The Kraken acquired Kakko from the New York Rangers on Wednesday in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen, a 2025 third-round draft pick, and a 2025 sixth-round draft pick. Kakko was the second-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and was never able to live up to lofty expectations in New York, averaging just 15 goals and 17 assists per 82 games across parts of six seasons with the team. Kakko joins a much younger roster in Seattle where he should see an expanded role at 5v5 and potentially on the power-play after being limited to a bottom-six role for the majority of his time as a Ranger.
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