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

[lawrence]

I'm sure a change was needed for Kakko. trading him was the right thing to do, if the rangers werent gonna put him in regular top 6 position, but I think they got kinda ripped off here.

 

[jay from jersey]

I’m not the biggest kakko supporter. But this is. Bit of a light return.
Unless I’m seriously misjudging Borgren, NYR should have got more. I think sending him to a western conference team was also important tbh….
This reaks of the low return for Sam Bennett.
Kakko is a big body who is good down low and defensively responsible.
If he gets 2 line mates he clicks with and a special teams opportunity, don’t be surprised to see a 55-60pt 2-way solid wing…….
His + are he has really good hands when stick handling, especially in tight spaces and around the net. He plays a man’s game and is never a liability defensively. He’s absolutely should have been a top NYR pker by now imo.
Shields the puck well with his body, and is an above average passer.

- is his shot is not good. It will not surprise goalies and he’s not a threat to score from circles/hash marks. His best area is along the boards and behind/in front of the net. He lacks top end speed. But not terribly slow. He changes direction well, but lacks the explosion in first 2-3 strides to give him the separation he needs to create offense for himself. That along with a very average wrist shot means he’s to really a threat to score if he’s not banging in rebounds or tap ins off nice passes…. he needs to be an opportunist to score. Cuylle has passed him by almost everything on depth chart.
Sometimes he lacks vision and does things that make you shake your head. Hes wanted out of NY for a while now as well.
He’s scored 40+ pts with 3rd line mins and no special teams opportunity. If I’m Seattle, I put him with 2 talented guys and give him a healthy amount of mins/opportunity/special teams time etc…. Top 6 workload….. he’s absolutely a gamble that can pay off well for them. If not, he’s still a real good young 3rd line winger.

 

[YP44]

Still wanted him in LA.

 

[tucker3434]

Im surprised at the return but betting this is a case where fan perception just hasn’t yet caught up to the scouts. Fans tend to hold onto potential a little too long. These type of trades usually result in the guy ending up in Europe a couple years down the road and nobody wins (see Yakupov to the Blues).