The Kraken have added some extra depth up front, acquiring winger Kaapo Kakko from the Rangers. In return, New York receives defenseman Will Borgen, a 2025 third-round pick, and a 2025 sixth-round selection. Both teams have announced the swap.
Kakko was the second overall pick in 2019 but while he has shown flashes of being an impact player, he has also struggled to produce with consistency over his now-six-year career. The 23-year-old has only reached the 40-point mark once thus far, that coming back in 2022-23 when he had 18 goals and 22 assists in 82 games. His output dipped to just 19 points in 61 games last season, resulting in the two sides agreeing on a one-year, $2.4MM contract back in June, a move that didn’t do anything to slow the trade speculation surrounding him.
This move comes not long after Kakko voiced his frustration with being a healthy scratch over the weekend as the Rangers continued to try to shake up their lineup to snap their recent drought. That frustration was justifiable as he is off to a reasonable start this year, picking up four goals and ten assists in 30 games despite spending a lot of time in the bottom six, averaging just 13:17 per contest. Hovering around half a point per game in that role is certainly decent output, one that Seattle will welcome to add to an offensive group that sits in the middle of the pack.
As for Borgen, the soon-to-be 28-year-old has been a physical presence over his four-year tenure with Seattle who selected him from Buffalo in the expansion draft. Last season, he posted career bests in assists (22), points (25), blocked shots (111), hits (195), and ATOI (17:35) and looked to be on his way toward a bigger role on the back end. However, that hasn’t exactly been the case this season as he has been limited to just one goal and one assist in 33 games while his playing time has dropped to 15:12 per night, a career low.
Despite his struggles, NHL.com’s Dan Rosen reports (Twitter link) that the Rangers had been coveting Borgen for a while. With the departure of Jacob Trouba to Anaheim, they needed a bit more defensive depth and this move should allow Victor Mancini to return to AHL Hartford where he can have a bigger role. Borgen is also in the final season of his contract, one that pays him $2.7MM so New York takes on a small amount of money with this swap. Notably, he’s eligible for unrestricted free agency this summer while Kakko will have one more RFA year remaining.
Considering his draft stature, it seems like a fairly low price for Seattle to pay to acquire Kakko and they’ll hope that a change of scenery can help unlock the offensive potential that helped make him the number two pick. Meanwhile, with New York seemingly unsure about committing a long-term deal to him, they’ve elected to make a move more geared toward the present rather than trying to maximize value in the form of higher draft or prospect compensation. With the two selections they added, they now have seven for the upcoming draft.
Interestingly, the 2019 draft class has seen quite a few first-round picks moved already. As Peter Baugh of The Athletic points out (Twitter link), eight of the top 19 selections from that year have already been traded, including three of the top four selections. Among those who haven’t moved, a couple (Dylan Cozens and Trevor Zegras) have been in trade speculation themselves in recent months so the number of high picks on the move from that class could be growing even more soon enough.
Photos courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.
Rangers in panic mode, Seattle…doing whatever they do, and Kakko is still a bustm
Panic mode? This was sending a message. If you don’t pull your weight and have the gall to complain to the media, we’ll pack your bags for you.
I really wish people would stop invoking bootlicker narratives in sports commentary. “Pull up your bootstraps, do as I command!” These are multi-millionaire players with one of the strongest unions in pro sports, players have much more agency than the way goons like you tend to think they do.
If the Rangers traded this kid for voicing mild frustration at a healthy scratch, they’re terribly run. If there’s more, OK. But he didn’t burn down the building or anything in his recent comments.
Happy to take him in! Thank you!
They sound prepare to pack everyone’s bags then
The rangers haven’t exactly cared about their public image over the last year. They made scumbag Trouba into a victim over night
That’s not a bad haul.
Are you drunk?
not a bad idea for the Kraken. Get a guy who can slot in anywhere on a relatively weak offensive team. If the change of scenery for Kakko works then they got a steal for a guy who is also having a down year
@Brian — I was about to say that “More to follow.” could be changed to “Not much else to add on this one.” Kakko’s pegging of the Disgruntlement-O-Meter has been unusually well-chronicled.
I hope he breaks out in Seattle, like Lafreniere has in New York these past couple years. The Rangers have been brutal developing these young guys. You can’t staple them to the 4th line and then expect them to perform relative to their draft position
Rangers trading Kakko after he spoke out. Trading at his lowest. This is a bad trade for NYR and a low risk high reward for SEA
Great trade for the Kraken – KK should finally get the fair chance he deserves to succeed, the Rangers absolutely stunted his growth
If Kakko can at least produce like Tolvanen has, this will be a good deal for Seattle.
Kaako was Krap-po in NY. I think Bylsma can polish this turd and make him shine!
Big win for Seattle.
Good to see the Rangers remain clueless
I say Borgen will turn out to be the better player.
I love Will Borgen, but his is what he is at this point. Very low price to pay for a chance Kakko might figure it out.
I think Borgen is a decent player but it’s clear to both him and Seattle that this would be his last season there… just not a fit any longer.
Good Luck!
should be a great landing spot .. pair him with beniers immediately .. hopefully it will help both players
Kakko is a good defensive forward but needs to work on being more effective in the offensive production side of things. I think the Rangers development system isn’t very good as the Rangers don’t seem to develop young talent well. Kakko getting a fresh start with Seattle could turn things around for him which in turn, Seattle then has an efficient young talent & didn’t really give up too much for him.
Borgen is a satisfactory defenseman but is having a down year but again, maybe change of scenery to New York could turn things around for him.
To think once that Kappo and Dach went 2-3 in the draft and there was much speculation who was better. Rangers took Kakko and the Hawks took Dach. The Hawks GM was Stan Bowman who’s a moron. What was the Rangers excuse? They’re both busts.
I agree with most of these comments. I also wonder if Ron Francis is like “shit, we’re paying Matty 7×7, I need a miracle or a scapegoat… but what if I can get both at once…ha ha ha ha haaa!”
Would love to know what happened with Beniers, he seemed like a future star, but wow is he bad now.
Never been the same since the Tyler Myers hit.