The New York Rangers traded forward Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken on Wednesday, in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen, a 2025 third-round pick and a 2025 sixth-round pick.
Kakko, 23, was drafted second overall by New York in 2019. He had 61 goals and 131 points in 330 games for the team.
Kakko struggled again this season, producing only four goals and 14 points in 30 games. He had been subject to multiple trade rumors over the past two years but signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract as a restricted free agent last spring.
The forward was a healthy scratch against the St. Louis Blues on Sunday. Coach Peter Laviolette's move didn't sit well with Kakko and was reflective of how he's struggled to establish a firm positioning within the organization.
Kakko was also vocal about the decision, claiming all he was told by the coaching staff was he "needed to do something," but that he wouldn't be looking into that further on his own.
"They're going to say if they have something to say, but I'm not going there," he told reporters.
On the business end, Kakko is also a pending RFA again and will be an unrestricted free agent next summer, which would have limited general manager Chris Drury's options.
Drury has been targeting Borgen for some time. He's a right-shot defenseman whom Seattle selected from Buffalo in the 2021 expansion draft and developed into a top-four option for the backend.
Borgen is only one season removed from posting a career-high 25 points for the Kraken, but playing under new coach Dan Byslma hasn't brought out the best in Borgen's game. A move to New York could help him to flourish.
Borgen is making $2.7 million in the final year of his contract before becoming a UFA next summer.
