Kaapo Kakko shares his thoughts on moving to the Seattle Kraken after a challenging time with the New York Rangers
Seattle: Kaapo Kakko is now officially with the Seattle Kraken after being traded from the New York Rangers. He spent six seasons with the Rangers, having been picked second overall in the 2019 NHL Draft.
Even though he enjoyed his time in New York, Kakko felt it was time for a fresh start. He said, “Fresh start, I feel that’s what I need right now. I liked my time in New York…many years over there, great team. This is a new chance for me over here.”
His trade came shortly after he expressed frustration about being scratched from the lineup. It seemed like both Kakko and the Rangers were ready for a change. He had even talked about the possibility of being traded with the Rangers’ GM, Chris Drury.
Kakko mentioned that he wasn’t surprised by the trade. He felt he could get more playing time with a new team. He reflected on his time in New York, saying, “I wasn’t good enough, to be honest, but I also felt like a lot of games I could have got on the ice more to show what I can do.”
His comments about being benched led many to think that was why the Rangers acted quickly to trade him. However, Kakko clarified that the trade was about more than just his individual situation. He noted, “The team was not playing well enough, they needed to do something. I knew it might be me.”
Now, with a fresh start in Seattle, Kakko is looking forward to what’s next, while the Rangers aim to get their season back on track.