The Seattle Kraken agreed to terms with right winger Kaapo Kakko on a three-year contract. Kakko's new contract [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/seattle-kraken/players/seattle-kraken-avoid-arbitration-with-kaapo-kakko-signing-forward-for-3-years] carries a $4.525 million average annual value and runs through 2027-28. The agreement means the RFA and the Kraken won't need to persuade an arbitrator to award a contract that favors their case. Their hearing was scheduled for Friday, July 25, [https://thehockeynews.com/news/latest-news/what-can-happen-before-and-after-nhl-arbitration-hearings] according to PuckPedia. The Kraken acquired Kakko from the New York Rangers [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/new-york-rangers] last December in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen, a third-round draft pick and a sixth-round pick. Before the trade, Kakko had four goals and 14 points in 30 games. In Seattle, he recorded 10 goals and 30 points in 49 games. That meant Kakko finished the 2024-25 season with a career-high 44 points. Borgen, meanwhile, only had two points in 33 games with the Kraken and 13 points in 51 games with the Rangers while averaging over three minutes of ice time more than he did in Seattle. He signed a five-year contract extension with the Rangers with a $4.1-million cap hit. Both players involved in the trade are now sticking with their clubs for the foreseeable future. "Getting a contract done with Kaapo was a top priority this summer," Kraken GM Jason Botterill said in a news release [https://www.nhl.com/kraken/news/seattle-kraken-agree-to-terms-with-kaapo-kakko-on-three-year-deal-bn]. "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." Kaapo Kakko (Steven Bisig-Imagn Images) [https://deweb-519a7.b-cdn.net/post-images/91218006-cfbb-40f3-8b4c-c2f340ee6b98.jpeg] Kaapo Kakko (Steven Bisig-Imagn Images) Kakko played parts of six seasons with the Rangers after they drafted him second overall in 2019. Before this past season, Kakko's last career high in points came in 2022-23, when he had 40 in 82 games. In 2023-24, when he was expected to break out, he only played 61 games and recorded 19 points. In Seattle, the 24-year-old's minutes shot upward. While he only averaged 13:17 of ice time with the Rangers to begin the season, Kakko logged 17:03 per game with the Kraken. He most-often played with left winger Jaden Schwartz and center Matty Beniers, according to moneypuck.com [https://moneypuck.com/lines.htm]. The Kraken still have about $6.65 million in cap space after the re-signing, according to PuckPedia [https://puckpedia.com/team/seattle-kraken]. Defenseman Ryker Evans remains an RFA. The soonest possible NHL arbitration hearing is now on Monday, July 28, between goaltender Arvid Soderblom and the Chicago Blackhawks [https://thehockeynews.com/nhl/chicago-blackhawks]. Get the latest news and trending stories by following The Hockey News on Google News [https://news.google.com/publications/CAAqBwgKMK-q0gsw7sXpAw?hl=en-CA&gl=CA&ceid=CA%3Aen] and by subscribing to The Hockey News newsletter here [http://eepurl.com/i7OC4I]. And share your thoughts by commenting below the article on THN.com.
