Kaapo Kakko

Kaapo Ville Olavi Kakko (; born 13 February 2001) is a Finnish professional ice hockey player who is a 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, and played the first five and a half years of his NHL career with them. 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

New York Rangers 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. On 11 July 2019, he was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers.

Kakko made his NHL debut for the Rangers on 3 October 2019. 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. 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.

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.

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

Seattle Kraken 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.

On 27 September 2025, Kakko was ruled out for approximately six weeks after breaking his hand during a preseason game.

International play

Kakko scored the gold medal-winning goal for Finland junior team in the 2019 World Junior Championships on 5 January 2019. 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.

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.

Personal life Kakko has Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs Regular seasonPlayoffs Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM 2016–17 TPS FIN U18 35 24 17 41 8 5 7 0 7 2 2016–17 TPS FIN U20 7 0 4 4 0 3 0 1 1 0 2017–18 TPS FIN U18 6 7 4 11 4 5 4 5 9 2 2017–18 TPS FIN U20 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 — — — — — 2024–25 Seattle Kraken NHL 49 10 20 30 24 — — — — — 2025–26 Seattle Kraken NHL 65 13 27 40 14 — — — — —Liiga totals 51 22 17 39 10 5 4 1 5 6NHL totals 444 84 117 201 118 44 4 5 9 2

International

Awards and honours Award Year RefLiiga Jarmo Wasama Memorial Trophy 2019 President's Trophy 2019