Confirmed Trade: [SEA/NYR] Kaapo Kakko for Will Borgen, 2025 3rd, 2025 6th

[Fatass]

The rangers team was literally handed to them and they messed up lmao

During their years of recent top ten picks did the Rangers even select one core piece? I Lafreniere would be considered a good player, but is a guy to build a team around? They had a really good chance to have a very long run. Bad drafting killed it.

 

[ToDavid]

Wondering if he quietly asked for a trade.

If this was just a knee jerk reaction to a guy daring to speak up about being scratched (in which he also acknowledged he needed to be better), that looks pretty weak on NY’s part. Vibes cannot be great in that locker room.

 

[ToDavid]

Like as a start for the trade.

Wtf is this. A 23yo 2nd overall for a couple throwaway picks and a dime-a-dozen 6th defenseman.

He was basically traded for nothing. If Kakko even turns into a 50 point 2-way player the Kraken hammered this trade.

It’s a decent gamble for Seattle but you can’t really say “even if” and then describe a player Kakko hasn’t even come close to becoming as if it’s his floor.

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

Wondering if he quietly asked for a trade.

If this was just a knee jerk reaction to a guy daring to speak up about being scratched (in which he also acknowledged he needed to be better), that looks pretty weak on NY’s part. Vibes cannot be great in that locker room.

This was 100% the equivalent of Drury whacking a guy for speaking up about being scratched. There's been zero reporting about Kakko requesting a trade

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

Wondering if he quietly asked for a trade.

If this was just a knee jerk reaction to a guy daring to speak up about being scratched (in which he also acknowledged he needed to be better), that looks pretty weak on NY’s part. Vibes cannot be great in that locker room.

Rangers front office would love everyone to believe that isn’t true. We’re not that dumb. Kakko spoke his mind and he was dead on correct and they shipped him out because of it.

That said, I’m sure KK is relieved to be traded. The Rangers have mishandled this kid every single step of the way.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

 

[Stickpucker]

Kakko right now

 

[haveandare]

I'd be comfortable paying what Seattle gave up for someone of the same production and no more upside. Fact is he's a big boy and those kinda players take time to physically calibrate, a change of scenery can also sometimes be exactly what a player needs to realize their potential.

I'm not saying he's got a high probability of turning into a star, but there's enough here to think it could happen. I mean, you Ranger fans seem pretty confident that he's a dud, but this could be a nightmare.

I’d say more Ranger fans feel like he’s been held back a bit by coaching. He been scratched in some big moments for no reason that is apparent on the surface. Then a few games ago he got scratched again despite being one of the very few non duds this year.

With a little confidence, communication and support from coaching staff i think it’s very likely he improves from where he’s at

 

[Machinehead]

Wondering if he quietly asked for a trade.

If this was just a knee jerk reaction to a guy daring to speak up about being scratched (in which he also acknowledged he needed to be better), that looks pretty weak on NY’s part. Vibes cannot be great in that locker room.

Kakko has been reportedly shopped for awhile now

 

[Fatass]

View attachment 948084

Those stats sure paint an interesting picture, especially about defensive responsibility. Zib being a dash 15 while Kakko is a plus 10 is revealing. That’s a huge difference within the club.

 

[BKarchitect]

No brainer for Seattle. I don’t think KK is a particularly special player but at worst this will be a Tolvanen-type payoff where they’ve grabbed a youngish middle six winger for very little.

Borgen was legit solid last year but he’s back to being an end of the bench #6 option this year. The Rangers look like they needed some warm bodies on the right side with Trouba gone so he’ll be able to insulate the 3rd pair RHD spot if Mancini isn’t ready full-time. The pick looks like the main attraction which very much makes this look like a “we gotta get this guy off the team” trade.

 

[Bacon Artemi Bravo]

Kakko has been reportedly shopped for awhile now

I think both things can be true. They were shopping him and waiting for a good return until this fallout and essentially knee jerk just took best offer on the table and this time. They could have waited for TDL.

 

[Stickpucker]

The rangers team was literally handed to them and they messed up lmao

Two top picks
Fox forced his way there
Panarin for free

And they blew it

 

[MisterT]

Can’t believe anyone is surprised by this return? At this point of their respective careers, he’s underperformed even relative to one of the most renown busts of all time, Nail Yakupov, but still returned a far more significant package.

Can’t believe anyone is surprised by this return. At this point of their respective careers, he’s underperformed even relative to one of the most renown busts of all time, Nail Yakupov, but still returned a far more significant package.

 

[GbgRanger]

Kakko is just a middling 3rd liner at best, at this point. Seattle is banking on the draft potential he had and isn not giving up much if he doesn't pan out. I don't get why anyone is amazed at this trade tbh.

He is 23. A lot of other guys havent even mare it to an NHL roster by that age

 

[One Winged Angel]

Terrible asset management by Chris Drury.

Didn’t want to send him to Anaheim for Henrique and Vatrano, but dealt him for this dogshit return?

Chris Drury should honestly be next.

 

[Stickpucker]

Too bad Drury isn't nepotistic? because the Canes would love to trade Jack Drury to the Rangers for a haul.

 

[The Gr8 Dane]

Those stats sure paint an interesting picture, especially about defensive responsibility. Zib being a dash 15 while Kakko is a plus 10 is revealing. That’s a huge difference within the club.

Right those stats don't really indicate that Kakko is better than them or anything, but it does indicate that Kakko was certainly not a very big problem for the rangers...

 

[Jersey Fan 12]

Great job, Drury. Another bang-up job you did.


Like I said, Chris Drury is the worst GM in the NHL.

Drury didn't draft him.

Funny, last year he was the GM of the year. One tough stretch and he's awful.

 

[FlyguyOX]

Worst trade I've seen in a long time. I don't see how Drury survives this season.

 

[SportsdudeRy]

As a Kraken fan I’m excited for this trade! Welcome to Seattle Kakko!

 

[WarriorofTime]

The NHL at 18 but haven't broken out in a big way by this point types are really interesting. They hit UFA very young. Which means they could still have a break out that begins in their mid-20s. But it also means a very real risk that you overpay them on a UFA deal in the hopes of a "breakout" that never happens and they become an ugly looking contract.

That's the big risk for taking in a player like Kakko. If you get a good 2/3 season out of him, how does that translate to contract extension time?

 

[TBF1972]

Drury is absolutely getting fired end of year.

end of the year or end of the season?

 

[tarheelhockey]

Wondering if he quietly asked for a trade.

If this was just a knee jerk reaction to a guy daring to speak up about being scratched (in which he also acknowledged he needed to be better), that looks pretty weak on NY’s part. Vibes cannot be great in that locker room.

The guy went to the NYC media complaining about his management and teammates. They can’t keep that in the room going forward, it would be a circus. And it also eliminated any leverage in trade negotiations, because everyone in the league knew the guy was gonna be gone before their next game.

The minute Kakko talked to the press, he was gone and the return was shit.

 

[Srsly]

This was 100% the equivalent of Drury whacking a guy for speaking up about being scratched. There's been zero reporting about Kakko requesting a trade

He was fifth on the team in points per sixty minutes played. He hasn’t lived up to the hype but he was still producing while playing bottom six minutes. He was pretty justified with the remark as well. Then again, if NY scratched everyone that deserved it they would have to forfeit the game.