Kakko is also in the right spot. The Kraken have a younger team, which puts Kakko in a position to develop properly and learn from his mistakes. The weight of the world was on Kak

Instant chemistry between Kaapo Kakko and Matty Beniers has generated some cautious optimism for the Kraken, with both enjoying productive stretches.

The hope when the Seattle Kraken acquired forward Kaapo Kakko from the New York Rangers was that the former second-overall pick could reignite his stale career.

The metrics under the hood tell a curious story centered on one basic fact: Kakko and his linemates are on a shooting hot streak while Lafreniere and his linemates are in a shooting slump.

Kaapo Kakko scored twice in the third period, Joey Daccord made 33 saves and the Seattle Kraken overcame an early two-goal deficit to beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-2 on Saturday.

Kakko spent Christmas in Seattle at Tolvanen’s house, although the newly acquired winger fielded inquiries from several other Kraken players. The Finns last played together in 2019, so they had a lot to catch up on, sharing “dumb” summer stories and reflecting on their shared history.

“All the Finnish guys know each other, like, somehow,” Kakko said.

The Kraken keep attempting to repeat their past that led to a 2023 playoff run. But they've failed to repeat that formula, and now must consider a rebuild.

Kakko scored an empty-netter and received a misconduct penalty for abuse of officials late in the third period. The 23-year-old has been on a roll lately with three goals and five assists over his last eight games while seeing top-six minutes.

Since being traded away by the New York Rangers, forward Kaapo Kakko has found a new home with the Seattle Kraken. Amid a hot streak, the 23-year-old Finn dropped a bold message, aiming at Peter Laviolette and his former team.

The 2024-25 NHL season has not been kind to the Seattle Kraken. They have struggled for a second straight season and are stuck in the bottom five of the standings.

The Jets, facing a seemingly insurmountable deficit with time dwindling down, ignited their comeback engine, scoring with a dramatic late surge in the third period to steal a 2-1 victory from the Kraken in a thrilling finish on Thursday,