The Rangers outshot the Kraken 27-13, out-attempted them 72-41 and were 41-25 in the face-off circle. But none of that mattered until Cuylle buried a pass from J.T. Miller past Joey Daccord to give the Rangers (6-5-2) their second straight overtime win and third in a row overall. They finished 3-1-0 on this four-game trip though Western Canada and Seattle. It’s the first time since Nov. 14-19 of last year that the Rangers won three in a row

Igor Shesterkin had to make just 11 saves and went long stretches without facing a shot while his teammates controlled play. The Kraken had two good chances in OT, but Matty Beniers misfired on an opportunity at the right post and Shesterkin stopped Eeli Tolvanen’s backhander from the slot.

Cuylle, who extended his points streak to four games with an assist earlier in the night, then scored the game-winner, his first goal since Oct. 11.

“It’s nice to get on the score sheet a bit on this trip and help the team out,” he said.

The Rangers owned the first period and could have skated off with a bigger lead than the 2-1 advantage they held after 20 minutes.

New York dominated the first half of the period but didn’t score until Vladislav Gavrikov recorded his first goal with the Rangers at 10:16. The defenseman’s shot from the left point sailed through traffic, went off the glove of Daccord and into the net for a 1-0 lead.

Seattle had just two shots on goal before Urho Vaakanainen took a hooking penalty at 11:59, and the Kraken capitalized on their first power play to get even. Chandler Stephenson set up in the left circle, took a pass from Vince Dunn and beat Shesterkin over the glove to make it 1-1.

But the tie lasted just 61 seconds, thanks to Noah Laba. Daccord stopped Cuylle’s shot but left a rebound, and Laba bulled past Jordan Eberle to reach the puck first and bang it home.

CRASH THE NET.

Cools with the shot + Laba buries the rebound. pic.twitter.com/igWmax0uVJ

— New York Rangers (@NYRangers) November 2, 2025

Neither team did much for the rest of the first period and the first few minutes of the second, with the Rangers doing an excellent job of keeping the Kraken to the outside, getting sticks into passing lanes and keeping the slot clear. But Seattle finally got some zone time around the six-minute mark, tired out the Rangers on the ice and got the tying goal at 6:59, working the puck around the zone until Brandon Montour teed up a shot from just above the right circle that beat Shesterkin to make it 2-2.

Cuylle appeared to give the Rangers their third lead at 11:47 by knocking in a loose puck during a power-play scramble. But the goal was quickly waved off for goaltender interference; referees Graham Skilliter and Jordan Samuels-Thomas ruled that Cuylle pushed Daccord back into the net.

The period ended 2-2 despite the Rangers allowing just eight shots on goal through 40 minutes.

The third period was more of the same, with the Rangers controlling play but unable to score. Miller had the best chance to win the game in regulation, but Daccord got to the back post just in time to deny him after a nice pass from Adam Fox.

Two former Rangers, defenseman Ryan Lindgren and forward Kaapo Kakko, faced their old team for the first time since each was traded last season. Lindgren was plus-1 and took a minor penalty in 19:54 of ice time; Kakko, making his season debut after sitting out Seattle’s first 10 games with a broken hand, had one shot on goal in 14:16.

The Rangers head home and are off until Tuesday when the Carolina Hurricanes pay a visit to Madison Square Garden.

Key takeaways from Rangers’ 3-2 overtime win in Seattle

1. Regrouping and rebounding

What a difference a few days makes.

Gloom and doom were everywhere after the Rangers began this trip with a stinker – a 5-1 loss to the Calgary Flames, who hadn’t won since opening night and were last in the overall standings. It was a poor performance all around.

But instead of moping, the Rangers regrouped. They shut out the Vancouver Canucks 2-0 behind backup goaltender Jonathan Quick, and then overcame a two-goal deficit in the third period before defeating the Oilers 4-3 in overtime.

This game wasn’t pretty, but the Rangers once again found a way to win. Instead of gloom, there were plenty of smiles on the flight home. The biggest one likely belonged to coach Mike Sullivan.

“I give the guys a lot of credit,” he said. “This is not an easy trip to come out here. We lose the first game in Calgary, and to rebound the way we did just speaks volumes, I think, for the character of the guys. You can feel the energy around the team. I feel like we’ve earned our swagger back through our sweat equity.”

2. Persistence pays off

Unlike their 4-3 overtime in Edmonton two nights earlier, the Rangers controlled play in this game almost all night. They had a 10-3 advantage in high-danger scoring chances in all situations (6-1 at 5-on-5), according to Natural Stat Trick. Shesterkin’s biggest task for much of the night was staying alert when the puck was at the other end of the ice.

It was the kind of game that would have been easy to lose — but they didn’t. Shesterkin made the big save the Rangers had to have in overtime before Miller, the OT hero against the Oilers, set up Cuylle for the game-winner.

Sullivan was delighted with the way his team controlled play shift after shift – and found a way to win after an often-frustrating first 60 minutes.

“I thought tonight might’ve been our best, just as far as controlling territory, defending hard, limiting shot quantity and quality,” he said. “I thought it was a complete effort by everybody. All four lines were involved.”

3. Wins needed at home

The Rangers are 6-1-1 away from home after their swing through the West. That’s the best road record in the NHL.

But three of their next four games are at Madison Square Garden, where they are 0-4-1. It’s their worst start at home since 1943-44, when a World-War II-ravaged team finished 6-39 with five ties.

The Blueshirts can’t fritter away any more Garden games, especially because the next two are against the Hurricanes and Islanders, a pair of Metropolitan Division rivals.

One thing that would help is an improved power play. After they were 4-for-30 in October (29th in the League), the Rangers began November 0-for-3 and not generating a lot of pressure against the Kraken.

There was no doubt defenseman Ryan Lindgren would 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, made his season debut by facing his former team.

Kakko missed Seattle’s first 10 games because of a broken hand sustained during training camp. He was injured when slashed by Edmonton Oilers defenseman Beau Akey in the first period of the Kraken’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 and again at the morning skate Saturday.

Coach Lane Lambert said Kakko would be a game-time decision, but he took line rushes during warmups.

Lindgren is also facing 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 Rangers 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. 

The 28-year-old defenseman could have become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the season. When the Rangers picked him up on Dec. 18, they were mired in a miserable stretch that extended to 4-15-0, and there was talk that they might flip Borgen ahead of the NHL trade deadline if their season didn’t turn around.

Well, the Rangers season has turned around. They’re 8-1-3 since the New Year and on a 10-game point streak (7-0-3) heading into a Sunday matinee against the Colorado Avalanche at Madison Square Garden. Entering Saturday, the Rangers are one point out of the second wild card in the Eastern Conference.

New York goal!

Scored by Will Borgen with 01:38 remaining in the 1st period.

Chicago: 1
New York: 2#NYRvsCHI #Blackhawks #NYR pic.twitter.com/D8hVvOxHdl

— NHL Goals (@nhl_goal_bot) January 5, 2025

Borgen has been a big part of getting the Rangers back on track. He’s help solidify the defense corps with his steady play. Borgen’s formed a solid second pairing with K’Andre Miller, who had major struggles this season before his new partner’s arrival.

“It’s great. ‘Key’s’ a great player all over the ice, it’s easy. Communicates really well, makes nice plays, keeps it simple,” Borgen said a few days ago about his on-ice rapport with Miller.

In essence, Borgen took over the on-ice role of former captain Jacob Trouba, who was traded to the Anaheim Ducks during New York’s freefall. Borgen is a physical defenseman who clears the crease and plays with an edge.

In 17 games since the trade, Borgen has one goal and three points. He is averaging 18:35 TOI, three minutes more per game than he did in 33 contests with the Kraken this season.

Saturday morning, Rangers coach Peter Laviolette praised Borgen and fellow newcomer Urho Vaakanainen, saying they’ve “helped quiet things down a little bit.”

Related: Rangers have major decisions to make on defensemen before, after NHL trade deadline

Will Borgen fits in quickly with Rangers, lands 5-year contract

The right side of the Rangers defense corps seems set for the foreseeable future. Adam Fox, their top defenseman, is signed through 2027-28; Borgen has his deal through 2029-30; and Braden Schneider is under contract for another season and then becomes a restricted free agent — the 23-year-old is not going anywhere.

Schneider could flip to his off side next season if the Rangers, as expected, do not re-sign pending unrestricted free agent Ryan Lindgren, a left shot. Schneider played some on the left side this season and performed well. The Rangers also have right-shot Victor Mancini, currently playing with Hartford in the American Hockey League.

But it’s clear the Borgen, a seven-year pro who was a fourth-round pick (No. 92 overall) by the Buffalo Sabres in 2015, made a terrific impression on the Rangers right away, for them to aggressively sign him to a long-term deal already.

But how did he adapt so quickly with the Rangers?

“It’s good now., It was a lot to take in right away, living in New York and getting my stuff from Seattle,” he explained. “It took a little bit, but now I’m settled.”

A top-four defenseman with the Kraken the past two seasons, including 2022-23 when they made the playoffs in their second season, Borgen dropped to the third pair this season. His TOI dropped two minutes and his play dipped considerably.

Then the Rangers rescued him and, in a sense, he helped rescue them. Now they’re partners for the next five seasons.

Twelve days later, they shipped forward Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken for defenseman Will Borgen and two more picks in the 2025 draft.

All four players are settled into their new locales now. So, here’s a look at how each has fared after a month with his new team.

Related: 3 Rangers takeaways from 5-3 comeback win in Utah

Rangers trade Jacob Trouba to Ducks for Urho Vaakanainen

What they’ve done

It’s hard to believe that just three seasons ago, Trouba was on his way to an 11-goal, 39-point season with the Rangers. His offense dropped off in each of the next two-plus seasons with the Rangers, and he’s not generating much in Anaheim.

Trouba had six points, all assists, in 24 games with the Rangers before the trade and was minus-3 with 22 penalty minutes while averaging 20.00 of ice time. In 19 games with Anaheim, he’s still looking for his first goal of the season, has three assists, eight penalty minutes and is minus-2. The Ducks are giving him an average of 21:01 time on ice. He played 21:03, had an assist and was plus-2 on Thursday night in Anaheim’s 4-3 shootout loss to the Tampa Bay Lightning.

“I’m getting more comfortable around the group,” Trouba told the Winnipeg Free Press earlier this month. “Obviously it takes more than a couple of days to kind of get fully settled in.”

But Trouba’s biggest stock in trade is his physical game, and those numbers have gone up since he joined the Ducks. In his 24 games with the Rangers, Trouba was credited with 39 hits (4.87 per 60 minutes) and 68 blocked shots (8.09/60, first on the team). In 20 games with the Ducks, he has 52 hits (7.42/60) and 62 blocked shots (8.85/60, first on the team). His combined total of 130 blocks is the most in the NHL.

However, Trouba’s arrival hasn’t done much for the Ducks’ success on the ice, one way or another. They were 10-12-3 (.460 points percentage) before the trade and 8-9-3 (.475) with him in the lineup. He’s the same player in Anaheim that he was with New York; so far, the Ducks have been the same team with him that they were before he arrived.

Vaakanainen, the No. 18 overall pick in the 2017 draft by the Boston Bruins, has been plagued by injuries throughout his career. He missed most of the first two months of this season with injuries and had one assist in five games with the Ducks before the trade.

The 25-year-old made his debut with the Rangers on Dec. 17 against the Nashville Predators and has been a regular on the blue line since, usually in a bottom-pair role. He has two assists in 14 games and averaged 15:00 TOI (1:08 on the penalty kill), up from 13:36 per game with Anaheim. The Rangers were 15-14-1 (.517) before he arrived and are 6-6-2 (.500) with him in the lineup.

The verdict

The biggest difference for the Rangers since the trade is salary cap-wise. The Ducks took all of Trouba’s $8 million cap hit for the rest of this season and 2025-26, giving the Rangers some much-needed cap space – most of which they quickly used to sign goaltender Igor Shesterkin to an eight-year, $92 million contract. Trouba has brought a physical presence to Anaheim, but his offensive game – already in decline — has all but disappeared.

Vaakanainen has never become the player he was expected to be when drafted eight years ago. He gives the Rangers a useful third-pair body on the blue line. But anyone who has scored one goal in 154 NHL games isn’t being counted on for his offense. Trouba gets more ice time and is more physical; Vaakanainen is cheaper and a competent bottom-pair guy.

Rangers trade Kaapo Kakko to Kraken for Will Borgen

Kakko never became what the Rangers were expecting him to be when they selected him with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 draft. He’s the kind of player who a team would likely have been happy with if he’d been selected No. 22, but more is expected for the second player chosen in any draft.

Skating has never been Kakko’s strong suit, and he never appeared to find a niche with the Rangers. The closest he came was as a third-liner in 2022-23 (career highs of 18 goals and 40 points) and the first few weeks of this season, when he, Filip Chytil and Will Cuylle formed perhaps the best third line in the NHL.

But things went downhill for Kakko and the Rangers after mid-November. He had one goal and two assists in 13 games after Nov. 18, was a healthy scratch on Dec. 15 and finally sent to Seattle three days later. Kakko had 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 30 games before the trade, averaged just 13:17 of ice time per game and saw limited power-play time (58 seconds a game).

Kaapo Kakko shoots for the empty net and that will do it#SEAKraken: 4#LetsGoPens: 2 pic.twitter.com/1jm4wR70Yb

— Joseph (@HockeyJoseph10) January 15, 2025

Things have perked up for the 23-year-old in the Pacific Northwest.

Kakko matched his goal total with the Rangers his first 12 games with Seattle. He scored twice in the third period of the Kraken’s 6-2 road win against the Buffalo Sabres on Jan. 11 and was named the game’s First Star.

“He’s got some different attributes than a lot of us don’t have,” coach Dan Bylsma said after the win. “… Adding that presence, adding that ability, the big body (6-foot-1, 215 pounds) and the ability to hold on to pucks has made that line (with Matty Beniers and Jaden Schwartz) and made our team all that much better.”

Kakko had an empty-netter in Seattle’s 4-2 road win against the Pittsburgh Penguins and a primary assist in a 2-1 loss to the Jets in Winnipeg on Thursday, giving him 10 points (four goals, six assists) in 13 games since the trade. He has a four-game point streak. His average time on ice has jumped more than 3:00 per game, to 16:34, and he’s regularly used in a top-six role — often on the first line.

But his arrival hasn’t helped the Kraken in the standings: Seattle was 15-16-2 (.485) before the trade but is just 4-8-1 (.346) since his arrival, including the loss at Winnipeg. To be fair, the Kraken struggled while an injury sidelined starting goaltender Joey Daccord; backup Philipp Grubauer has lost all five of his starts this month and was hooked in each of the past two.

Will Borgen gets his first as a #NYR .. 2-1 Rangers pic.twitter.com/dM8Fa2Ihq3

— David 🏒 (@DaveyUpper) January 5, 2025

Borgen has given the Rangers a useful but not spectacular right-handed shot on the blue line. He has one goal and one assist in 13 games with the Rangers – the same offensive numbers he had in 30 games with the Kraken, though he was minus-13 with them and is even with New York. Like Kakko, he’s seeing a lot more ice time since the trade (18:40, up from 15:12 with Seattle). He’s also become a regular on the second penalty-killing unit (1:12 per game).

However, Borgen has had little impact on the Blueshirts’ won-lost record; the Rangers were 15-15-1 before the trade and are 6-5-2 since his arrival.

The verdict

The Rangers have every reason to be content with Borgen; he’s fit in well (usually on the second pairing and penalty kill). Like Vaakanainen, who he’s sometimes partnered with, the 28-year-old focuses on keeping opponents away from the net and leaves the offense to players such as Adam Fox. He’s playing for a contract, which gives him some added incentive.

Kakko was dealt after it became obvious that he needed a change of scenery. Early indications are that the Kraken, now in their fourth season since entering the NHL in the fall of 2021, might be a good fit — he’s not on a team that entered the season with Stanley Cup expectations, and he’ll get more and better ice time in his new home. It may take a while longer, but don’t be surprised if Kakko emerges as a 20-goal, 50-point player on a regular basis.

Kakko was named the game’s first star after his two goals helped the visiting Kraken end a four-game losing streak with a 6-2 victory against the Buffalo Sabres at KeyBank Center on Saturday.

Actually, Kakko needed just 1:40 of the third period to notch the fifth two-goal game of his career, making him the fastest player in Kraken history to score two goals. The Finnish forward, taken by the Rangers with the No. 2 pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, second his second goal since the trade when he beat goaltender Ukko-Pekka Luukkonen with a wrist shot from the right circle 3:46 into the third period, giving Seattle a 4-2 lead.

Buffalo defenseman Rasmus Dahlin took a tripping penalty at 4:17, and Kakko made the Sabres pay at 5:26 when he scored his second goal of the game, beating Luukkonen from the slot off a pass from the left corner by Jared McCann, to put the Kraken up by three in what became a 6-2 victory that ended an 0-3-1 slide for the Kraken (18-22-3).

KAAPO KAKKO
KAAPO KAKKO
KAAPO KAKKO
KAAPO KAKKO
KAAPO KAKKO pic.twitter.com/CREZxOhxMY

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) January 11, 2025

Kakko was named first star after finishing with two goals on two shots as well as being credited with two hits, one takeaway and one blocked shot; he also won his only face-off. The Kraken, who trailed 2-0 before scoring six times, won their NHL-leading sixth game when trailing by multiple goals.

The goals were Kakko’s second and third with the Kraken and his sixth and seventh of the season. The first four came with the Rangers; the last of those came on Nov. 30 against the Montreal Canadiens.

Ex-Ranger Kakko scores twice for Kraken in win at Buffalo

Kakko has seven points (three goals, four assists through 10 games with the Kraken, after putting up 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) with the Rangers. He’s averaging .7 points per game with the Kraken, which would translate to 57 points over an 82-game season. His career high is 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists) in 2022-23.

The third and fourth two-goal games of Kakko’s career also came against Buffalo, both at Madison Square Garden during his second NHL season. He scored twice in a 5-3 win on March 22, 2021, and again in a 6-3 win on April 25, 2021.

release the kakko AGAIN!! pic.twitter.com/H5NvFG2XcU

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) January 11, 2025

Kakko also scored two goals in 2019-20, his rookie season. He had the first multiple-goal game of his NHL career on Nov. 12, 2019, when he scored twice in the Rangers’ 3-2 win against the Pittsburgh Penguins at the Garden, then had two goals in a 4-2 road win against the Dallas Stars on March 10, 2020.

Before Saturday, he hadn’t scored more than one goal in a game since 2021-22; he had two in a 3-2 road win against the Arizona Coyotes on Dec. 15, 2021, and in a 4-2 victory against the Flyers in Philadelphia on April 13, 2022. Ironically, his best goal-scoring season came when he had 18 in 2022-23 – all in one-goal games.

Borgen, a 6-foot-3, 204-pound right-handed shooter, was a fourth-round pick by the Buffalo Sabres in 2015 who was selected by the Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft. Since then, he’s played 233 NHL games, including all 82 in each of the previous two seasons.

Borgen signed a two-year contract with an average annual value of $2.7 million in the summer of 2023. His cap hit is $300,000 more than Kakko’s, making the money essentially a wash. Borgen can become an unrestricted free agent after this season, so the Rangers aren’t on the hook for any long-term money. It also makes Borgen tradeable if the Rangers want to go in that direction.

Related: NHL insider believes Will Borgen is ‘Perfect Fit’ for Rangers

What type of player is Will Borgen, Rangers’ newest D-man?

One look at his offensive numbers makes it clear that Borgen wasn’t brought with the expectation that he’ll juice the attack. He has nine goals and 55 points in his 247-game NHL career, and his 25 points (three goals, 22 assists) last season was a career best. The Rangers acquired him because they need someone reliable on the back end to help clean up the messes they’ve been creating in their own zone.

“He’s not a sexy or flashy player. He’s not going to wow you with any one part of his game,” Frank Seravalli of Daily Faceoff said about Borgen. “But he’s reliable, he’s got some size, he’s got better-than-average feet, and I think he’s a guy who can help quiet down the noise in the Rangers’ own end, which is exactly what they needed at this exact moment in time.”

Borgen isn’t going to be a player who drives possession or scoring chances. He has only been positive in relative expected goals (xG) in one season, according to Natural Stat Trick. That came during his 36 games in 2021-22. In other words, the Kraken were allowing more expected goals with him on the ice than when he wasn’t.

One positive aspect of Borgen’s game is on the penalty kill. Seattle allowed fewer shot attempts and fewer expected goals when he was on the ice while shorthanded than they did without him — and the difference was significant during the past two seasons. They allowed 26.2 fewer shot attempts per 60 minutes with Borgen on the PK in the past two full seasons.

This acquisition certainly won’t save the Rangers’ defense, but it does give them another playable defenseman and gets at least rookie Victor Mancini, one of the weak links in recent weeks, out of the lineup. Mancini, who made the team after an impressive training camp, has struggled in recent weeks. His minus-19.77 percent relative xG at 5-on-5 is the second-worst among all defensemen who have played at least 100 minutes this season. He was sent to AHL Hartford to get more experience.

With Borgen and Urho Vaakanainen, who was acquired in the trade that sent Trouba to the Ducks, the Rangers have a path to having solid options across their blue line. That will be especially true when K’Andre Miller returns from an upper-body injury. The next step would be to reduce Ryan Lindgren’s ice time, as he has not been very effective this season. Borgen’s addition to the lineup could help do just that, as well as bringing some of the stability the Rangers need on the back end.

Beniers, who, like Kakko, was a No. 2 overall pick, has gone 16 games without a goal, and the Kraken seem to hope that Kakko’s new blood will get the 2023 Calder Trophy winner going. In the Kraken’s 3-1 loss to the Chicago Blackhawks, Kakko played 13:25 and was credited with two shots on goal — not counting the one he rang off the post in the second period.

One of the bright spots from Kakko comes off the ice, as he is reunited with fellow Finland native, Eeli Tolvanen. The pair played together when Finland won the 2019 IIHF World Junior Championship, but so far have not played on a line together in Seattle.

Kaapo Kakko’s Future Still Unclear in Seattle

With Kraken captain Jordan Eberle expected to be out for several more weeks after having surgery for a pelvic injury last month, it’s unclear where Kakko will continue to slot in — and if he’ll remain in Seattle’s top six. Eberle hasn’t played since Nov. 14 and has missed 17 of the Kraken’s 34 games. Kakko may have to fight to stay on the top line, as Eberle will likely look to slot in at right wing when he returns, though that’s not likely to happen until February.

The Kraken are also looking to improve their power play, which currently sits 25th in the league at 17.5 percent. Though Seattle’s first power-play unit got the majority of ice time against the Hawks, Kakko saw time on the second unit alongside Brandon Montour, Shane Wright, Andre Burakovsky, and Jaden Schwartz.

let’s have a #SeaKraken debut, Kaapo! 👏 pic.twitter.com/9yjH0d1uHv

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) December 20, 2024

It’s not surprising that Kakko didn’t make that big an impact in his first game with Seattle, as he joined the team Wednesday night and had his first and only practice with the team Thursday morning. The Kraken hope they’re bolstering their offense with Kakko; they’ve now scored just two goals in their past three games, all losses.

Kakko, the No. 2 pick in the 2019 draft, had 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) in 30 games with the Rangers before the trade. His NHL career high is 40 points (18 goals, 22 assists), set in 2022-23. Kakko, who was in his sixth season with the Rangers, totaled 61 goals and 131 points in 330 games with New York. While he was always a solid depth player, he never really lived up the hype of being the second player taken in his draft year — something Kraken GM Ron Francis says he hopes will change in Seattle.

The Kraken are sixth in the Pacific Division, ahead of only the Anaheim Ducks and San Jose Sharks, and 12th in the Western Conference, six points out of the second wild card. Ironically, the Rangers were involved with both of those teams, with Barclay Goodrow getting claimed off waivers by San Jose during the summer and former Rangers’ captain Jacob Trouba getting traded to Anaheim two weeks ago.

Rangers fans won’t see Kakko with his new team until 2025-26; they’ve already finished their two-game season series, with each team winning on the road. However, fans can watch him on TV when he represents Team Finland at the 4 Nations Face-off in February.

The 28-year-old defenseman was traded along with third- and sixth-round picks in the 2025 NHL Draft to the Rangers for forward Kaapo Kakko on Wednesday. Borgen was in Chicago, where the Kraken are to play the Blackhawks on Thursday, when he was informed about the trade.

He had never been traded before. Originally a Buffalo Sabres draft pick, Borgen was selected by the Kraken in the 2021 NHL Expansion Draft and had played for them since.

“It was a mix of emotions. I was in Seattle from the beginning there. Had a lot of fun there. But I’m excited to be here. Original Six team, New York City,” Borgen told reporters after his first practice with the Rangers on Thursday.

New #NYR Will Borgen is here wearing No. 17. Matt Rempe is arriving later today. pic.twitter.com/HPPX7csApo

— Mollie Walker (@MollieeWalkerr) December 19, 2024

Borgen packed immediately, took a flight to Dallas, and joined the Rangers on the ice Thursday — coincidentally, his birthday.

“There’s never a good time for this. And today’s his birthday, so you’re wishing him a happy birthday and a Merry Christmas and you’re telling him he’s been traded,” Kraken general manager Ron Francis said on a Zoom call with reporters.

However, Borgen seemed upbeat about the opportunity, especially after dropping to the third defense pair in Seattle this season and averaging 15:12 TOI, more than two minutes less than in 2023-24. Though his numbers on offense (one goal, one assist after 25 points last season) and defensive metrics (0.41 xGF, per Natural Stat Trick) are way down, Borgen remains confident in what he’ll bring to his new team.

“I think I’m a pretty good skating defenseman. I can skate with most guys, and I’m physical,” he said. I play with a little bit of an edge and try to bring that every night. I try to get some energy for the group.”

Related: Kaapo Kakko was in sauna when Rangers traded him to Kraken

Will Borgen could bring immediate benefits to Rangers, NHL insider believes

Though trading Jacob Trouba and Kakko in the same month shook up the Rangers dressing room a bit, they could have a spark ignite with Borgen joining the team.

This is something that NHL insider Frank Seravalli believes could happen. Going on the Daily Faceoff LIVE show, he provided his reasoning as to why Borgen will improve the Rangers despite not being one of the biggest names on the market.

“He’s not a sexy or flashy player, he’s not going to wow you with any one part of his game,” Seravalli said.

“But he’s reliable, he’s got some size, he’s got better-than-average feet, and I think he’s a guy who can help quiet down the noise in the Rangers own end, which is exactly what they needed at this exact moment in time.”

And stability is what the free-falling Rangers (15-15-1) are looking for. They’ve lost 11 of their past 14 games and tumbled down the standings in the Eastern Conference, where they currently reside in 10th place.

Borgen is expected to make his Rangers debut Friday when they visit the Dallas Stars and attempt to end a three-game losing streak.

Some say Kakko’s talent was overrated. Some say he lacked the speed and skill to be the top-six forward the Rangers had anticipated they were getting when they took him – Kakko has shown himself to be a useful third-liner who’s a solid puck-protector but not the kind of dynamic offensive player that the New Jersey Devils got when they selected center Jack Hughes with the No. 1 pick. He’s never finished a season with more than the 18 goals and 40 points he put up in 2022-23 — and after a solid start to this season had seen his scoring numbers drop in recent weeks. In 29 games, he had 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) and was plus-10.

So after five-plus seasons, the Rangers decided to cut bait with Kakko in order to help plug some holes on the blue line. The Kraken, who’ve struggled to score at times this season while going 15-16-2 in their first 33 games, hope to see the promise that attracted the Rangers come to fruition with a new team on the other coast.

Kraken GM optimistic that fresh start for Kakko will pay off

Kraken general manager Ron Francis, who made the deal that brought the 23-year-old from Finland to Seattle, thinks it might be good for Kakko to get a fresh start and play somewhere other than New York, where he was playing just across the Hudson River from Hughes.

“It’s pretty close,” Francis said Wednesday after the trade was completed. “You get him out here, away from that and we have a chance to work with him. That’s what we’re hoping for.”

Kakko found out about the trade at 5:30 p.m. Eastern time on Wednesday while he was in a sauna in Dallas, where the Rangers play Friday – then found out he was booked for a flight four hours later. He was in Chicago for his new team’s morning skate and was set to play his first game against the Blackhawks on Thursday night.

“I had a little bit of time to pack,” he said, “but I was excited right away.”

The Kraken aren’t exactly swimming in talent, especially big-bodied talent. up front. Kakko is 6-foot-1 and 215 pounds with a solid reputation for retrieving pucks in the offensive zone, winning puck battles along the wall, protecting the puck from opponents, being patient with the puck and never backing down from scrums. He was

He’s optimistic that the change in scenery will give his offensive game a boost.

“I’m still good in the O-zone,” said Kakko, who had 131 points (61 goals, 70 assists) and was plus-13 in 330 regular-season games with the Rangers. “That’s my game. I can make some plays, challenge you, and score some goals. I think I’ve been getting better in the defensive zone as a two-way player who can be trusted. Getting to the net is something I’ve been trying to do a little more, especially this year.”

Coach Dan Bylsma, who had Kakko on the power play during the morning skate, is also optimistic that his new forward brings plenty to the table.

“He’s a big-body guy who can hang on the puck in the offensive zone, which gives some time and space for linemates to shoot,” Bylsma said. “We want to be able to utilize his strength and his shot.”

Getting away from the team that took him No. 2 five years ago could be just what Kakko needs. There will be a lot less pressure playing for the NHL’s newest team – especially as his now-former teammates try to find a way out of the slump that seen them lose 11 of their past 14 games and dropped them from 12-4-1 after 17 games to 15-15-1 entering their game against the Stars on Friday.

The 23-year-old forward revealed he was in the sauna at the Rangers hotel in Dallas and missed three calls from general manager Chris Drury. One look at his phone when he exited the sauna clued him in that something was up.

Kakko was traded to the Kraken for defenseman Will Borgan and two draft picks.

So, a relaxing evening turned into a series of phone calls and packing up to head out to Chicago to meet the Kraken, who play the Blackhawks on Thursday.

“Fresh start. I feel that’s what I need right now,” Kakko told reporters on a Zoom call Thursday. “I liked my time in New York … Many years over there, great team, but I think I’m waiting for a little more from myself. The team was waiting also, and it never worked out the way we wanted.”

New #SeaKraken forward Kaapo Kakko addressing media now, with #84 on his hoodie. pic.twitter.com/JDEkh0usSR

— Sound Of Hockey (@sound_hockey) December 19, 2024

Kakko had 131 points (61 goals, 70 assists) in 330 games with the Rangers, who made the native of Finland the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft behind Jack Hughes of the New Jersey Devils. Kakko’s game never took off in New York, topping out with 18 goals and 40 points in 2022-23.

Just this past Sunday, he was scratched for New York’s 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues. Tuesday morning, Kakko flashed his anger about that decision, basically saying he was a scapegoat for the spiraling Rangers (15-15-1), who’ve now lost 11 of their past 14 games.

However, Kakko didn’t believe that’s why he was traded.

“I don’t know. I don’t think it’s because of that,” he said. “The team was playing not well enough. There are a lot of good players over there, (but) they need to do something. I kind of knew something was going to happen, and I knew it might be me.”

Kakko had four goals and 14 points with the Rangers this season. He got off to a good start on the third line with Filip Chytil and Will Cuylle, but struggled to maintain that level. He had 19 points (13 goals, six assists) in 61 games last season and one goal in 15 Stanley Cup Playoff games. He was also scratched one game in the Eastern Conference Final against the Florida Panthers, just as he was in the 2022 conference final against the Tampa Bay Lightning.

Related: Why NHL insider believes Will Borgen is ‘perfect fit’ for Rangers

‘Frustrated’ Kaapo Kakko happy to start over in Seattle after trade from Rangers

Trade rumors have followed Kakko for years, and really intensified after the Rangers lost to the Panthers in the conference final last spring. But Kakko signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract and Drury didn’t sell low on him this past offseason. Kakko came in to training camp promising to have a better season. Then the good start was followed by a decline and a healthy scratch and his public complaint. Then the trade Wednesday.

“I was frustrated. Everyone wants to play. That’s what I wanted, also,” Kakko explained. “That doesn’t matter anymore. It’s a new team for me, I’m not thinking about it. A lot of good guys over there. New chance for me.”

#SeaKraken threads look good on you, Kaapo 👀 pic.twitter.com/nT6g9srSyy

— Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken) December 19, 2024

Kakko took part in Seattle’s morning skate Thursday and is expected to make his Kraken debut later in the evening against the Blackhawks. The Kraken are 15-16-2 and sixth in the Pacific Division. With right wing Jordan Eberle sidelined by injury, Kakko could get a good look in the Kraken’s top-six forward group.

Of course, Kakko did receive numerous chances in the top six with the Rangers, including early last season alongside Mika Zibanejad and Chris Kreider. It didn’t go well, and when the season ended Kakko lamented a failed opportunity.

“It never worked out that well,” he said last June. “If you’re playing those minutes, you have to score some goals, also. We never scored that much. So I can’t say I didn’t get the chance with those guys.”

That’s in the past now. The future begins now for Kakko. With the Seattle Kraken.