Former NY Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko breaks silence regarding SHOCKING trade to Kraken

Forward Kaapo Kakko was traded to the Seattle Kraken by the New York Rangers after the team's 2-0 loss against the Nashville Predators.

Former NY Rangers forward Kaapo Kakko breaks silence regarding SHOCKING trade to Kraken

Kaapo Kakko (Image via NY Post)

After losing for the 10th time in the last 13 games, the New York Rangers traded away forward Kaapo Kakko to Seattle Kraken. This move came a day after he vented his frustration for being benched in the match against the St. Louis Blues. The 23-year-old forward broke his silence regarding this and claimed that he does not believe his comments led to this move.

Kaapo, a second-overall draft pick, had been part of the Rangers organization since 2019. In 30 games for the Rangers this season, he had managed just 14 points (4 goals and 10 assists).

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Given the team’s current form, Kakko was a healthy scratch from the team’s lineup against the Blues on Monday. The Finnish international would express his frustration regarding this. He boldly claimed that it was easy for the coach to boot out a young player like him.

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He would take part in the team’s next game against the Nashville Predators. The forward though had less ice time in that game and was later traded away. Kakko does not think that this comments was the reason for his trade and admitted that the whole team was not playing well.

I don’t think it’s because of that. The team was playing not well enough. A lot of good players over there. Need to do something over there. I was kind of (thinking) something is going to happen, and then I knew also it might be me…Those comments, I was kind of frustrated. I was honest, and that’s what I thought at the time.

Kaapo Kakko said in a Zoom interview as per SNY

In exchange for the trade, the Rangers received defenseman Will Borgen and a 2025 Third-Round pick and a 2025 Sixth-Round pick. This is the second trade the Rangers have done since they embarked on this poor run of from.

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Rangers defenseman ‘sad’ to see Kaapo Kakko being traded away to Kraken

The mood in the New York Rangers’ locker room is not the best of ones at the moment. After losing their captain Jacob Trouba, the team have now traded away Kaapo Kakko. Several Rangers stars shared heartfelt messages to Kakko following his move away with one defenseman claiming to be “sad” by this.

Kaapo Kakko
Kaapo Kakko (Image via NHLPA)

Kaako come through Finland, a European country and was drafted in 2019 by the Rangers. This is something that current defenseman Mika Zibanejad has also gone through. The Swedish international joined the Ottawa Senators through draft in 2011 with high expectations and was traded to the Rangers in 2016.

Speaking on Kakko’s departure, the 31-year-old claimed that he understands what the youngster was going through at the moment.

You try to be there. You try to help him out, but it’s hard because everyone is different…It’s hard to express yourself sometimes, and it’s a completely different culture here than it is where we’re from…I have nothing but great things to say about him as a person and a player. It’s sad, but I’m hoping everything works out for him.

Mika Zibanejad said as per Vince Z. Mercogliano

Kakko will now turn his attention away from his former team and look to help out the Seattle Kraken. They themselves are not having a good time and have lost three games in a row, leaving them with a 15-17-2 record for the season.

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As for Zibanejad and the Rangers, things are not looking good at the moment. The New York-based side have also lost their last three matches and find themselves with a 15-15-1 record, after being 12-4-1 a month ago in November.