Kakko (hand) was designated for injured reserve by Seattle on Monday.
Kakko has already been ruled out for at least five more weeks due to his broken hand, so his placement on IR shouldn't come as a surprise. With the winger on the shelf, Jani Nyman and Berkly Catton both made the 23-man roster for Opening Night against the Ducks. Once back in the lineup, Kakko should offer decent fantasy value as a top-six winger with power-play ice time.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Set to miss six weeks
Rotowire
Kakko is expected to be out of action for six weeks after suffering a broken hand, the team announced Saturday.
Kakko sustained the injury in Wednesday's preseason game against Edmonton. He is poised to miss at least the first month of the regular season and will probably be out for the beginning of November. The 24-year-old forward had 14 goals, 44 points, 117 shots on net and 68 hits across 79 appearances between the Kraken and Rangers in 2024-25. Once healthy, he will be in the mix for a top-six role.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Out Friday
Rotowire
Kakko (upper body) won't participate in Friday's preseason game against Vancouver, per Alison Lukan of the Kraken Hockey Network.
Kakko was expected to see a specialist Friday, but the results of that evaluation haven't been disclosed yet. Jordan Eberle or Jani Nyman might serve in a top-six capacity to start the 2025-26 campaign if Kakko isn't available by then.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Will be evaluated Friday
Rotowire
Kakko (upper body) is expected to see a specialist Friday to have his injury evaluated, per Alison Lukan of the Kraken Hockey Network on Thursday.
Kakko left Wednesday's preseason game due to the injury. He's expected to begin the season serving on the top six as long as he's healthy. If he ends up missing time, Jordan Eberle or 21-year-old Jani Nyman might fill that top-six spot for the duration of Kakko's absence.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Leaves with injury Wednesday
Rotowire
Kakko (upper body) won't return to Wednesday's preseason game versus the Oilers, Alison Lukan of the Kraken Hockey Network reports.
Kakko joins a growing list of injured players for the Kraken, who are also navigating the absences of Jared McCann (lower body) and Chandler Stephenson (undisclosed). Expect the team to be cautious with each player's recovery -- Kakko should be considered day-to-day ahead of Friday's preseason contest in Vancouver.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Signs three-year deal
Rotowire
Kakko signed a three-year, $13.575 million contract with the Kraken on Tuesday to avoid arbitration, Elliotte Friedman of Sportsnet reports.
Kakko will nearly double his salary from last year ($2.4 million) and earn a little security with this contract. The 24-year-old posted 44 points in 79 games between the Kraken and the Rangers last year, with 30 of those points coming in 49 appearances after he was traded to Seattle. He should slot into a top-six role while drawing power-play time in 2025-26 as he looks to continue growing his offense.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Fits in well in Seattle
Rotowire
Kakko logged a power-play assist and two PIM in Tuesday's 6-5 loss to the Kings.
Kakko earned three goals and four assists over the last 12 games of the season. The 24-year-old has shown promise since a December trade sent him to the Kraken from the Rangers. All told, he had 44 points in 79 appearances this season, with 30 of those points coming in 49 outings with the Kraken. He added a total of 117 shots on net, 68 hits, 28 blocked shots, 38 PIM and a minus-2 rating. Kakko is a restricted free agent this summer, and along with Ryker Evans, he'll be a top priority for general manager Ron Francis in negotiations this offseason.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Sends assist in win
Rotowire
Kakko logged an assist, two shots on goal and two PIM in Saturday's 5-1 win over the Sharks.
Kakko has gone nearly a month without consecutive games on the scoresheet. He's still done okay in recent contests, earning three goals and two assists over his last seven outings. The 24-year-old winger is up to 14 goals, 28 helpers, 111 shots on net, 66 hits, 36 PIM and a minus-1 rating over 74 appearances between the Kraken and the Rangers this season in what's been a career year for him.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Nets goal vs. Dallas
Rotowire
Kakko scored a goal in Monday's 3-1 loss to the Stars.
Kakko found the back of the net just 1:02 into the game with a wrister that went past Casey DeSmith, but that would be all the offense the Kraken would muster throughout the game. The 24-year-old has been productive for Seattle since being acquired from the Rangers via trade midway through the season, notching 27 points (10 goals, 17 helpers) in 42 games in what has been a career-best year for the Turku-born forward.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Matches career high in points
Rotowire
Kakko logged an assist and two shots on goal in Thursday's 6-1 win over the Oilers.
Kakko set up Matty Beniers for a goal to put the Kraken up 4-0 in the second period. The 24-year-old Kakko has three goals and an assist over his last seven contests, though his role has remained steady in that stretch. For the season, he's equaled his career high of 40 points while adding 106 shots on net, 64 hits and a minus-1 rating over 70 appearances between the Kraken and the Rangers.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Converts on wraparound
Rotowire
Kakko scored a goal on two shots, added two PIM and logged two hits in Friday's 4-2 win over Utah.
Kakko snapped an eight-game goal drought, which matched his worst since joining the Kraken. He got the job done on a wraparound play at 10:29 of the third period, and his tally stood as the game-winner. The winger has just four points over seven outings in March, but the slight drop in offense hasn't cost him a top-line role. He's up to 11 tallies, 37 points, 99 shots on net, 57 hits, 32 PIM and an even plus-minus rating through 64 appearances this season. Kakko needs just three more points to match his career-best total from the 2022-23 campaign with the Rangers.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Contributes assist
Rotowire
Kakko logged an assist in Thursday's 5-3 loss to the Predators.
Kakko has four helpers over his last four outings. The 24-year-old winger has played in 30 games each for the Kraken and the Rangers this season, but he's at 22 points with Seattle compared to 14 with the Blueshirts prior to a December trade that sent him out west. Kakko has added a combined 92 shots on net, 54 hits and a plus-2 rating this season, and his top-line role with the Kraken has made him a viable depth forward in fantasy.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Adds pair of helpers in loss
Rotowire
Kakko notched two assists, including one on the power play, in Tuesday's 4-3 loss to the Wild.
Kakko earned his first multi-point effort since Jan. 18 versus the Kings. While he hasn't been explosive on offense recently, he has earned six points across nine outings since the start of February. The 24-year-old winger is up to 35 points, 92 shots on net, 53 hits and a plus-3 rating through 59 appearances between the Kraken and the Rangers.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Registers assist
Rotowire
Kakko notched an assist and two shots on goal in Tuesday's 7-2 loss to the Blues.
Kakko has six points over his last 11 outings as he continues to offer steady scoring in a top-six role. He set up a Jaden Schwartz tally in the third period of this blowout loss. Kakko is now at 10 goals, 23 helpers, 89 shots on net, 53 hits and a plus-4 rating over 57 appearances between the Kraken and the Rangers this season. As long as Kakko avoids lengthy droughts, he should be able to exceed the career-high 40 points he had in 2022-23.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Opens scoring in win
Rotowire
Kakko scored a power-play goal and added two hits in Saturday's 2-1 win over the Panthers.
Kakko was a small-role player for Finland during the 4 Nations Face-Off, but that kept him busy while the rest of the Kraken had a break. He remains in a decent rhythm, though he has dropped a bit with five points over his last nine contests. The 24-year-old winger is up to 10 goals, 32 points, 81 shots on net, 52 hits and a plus-7 rating across 55 appearances between the Kraken and the Rangers this season. Kakko is worth a look as a depth forward in most fantasy formats, as he continues to see top-six usage with Seattle.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Dresses, gets assist in Finnish win
Rotowire
Kakko picked up an assist for Finland in a 4-3 overtime win over Sweden on Saturday at the 4 Nations Face-Off in Montreal.
Kakko was a healthy scratch in the Finn's 6-1 loss to the United States on Thursday, but he slotted in on the fourth line Saturday in place of Joel Armia. By the midway point of the second period, Kakko was on the top line with Aleksander Barkov and Mikko Rantanen, and the move paid off with the trio getting the game-tying tally. Kakko can win battles, go to the net and play with high-end talent. He has been productive with Seattle since being acquired from the Rangers and could get an additional confidence boost if he remains in a top-six role for Finland in Monday's matchup versus Canada.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Garners helper in shootout loss
Rotowire
Kakko logged an assist in Tuesday's 5-4 shootout loss to the Red Wings.
Kakko got on the scoresheet for the second game in a row -- he hadn't done that since a five-game streak from Jan. 11-18. The 23-year-old set up a Matty Beniers tally in the first period of Tuesday's contest. Kakko is up to nine goals, 31 points, 77 shots on net, 49 hits and a plus-8 rating through 52 outings overall between the Kraken and the Rangers.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Nets goal in loss
Rotowire
Kakko scored a goal and added two hits in Sunday's 3-2 loss to the Flames.
Kakko had gone eight games without a goal, though he had six assists in that span. The 23-year-old winger got the Kraken on the board in the second period. He's up to nine goals, 30 points, 76 shots on net, 49 hits and a plus-8 rating through 51 appearances between the Kraken and the Rangers this season. This is the second time in six seasons that Kakko has reached the 30-point mark, and his career high of 40 points from 2022-23 is very much within reach given how well he's played since he was traded to Seattle.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Manages assist Tuesday
Rotowire
Kakko notched an assist and two blocked shots in Tuesday's 6-4 loss to the Ducks.
Kakko has gone seven games without a goal, but he has six assists in that span. He continues to look like a natural fit on the Kraken's top line with Matty Beniers and Jaden Schwartz. Kakko has 15 points over 19 contests with Seattle, compared to 14 points over 30 outings with the Rangers to start the season. The winger has added 72 shots on net, 46 hits, 30 PIM and a plus-8 rating overall.
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Kraken's Kaapo Kakko: Puts up helper in win
Rotowire
Kakko produced an assist and three shots on goal in Saturday's 4-1 win over the Penguins.
Kakko set up Matty Beniers' insurance tally in the third period. The 23-year-old Kakko had gone two games without a point entering Saturday, something he hadn't done since his first two outings with the Kraken. The winger is up to 14 points in 17 contests for Seattle, matching his output from 30 games with the Rangers earlier in the campaign. He's added 72 shots on net, 44 hits, 30 PIM and a plus-9 rating this season.
