The New York Rangers traded Kakko to the Seattle Kraken on Dec. 18 and he has taken off ever since. In 10 games with the Kraken, the 23-year-old forward has recorded three goals, four assists and seven points. He is also averaging 15:59 minutes per game compared to his 13:17 minutes with the Rangers, which is a substantial increase.

Kaapo Kakko scored twice in the third period, Joey Daccord made 33 saves and the Seattle Kraken overcame an early two-goal deficit to beat the Buffalo Sabres 6-2 on Saturday.

It took another Herculean effort to avoid a five-game skid. Newest recruit Kaapo Kakko scored twice in a third-period goal flurry that carried the Kraken to another multi-goal comeback, 6-2 Saturday afternoon in Buffalo. They erased the Sabres’ 2-0, first-intermission lead and notched their league-best sixth multi-goal comeback this season.

Averaging 15:13 of ice time, just four seconds shy of a whole two-minute bump from his 13:17 average in New York this season, Kakko recorded more minutes on Dec. 28 (18:18) than he ever did under Rangers coach Peter Laviolette.

Kakko spent Christmas in Seattle at Tolvanen’s house, although the newly acquired winger fielded inquiries from several other Kraken players. The Finns last played together in 2019, so they had a lot to catch up on, sharing “dumb” summer stories and reflecting on their shared history.