Kaapo Kakko News

Kakko will draw back into Seattle's lineup after getting an extra day's rest on Wednesday following a busy Olympic break. Kakko has six goals and 15 assists in 40 games this season

It's unclear why Kakko is unavailable on Wednesday, though it's possible it's simply an extra day's rest after the Olympics, but the Kraken gave no indication he would be absent prior to listing him as a scratch on the official roster report. Kakko has six goals and 15 assists in 40 games this season.

Kakko was acquired by Seattle in the offseason and has not panned out the way they had hoped. The 24-year-old second-overall pick from the 2019 NHL Entry Draft has yet to live up to his draft value and has seemingly taken a step back with the Kraken, scoring three points (1G / 2A) in 14 games this season.

Kakko left Seattle's preseason game early in the week with an upper-body injury and is now expected to miss the next six weeks after it was announced he suffered a broken hand. The 24-year-old is entering his first full season in Seattle after being acquired from New York last season and putting up career highs in points (44) across 79 games played. Kakko is expected to play a pivotal top-six role for Seattle this season when he returns to the lineup.

Kakko left Seattle's preseason game on Tuesday with an upper-body injury and is still being evaluated with the expectation he will see a specialist on Friday. The 24-year-old is entering his first full season in Seattle after putting up career highs in points (44) in 2024-25 between New York and Seattle. Kakko is expected to play a pivotal top-six role this season, so if he is forced to miss any time, it will be worrisome for the Kraken.

The Kraken acquired Kakko from the New York Rangers on Wednesday in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen, a 2025 third-round draft pick, and a 2025 sixth-round draft pick. Kakko was the second-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft and was never able to live up to lofty expectations in New York, averaging just 15 goals and 17 assists per 82 games across parts of six seasons with the team. Kakko joins a much younger roster in Seattle where he should see an expanded role at 5v5 and potentially on the power-play after being limited to a bottom-six role for the majority of his time as a Ranger.

The second-overall pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft was never able to live up to those lofty expectations in New York, averaging just 15 goals and 17 assists per 82 games across parts of six seasons with the team. Kakko joins a much younger roster in Seattle where he should see an expanded role at 5v5 and potentially on the power-play after being limited to a bottom-six role for the majority of his time as a Ranger.

Jonny Brodzinski will be a healthy scratch on Tuesday against the Nashville Predators, allowing Kakko to return from a one-game absence. The 23-year-old Kakko has 14 points (4G / 10A) in 29 games this season but only has one point (0G / 1A) in his last six contests.

Kakko was a healthy scratch for Game 2 but will return to New York's lineup with Jimmy Vesey being out week-to-week and join the Rangers' third line. The 23-year-old winger has struggled throughout the playoffs this year, with a goal, two points and 17 SOG in 11 games played.