The New York Rangers have traded forward Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen, along with two 2025 picks. The deal marks a significant move by GM Chris Drury as he seeks to revamp the team’s roster.
Kakko, 23, had struggled this season, scoring only four goals and 14 points in 30 games. He was previously a healthy scratch against the St. Louis Blues, which sparked tensions with coach Peter Laviolette. The forward claimed he was not informed of his role but declined to elaborate further.
The trade benefits both sides. Borgen is a top-four defenseman who has seen improvement in his play since joining Seattle in 2021. However, playing under new coach Dan Byslma hasn’t yielded the same level of success. A move to New York may help him thrive.
Borgen’s $2.7 million contract will expire next summer, making him an unrestricted free agent. The trade also sets up the Rangers for their own roster decisions, with Kakko entering his final year as a restricted free agent in 2025.
Source: https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/43049072/rangers-send-kaapo-kakko-kraken-borgen