Kakko is hoping for a fresh start with Kraken after a trade with the Rangers

Kaapo Kakko is hoping for a “fresh start” with the Seattle Kraken after playing more than five inconsistent and sometimes turbulent seasons with the New York Rangers.

The Kraken acquired Kakko, the 23-year-old forward in his sixth NHL season, from the Rangers on Wednesday for defenseman Will Borgen and a third- and sixth-round pick in the 2025 NHL Draft.

Kakko, who was selected by the Rangers with the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, will make his Kraken debut against the Chicago Blackhawks at the United Center on Thursday (8:30 p.m. ET; CHSN+, KHN, KONG).

“I hope I get a chance here,” Kakko said after a morning skate in Seattle on Thursday. “I think that’s what the coach here is telling me: Just play your game and they’ll trust me. That’s all I need. What I choose to do out there is up to me. I’m excited about it and ready to get out there and get things going.”

It’s been a busy week for Kakko.

On Sunday, he was a healthy player for the first time this season in a 3-2 loss to the St. Louis Blues at Enterprise Center. Kakko was also scratched once in the Stanley Cup Playoffs last season.

Sunday’s substitution frustrated Kakko, who had 14 points (four goals, 10 assists) and was a plus-9 in 30 games with the Rangers this season after struggling last season when he had 19 points (six). , playing consistently and scoring goals, 13 assists) in 61 games.

On Tuesday, Kakko expressed disappointment at being scratched before returning to the New York lineup against the Nashville Predators at Bridgestone Arena.

He said he was surprised he was singled out, saying, “It’s easy to pick the young man and throw him out” and “I wasn’t the worst.”

The Rangers (15-15-1) lost 2-0 in Nashville, their 11th loss in their last 14 games. Kakko played a game-low 10:14 and had three shots on goal.

On Wednesday, after leaving the hotel sauna in Dallas, Kakko learned from New York general manager Chris Drury that he had been traded to the Kraken (15-16-2).

Seattle general manager Ron Francis said he had been talking to Drury about a Kakko trade for about a week, but the talks escalated after Kakko was cut.

Francis said he wasn’t sure if Kakko’s comments had anything to do with the timing of the trade.

“I thought when he was healthy and scratched, Chris got a lot of calls, not just from me,” Francis said. “It’s the nature of our business. We had already begun discussions when the comments were published. It’s a pretty awkward situation, isn’t it? You have a disgruntled guy in your locker room. Did that speed things up? That was probably the case, but in the end I think Chris didn’t just want to do something for the sake of doing something.”

Kakko said he didn’t believe his comments, which he admitted were born out of frustration, got him traded. The Rangers said privately that one had nothing to do with the other.

“I think the team didn’t play well enough,” Kakko said. “There are a lot of good players there. I think they need to do something there. I was kind of waiting for something to happen. I also knew it could be me.”