and two assists during his four-game point streak. The 23-year-old set up Matty Beniers' tally in the first period of this contest. Kakko has looked excellent in a top-six role for the Kraken, posting 10 points over 13 appearances since he was traded from the Rangers. The winger has 24 points, 65 shots on net, 42 hits, 30 PIM and a plus-10 rating through 43 outings overall.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Pots empty-netter
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Kakko scored an empty-net goal and added 10 PIM in Tuesday's 4-2 win over the Penguins.
Kakko scored an empty-netter and received a misconduct penalty for abuse of officials late in the third period. The 23-year-old has been on a roll lately with three goals and five assists over his last eight games while seeing top-six minutes. He's up to 23 points, 63 shots, 40 hits, 30 PIM and a plus-9 rating over 42 appearances between the Kraken and the Rangers, with nine of his points coming in 12 games with Seattle.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Continues strong play with new team
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Kakko scored twice Saturday in a 6-2 win over Buffalo.
Kakko has seven points (three goals, four assists) in 10 games since his arrival in a trade with the Rangers on Dec. 18. He has always had game-breaking offensive skills coupled with elite vision and strong puck skills, but he has never put that all together in the NHL. Kakko may be rounding into his draft day scouting report on the Kraken's top line.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Registers assist in loss
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Kakko notched an assist in Saturday's 4-2 loss to the Oilers.
Kakko has settled nicely into a top-six role with the Kraken, earning four points and 11 shots on net over seven contests. Seattle scores by committee, so don't expect Kakko to be a point-per-game threat, but the 23-year-old looks to have benefited from a change in scenery after falling out of favor with the Rangers. The winger has 18 points, 56 shots on net, 35 hits and a plus-9 rating through 37 appearances this season.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Two helpers in Monday's win
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Kakko notched two assists in Monday's 5-2 win over Utah.
Both points came in the third period as the Kraken broke the game open, and Kakko set up the game-winner with a pass from his own end that sprung Jaden Schwartz for a breakaway. Kakko is seeing time on the first line and top power-play unit as Seattle gives the second overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft every chance to break out, and he's responded with a goal and three points in his first five games with his new squad.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Gets first goal with new team
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Kakko scored a goal on three shots and added five hits in Sunday's 5-2 loss to the Avalanche.
The goal was Kakko's first in three games as a member of the Kraken. Matty Beniers won a faceoff and Kakko released a quick shot through the legs of the official to surprise Mackenzie Blackwood, though the Avalanche replied with a goal of their own just 11 seconds later to tie the score at 2-2. Kakko's role hasn't changed much since he was dealt from the Rangers -- while he was listed on the Kraken's top line Sunday, his 14:41 of ice time indicates he's still viewed as a middle-six winger. Kakko has 15 points, 50 shots on net, 32 hits and a plus-8 rating over 33 appearances in 2024-25.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Dealt to Seattle
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Kakko was traded from the Rangers to the Kraken on Wednesday in exchange for Will Borgen, a 2025 third-round pick and a 2025 sixth-round pick, Arthur Staple of The Athletic reports.
The Rangers continue to retool their roster amid a brutal slump, and this time, it'll lead to them parting with the second-overall pick from 2019. Kakko has yet to live up to that draft position -- his best season was in 2022-23 when he had 18 goals and 40 points in 82 games. Kakko should slot into a middle-six role and have a better chance at power-play time in Seattle, but his new team's offense-by-committee approach is unlikely to unlock more scoring in his game.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Hands out helper Sunday
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Kakko logged an assist and two hits in Sunday's 7-5 loss to the Kraken.
Kakko has contributed three points over his last nine games. The 23-year-old winger set up a Filip Chytil tally in the second period of Sunday's loss. Kakko has 14 points, 41 shots on net, 17 hits, 14 PIM and a plus-10 rating over 26 appearances, though he's slowed down after starting the season hot. Despite the drop in production, he remains firmly in a third-line role.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Wins it late
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Kakko scored a power-play goal, had two shots on net and blocked an attempt in Saturday's 4-3 win over Montreal.
Kakko won it for the Rangers with just 24 seconds left in the third while Montreal's Kirby Dach was in the box serving a double-minor for high-sticking. It was the first power-play tally (second point) for Kakko, who is a regular on the second unit. He's up to four goals, nine assists, 38 shots, 13 hits, seven blocks, 14 PIM and a plus-11 rating over 23 outings.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Goal, assist in win
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Kakko scored a goal on three shots, added an assist and went plus-2 in Tuesday's 4-3 win over the Canucks.
Kakko and Will Cuylle set up each other's goals in this contest. With four points over his last four games, Kakko is starting to find some offense again after he opened November with four scoreless outings. The winger is up to three goals, 11 points, 27 shots on net, 14 PIM and a plus-12 rating through 17 appearances in a third-line role this season.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: First goal in eight games
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Kakko scored a goal in a 6-3 loss to Winnipeg on Tuesday.
The goal was his first in eight games, and the point was his first in five contests. Kakko has managed a modest eight points (two goals, six assists) in 14 games, and if he can maintain the pace, he'll establish a new career mark in points (40 is his best; 2022-23). Kakko could even see an uptick in production, as his 8.3 shooting percentage is well below his 12.0 career mark.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Deals helper in loss
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Kakko notched an assist in Tuesday's 5-3 loss to the Capitals.
Kakko set up linemate Will Cuylle for a first-period goal. That duo, along with center Filip Chytil, have emerged as a strong third line for the Rangers' deep offense. Kakko has seven points this season, five of which he's earned over the last four contests. The Finnish winger has added 14 shots on net, 12 PIM and a plus-9 rating through nine appearances overall.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Goal, two assists in win
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Kakko scored a goal on three shots and had two assists, including one on the power play, in Tuesday's 7-2 win over Montreal. He added one block, one hit, two PIM and a plus-2 to his line.
Kakko caught goalie Cayden Primeau napping with his shot from the right faceoff circle to cap the scoring on the night. The 23-year-old forward earlier assisted on tallies by Braden Schneider and Filip Chytil. Kakko is off to a strong start with five points and a plus-7 through six outings.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Slides helper Saturday
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Kakko recorded an assist and went plus-3 in Saturday's 6-5 overtime loss to Utah.
Kakko and linemates Will Cuylle and Filip Chytil were effective at both ends of the ice in the high-scoring contest. Through two games, Kakko has one assist, six shots on net and a plus-4 rating, and he's maintained a spot on the second power-play unit. The winger is still relatively unproven on offense after he was limited to 19 points in 61 regular-season games last season, one year after a 40-point effort.
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Rangers' Kaapo Kakko: Agrees to one-year deal
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Kakko signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract with the Rangers on Thursday, Peter Baugh of The Athletic reports.
Kakko was set to become a restricted free agent in July after completing his two-year, $4.2 million contract. He struggled in 2023-24, recording just 13 goals and 19 points across 61 regular-season contests after setting career highs with 18 goals and 40 points in 82 regular-season outings in 2022-23. The 23-year-old can't be counted out, but he certainly hasn't lived up to his potential after being selected with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft. Look for him to open next season as a part of the Rangers' middle six.