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Kaapo Kakko

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Kaapo Kakko
Kakko with the New York Rangers in 2021
Born (2001-02-13) 13 February 2001 (age 23)
Turku, Finland
Height 6 ft 1[1] in (185 cm)
Weight 215[1] lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position Forward
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 Seattle Kraken
TPS
New York Rangers
National team  Finland
NHL draft 2nd overall, 2019
New York Rangers
Playing career 2017–present

Kaapo Ville Olavi Kakko[2] (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈkɑːpo ˈkɑkːo]; born 13 February 2001) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for the Seattle Kraken of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kakko was selected second overall by the New York Rangers in the 2019 NHL entry draft. Kakko plays right wing, but also has experience playing at centre. He made his professional debut playing with TPS of the Finnish Liiga.

Playing career

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New York Rangers

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On 21 June 2019, as the top-ranked European skater heading into the 2019 NHL entry draft, Kakko was selected second overall by the New York Rangers.[3][4] On 11 July 2019, he was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers.[5]

Kakko made his NHL debut for the Rangers on 3 October 2019.[6] He scored his first NHL career goal on 12 October at home against the Edmonton Oilers, becoming the eighth player in Rangers franchise history to score a goal at the age of 18 or younger.[7] He also became the second player in NHL history born in the 21st century to score a goal, after Ville Heinola (also born in 2001) of the Winnipeg Jets, who scored a goal just hours before Kakko on the same day.[8]

Following the conclusion of his entry-level contract with the Rangers, Kakko as a restricted free agent was re-signed to a two-year, $4.2 million contract extension with New York on 28 July 2022.[9]

As a restricted free agent, Kakko signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract extension with New York on 13 June 2024.[10]

Seattle Kraken

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During the 2024–25 season, on 18 December 2024, Kakko was traded by the Rangers to the Seattle Kraken in a deal for Will Borgen and two draft picks in 2025.[11]

International play

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Medal record
Men's ice hockey
Representing  Finland
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2019 Slovakia
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2019 Canada
World U18 Championships
Gold medal – first place 2018 Russia

Kakko scored the gold medal-winning goal for Finland junior team in the 2019 World Junior Championships on 5 January 2019.[12] Kakko is the youngest player in ice hockey history to win gold in all three IIHF world championship tournaments – the World U18 Championships, the World Junior Championships and the World Championships.[13]

Kakko played for Finland senior team in the 2019 World Championship where he led the team with six goals during tournament, while Finland won gold medals.[14]

Personal life

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Kakko has Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease.[15][16][17]

Career statistics

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Regular season and playoffs

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Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2016–17 TPS Jr. A 7 0 4 4 0 3 0 1 1 0
2017–18 TPS Jr. A 38 25 30 55 16 — — — — —
2017–18 TPS Liiga 6 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2018–19 TPS Liiga 45 22 16 38 10 5 4 1 5 6
2019–20 New York Rangers NHL 66 10 13 23 14 3 0 0 0 0
2020–21 New York Rangers NHL 48 9 8 17 10 — — — — —
2021–22 New York Rangers NHL 43 7 11 18 10 19 2 3 5 2
2022–23 New York Rangers NHL 82 18 22 40 8 7 1 1 2 0
2023–24 New York Rangers NHL 61 13 6 19 24 15 1 1 2 0
2024–25 New York Rangers NHL 30 4 10 14 14 — — — — —
Liiga totals 51 22 17 39 10 5 4 1 5 6
NHL totals 330 61 70 131 80 44 4 5 9 2

International

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Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2018 Finland U18 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 4 6 10 2
2019 Finland WJC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 7 2 3 5 0
2019 Finland WC 1st place, gold medalist(s) 10 6 1 7 0
Junior totals 14 6 9 15 2
Senior totals 10 6 1 7 0

Awards and honours

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Award Year
Liiga
Jarmo Wasama Memorial Trophy 2019
President's Trophy 2019

References

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  1. ^ a b "Kaapo Kakko". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 19 September 2024. Retrieved 30 September 2024.
  2. ^ @nyrangers (5 January 2023). "Filda + Kaapo have passed the Wingmen test with flying colors (even if Fil's middle name is not, in fact, Libor. 😂 )" (Tweet). Retrieved 15 March 2024 – via Twitter.
  3. ^ "Hughes tops 2019 NHL Draft final ranking of North American skaters". National Hockey League. Archived from the original on 16 April 2019. Retrieved 15 April 2019.
  4. ^ "Devils take Jack Hughes at No.1, and the Rangers pick Kaapo Kakko". New York Times. 21 June 2019. Archived from the original on 22 June 2019. Retrieved 21 June 2019.
  5. ^ "Rangers agree to terms with Kaapo Kakko". New York Rangers. 11 July 2019. Archived from the original on 30 September 2024. Retrieved 11 July 2019.
  6. ^ Obernauer, Michael (3 October 2019). "Recap: Amid Sparkling Debuts, Greasy Goal Wins Opener for Rangers". NHL.com. Archived from the original on 12 October 2019. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  7. ^ Spiegel, Jackie (12 October 2019). "New York Rangers' Kaapo Kakko nets first NHL goal — and it's a beauty". Sporting News. Archived from the original on 30 September 2024. Retrieved 13 October 2019.
  8. ^ "NHL Rookie Notebook". Sportsnet.ca. 23 October 2019. Archived from the original on 30 September 2024. Retrieved 23 October 2019.
  9. ^ "Rangers agree to terms with Kaapo Kakko". New York Rangers. 28 July 2022. Archived from the original on 11 August 2022. Retrieved 28 July 2022.
  10. ^ Shilton, Kristen (13 June 2024). "Kaapo Kakko signs 1-year extension with New York Rangers". ESPN.com. Archived from the original on 27 June 2024. Retrieved 4 July 2024.
  11. ^ Baker, Geoff (18 December 2024). "Kraken Trade For Former No. 2 Overall Winger". NHL.com. Retrieved 21 December 2024.
  12. ^ Aykroyd, Lucas. "Kaapo Kakko gives Finns gold". IIHF. Archived from the original on 6 January 2019. Retrieved 6 January 2019.
  13. ^ Peters, Chris (28 May 2019). "Prospect Kakko to pass on scouting combine". ESPN.com. Retrieved 29 May 2019. It also marked Kakko's third world championship in as many tries. He also helped Finland win the World Men's Under-18 Championship in 2018 and the World Junior Championship in January. He is the youngest player in IIHF history to complete the trifecta.
  14. ^ "Finland Defeats Canada for Gold at Hockey World Championship". SI.com. 26 May 2019. Archived from the original on 5 June 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2024. Draft-eligible Kaapo Kakko led the team with six goals.
  15. ^ Rivard, Happy (25 June 2018). "A look ahead at the 2019 Draft Class". Hockey Wilderness. Archived from the original on 4 February 2023. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  16. ^ Staff, HP. "HockeyProspect.com's Early 2019 NHL Draft Top 31 Ranking". Hockey Prospect. Archived from the original on 26 July 2018. Retrieved 26 July 2018.
  17. ^ Shultz, Alex (3 January 2020). "The Real-Life Diet of Kaapo Kakko, the New York Rangers Rookie Who Eats Gluten-Free". GQ. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 28 May 2020.
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Awards and achievements
Preceded by New York Rangers first round draft pick
2019 		Succeeded by
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