Kraken’s Kaapo Kakko out six weeks with broken hand

Kakko joined Seattle last year thanks to a trade with the New York Rangers, who could not figure out how to get the most out of their 2019 No. 2 overall pick, in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen, a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick.

In 30 games in New York last year, Kakko scored just four goals and had a total of 14 points. With the Kraken, he turned his offensive game around in a major way, putting up 30 points in 49 games while continuing to perform as a solid two-way player.

For his career, the Finnish forward has 161 points in 379 games to go with 9 points in 44 playoff appearances.

Kakko figures to be a key part of a Kraken team that is looking to bounce back from a disappointing effort a season ago. After making the Stanley Cup Playoffs and shocking the defending champion Colorado Avalanche in their second year as a franchise, Seattle has finished below .500 and missed the postseason in each of the last two campaigns.

The organization made a chance behind the bench this summer, hiring Lane Lambert as the team’s third head coach following the dismissal of Dan Bylsma after just one year in the role. The club also made a couple impactful offseason additions to improve the team’s depth, trading for veteran winger Mason Marchment and signing defenseman Ryan Lindgren in free agency.

The Kraken will get started on their regular season schedule without Kakko on October 9 in a home game against the Anaheim Ducks.