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

[Alienblood]

I don't like the trade, but I think people expecting Kakko to become Mikko Rantanen just because he was the second overall pick have not watched him play much NHL hockey. Bro don't have the scoring skills for that. He doesn't do things that beat NHL defenses and goaltenders on a regular basis to put up that type of offense. This is why I always believed in Lafreniere more than him. Lafreniere when he was struggling would still make some plays that show the potential to eventually be a first line forward. Kakko is just a grinding forward. He's a good grinding forward, but he's a grinder. If he hits his upside, it's like a Nichushkin. I don't see it being a Rantanen.

Nichushkin was on pace for over 40 goals when suspended last year and led the playoffs in goals until suspended. He is a 1st line forward and plays there frequently. He was.on the 1st line when they won the Cup. He isn't a 3rd line grinder.

 

[gary559]

Man, this is such a lost opportunity for Grier and the San Jose Sharks. Kaapo Kakko and his age would fit well in their rebuild. My guess is Grier was low-balling the offer and lost out on the bid.

Since it was public knowledge Kaapo Kakko would need to be traded, it's a trading war and Seattle won. If it wasn't a trading war like Askarov, Grier could have better chance.

I'll chalk this up as a win for Seattle and a loss to all other teams.

He does not fit the team identity at all.

 

[elmaco]

I'm pretty sure Kakko asked for a trade, they just didn't disclose it.

 

[Grand Admiral Thrawn]

I would have thrown Barron a 3rd and 6th the Rangers way for Kapo Busto!

 

[super6646]

Don’t you dare question how good Skjei is in front of @super6646

Or behind my back

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

Everyone throwing shade at the return does realize that Kaapo Kakko is bad at hockey, right..


This dude got MULTIPLE cracks in the top 6 and couldn't hang with a declining Zibanejad and Kreider.

He's the prime example of a player who's game just didn't translate to the smaller ice surface. He'll dominate at this spectacle tournament and then be a .4ppg player for Seattle.

He's not a game breaker in North America, period dot

 

[SensFactor]

Rangers got robbed...badly....

 

[gstommylee]

Everyone throwing shade at the return does realize that Kaapo Kakko is bad at hockey, right..


This dude got MULTIPLE cracks in the top 6 and couldn't hang with a declining Zibanejad and Kreider.

He's the prime example of a player who's game just didn't translate to the smaller ice surface. He'll dominate at this spectacle tournament and then be a .4ppg player for Seattle.

He's not a game breaker in North America, period dot

Or perhaps rangers are just bad at developing players.

 

[DelZottoHitTheNetJK]

Or perhaps rangers are just bad at developing players.

They are also that, but Kakko absolutely sucks. Both are true.

Let me ask you this: how many 2OA picks need to be "developed"?

This is not the NFL. If you're actually that good at hockey, you don't need an entire system built around you for you to be able to succeed.

This guy can't skate in a league predicted on being a better skater than everyone else. He's not an impact player and he never will be.

 

[Volica]

Insane to me that Calgary couldn’t match or what that. Awful management on their part.

 

[pth2]

I wonder if it's not a coincidence that the other deal today also includes RD.... was Montreal or Nashville also in talks with NYR and couldn't find a fit, so once Kakko was moved they took plan B ?

 

[offdacrossbar]

Just wait until that Seattle system gets ahold of KK. He's gonna struggle to keep up and when he does get a good look, hell shank it or miss by alot.

Wish him well but not expecting much of a change from NYR KK

 

[LMFAO]

Everyone throwing shade at the return does realize that Kaapo Kakko is bad at hockey, right..


This dude got MULTIPLE cracks in the top 6 and couldn't hang with a declining Zibanejad and Kreider.

He's the prime example of a player who's game just didn't translate to the smaller ice surface. He'll dominate at this spectacle tournament and then be a .4ppg player for Seattle.

He's not a game breaker in North America, period dot

.4 pts pace is good 3rd line production, for the price that Seattle paid for what is wrong with that?

 

[ref19]

Whoa seems light for Kakko. I haven't followed him for a while though

He's a massive bust that's nowhere near his draft pedigree.

 

[BillR10]

Man, this is such a lost opportunity for Grier and the San Jose Sharks. Kaapo Kakko and his age would fit well in their rebuild. My guess is Grier was low-balling the offer and lost out on the bid.

Since it was public knowledge Kaapo Kakko would need to be traded, it's a trading war and Seattle won. If it wasn't a trading war like Askarov, Grier could have better chance.

I'll chalk this up as a win for Seattle and a loss to all other teams.

Have a feeling MG didn't want him. While Kakko has scoring potential he's a bit sawft. MG wants players that are tough to play against.

 

[Bruce Granville]

If Kakko used a regular size stick his value would be much higher…only half kidding. It drives me nuts.
I guess there were better offers, but all from the same division or conference.

 

[ManofSteel55]

To he'll with Kakko. I wanted Borgen.

 

[MK9]

[EDIT]: Eh...wrong thread.

 

[Pavel Buchnevich]

Nichushkin was on pace for over 40 goals when suspended last year and led the playoffs in goals until suspended. He is a 1st line forward and plays there frequently. He was.on the 1st line when they won the Cup. He isn't a 3rd line grinder.

Don't think I said otherwise. I'm saying that Kakko won't be some prolific scorer where he ends up one of the best offensive players in the league. If he hits some ceiling that is a way better player than he is now it's probably as a super grinder like Nichushkin. Nichushkin is a very good player, but he's never hit 1PPG. He isn't one of the best offensive players in the league. He lacks the puck game for that, as Kakko does.

 

[Alienblood]

Don't think I said otherwise. I'm saying that Kakko won't be some prolific scorer where he ends up one of the best offensive players in the league. If he hits some ceiling that is a way better player than he is now it's probably as a super grinder like Nichushkin. Nichushkin is a very good player, but he's never hit 1PPG. He isn't one of the best offensive players in the league. He lacks the puck game for that, as Kakko does.

Fair enough but Nuke hit ppg last year and close the year 2 years prior. He is such an all around beast he is every bit as valuable to the Avs as Rantanen is. I think even more so especially given the contract. He's a better overall player than Mikko

 

[TonySoprano]

 

[izzy]

They are also that, but Kakko absolutely sucks. Both are true.

Let me ask you this: how many 2OA picks need to be "developed"?

This is not the NFL. If you're actually that good at hockey, you don't need an entire system built around you for you to be able to succeed.

This guy can't skate in a league predicted on being a better skater than everyone else. He's not an impact player and he never will be.

I mean not 2nd overall but look how much it benefited Dylan Strome to get out of Arizona, and then moreso get to Washington

Reinhart out of Buffalo went from a 50 point player to a PPG+ player

 

[gstommylee]

They are also that, but Kakko absolutely sucks. Both are true.

Let me ask you this: how many 2OA picks need to be "developed"?

This is not the NFL. If you're actually that good at hockey, you don't need an entire system built around you for you to be able to succeed.

This guy can't skate in a league predicted on being a better skater than everyone else. He's not an impact player and he never will be.

Its rare for a fresh drafted player to have huge success right out of the gate. Yes players do have to be developed to adjust their game to play at a higher level especially at the NHL level. Not even Jack Hughes who went 1OA that same draft didn't play great right away.

 

[Toene]

Fair enough but Nuke hit ppg last year and close the year 2 years prior. He is such an all around beast he is every bit as valuable to the Avs as Rantanen is. I think even more so especially given the contract. He's a better overall player than Mikko

Yeah, no.

 

[majormajor]

This isn't surprising. I would have guessed Kakko would get roughly equivalent to a later 1st. The offensive upside is not there to get more than that.

Borgen alone would have roughly that late 1st value going into the year but he's had a rough start and is probably worth more like a 2nd at this point, so add in the 3rd and 6th to get something like a pick in the 20s.