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Seattle Kraken forward Kaapo Kakko. Stephen Brashear-Imagn Images

Kraken announce lucrative new deal for veteran winger

Originally posted on Pro Hockey Rumors | By Brian La Rose | Last updated Jul 22, 2025 8:03 PM ET

Earlier Tuesday, the dates for the seven remaining arbitration-eligible players were revealed. However, one player who won’t need that hearing after all is Kraken winger Kaapo Kakko. The Kraken announced that they’ve reached an agreement on a three-year contract that will pay $4.525M per season after being set to exchange arbitration figures on Wednesday.

GM Jason Botterill released the following statement:

"Getting a contract done with Kaapo was a top priority this summer. 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."

The 24-year-old was the second overall selection back in 2019 by the Rangers and had seemingly been on thin ice in New York for a couple of years. The two sides agreed on a one-year, $2.4M contract last offseason, well before qualifying offers were due to be submitted, avoiding any risk of the Rangers non-tendering him to avoid arbitration rights.

The deal seemingly represented a last-chance opportunity for Kakko, and it’s fair to say he didn’t make the most of it. He managed just four goals and 10 assists in 30 games with New York and in December, the Rangers pulled the trigger on a trade, sending him to Seattle for defenseman Will Borgen, a 2025 third-round pick and a 2026 sixth-round selection.

The change of scenery seemed to give Kakko a boost. He averaged just under a point per game over his first month with the Kraken, and overall, he picked up 10 goals and 20 assists in 49 outings. Combining his stats with New York, Kakko’s 44 points represented a career high, giving him some leverage heading into contract talks this summer.

Considering that Kakko’s career numbers of 71 goals and 90 assists in 379 games is rather pedestrian, Jason Botterill is clearly banking on Kakko’s second-half production being a sign of things to come. He got the bigger role he was hoping for following the swap, logging a little over 17 minutes a night of playing time after averaging just over 13 minutes a night prior to the swap. It’s clear that based on this deal, the Kraken feel that Kakko can be a legitimate top-six forward for them moving forward.

Beyond his entry-level contract, this is the longest agreement that Kakko has signed. It’s a pact that buys out his first two UFA-eligible seasons, making those eligible for potential trade protection. It will also allow Kakko to potentially reach the open market at 27 in 2028, putting him in a position to possibly secure a long-term, big-money agreement if he’s able to maintain and build off his strong first half-season with Seattle.

With the signing, the Kraken now have a little under $6.5M in cap space, per PuckPedia. They still have one key restricted free agent to sign in defenseman Ryker Evans. He’s not arbitration-eligible but Botterill should have enough flexibility to sign him to a long-term agreement if the sides can work one out.

Sportsnet’s Elliotte Friedman was first to report the signing.

This article first appeared on Pro Hockey Rumors and was syndicated with permission.

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