One, and maybe two, ex-Rangers could face old team for 1st time in Seattle
At least one former member of the New York Rangers — and maybe two — will face his old team Saturday night when the Blueshirts complete their four-game road trip against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena.
Defenseman Ryan Lindgren will definitely be in the Kraken lineup — one night after having some of his old teammates over to his house for dinner. In addition, forward Kaapo Kakko, who was traded to Seattle by the Rangers for defenseman Will Borgen and two draft picks last Dec. 18, might be ready for his season debut.
Kakko has yet to play this season after breaking his hand during training camp. He was injured when he was slashed by Edmonton Oilers defenseman Beau Akey in the first period of Seattle’s 4-1 win on Sept 24 and placed on injured reserve. Kakko returned to practice earlier this week and was a full participant when the Kraken took the ice on Friday, but coach Lane Lambert wasn’t willing to commit to using him Saturday.
“Obviously, I think he looked pretty good at practice,” Lambert said of Kakko. “He’s still on IR, but he definitely did get more reps and we’re working toward a return for him.”
Lindgren will face his former team for the first time since being traded. The Rangers sent Adam Fox’s longtime regular partner and a pending unrestricted free agent, to the Colorado Avalanche on March 1. He had three points (two goals, one assist) in 18 regular-season games for the Avs, then chipped in three assists in seven games during Colorado’s loss to the Dallas Stars in the first round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs.
The Kraken signed Lindgren to a four-year, $18 million contract ($4.5 million average annual value) on July 1. He has one assist and 23 penalty minutes in 10 games for the Kraken, who are off to a surprising 5-2-3 start.
While Lindgren and his old teammates will be on opposite ends of the ice Saturday, many Rangers were guests of the veteran defenseman on Friday night.
“It will be fun to see them and then play against them,” Lindgren said after practice when asked about facing his old team. “It will be nice to see a couple of the guys — I’m having a few of them over for dinner tonight. Obviously some best friends over there.
“Obviously it will be my first time against the Rangers. It might be a little weird. It will be exciting, for sure.”
Ryan Lindgren looking forward to facing former teammates
When asked if he had any particular ex-teammates who meant a lot to him, Lindgren was quick to cite his old partner.
“Adam Fox would be the one guy,” he said. “We kind of went through everything together. We lived together for two years. I was best friends with him in high school, and it was kind of cool that we were able to reconnect in New York and able to play together for a long time.
“He’s definitely a guy I feel very close with. He definitely means a lot to me.”
New York and Seattle split their season series in 2024-25, with the road team winning each time. The Rangers won 2-0 on Nov. 17, but the Kraken got even with a 7-5 victory at Madison Square Garden on Dec. 8, 10 days before the Kakko trade was made.
Kakko never blossomed the way the Rangers had expected him to. His best season in New York was 2022-23, when he finished with 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists), and he had 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 30 games with the Rangers last season before the trade.
He said after the trade was completed that he was hoping for a fresh start in Seattle.
“That’s what I’m hoping,” Kakko said. “It’s a new chance for me. I played there for a long time, just one team. I’m happy to be here and that’s what I’m thinking also.”
Expectations for the 24-year-old have increased in Seattle. He played 49 games with the Kraken after the trade, scoring 10 goals and finishing with 30 points while averaging a career-high 17:03 of ice time, almost four minutes per game more than he was seeing with the Rangers. That was enough to earn him a three-year contract extension that carries an average annual value of $4.525 million — making him the sixth-highest-paid forward on the team.
“Getting a contract done with Kaapo was a top priority this summer,” general manager Jason Botterill said after the signing on July 22. “We knew quickly he’d be a big part of our team moving forward. He’s got size, skill and tremendous playmaking ability, and isn’t afraid of going to the net. He fit in immediately with our group, and we’re thrilled to have him under contract.”
From the date he was acquired through the end of the regular season, Kakko was tied for second on the Kraken in points, third in assists (20) and power-play goals (3), and sixth in goals. He was tied for the team lead in even-strength points (24).
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound forward has 161 points (71 goals, 90 assists) in 379 regular-season games with the Kraken and Rangers.
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