Kakko: Fresh start with Kraken 'what I need'

Kaapo Kakko is confident a change of scenery with the Seattle Kraken will be the spark his career has been missing.

"Fresh start," Kakko said Thursday, per Vincent Z. Mercogliano of the Rockland/Westchester Journal News. "I feel that's what I need right now. I liked my time in New York. ... Many years over there, great team, but I think I'm waiting for a little more from myself. The team was waiting also, and it never worked out the way we wanted."

The Rangers dealt Kakko to the Kraken on Wednesday for defenseman Will Borgen and a pair of picks. The move came shortly after Kakko voiced his displeasure with being a healthy scratch, but the winger said he doesn't believe his comments were why he was traded.

"The team was playing not well enough. There are a lot of good players over there, (but) they need to do something. I kind of knew something was going to happen, and I knew it might be me," Kakko said.

The Rangers have lost 11 of their last 14 games and recently dealt captain Jacob Trouba to the Anaheim Ducks.

Kakko produced 14 points in 30 contests with the Rangers this season while averaging 13:17 per contest. He ranked second on the club with a plus-9 before being traded.

New York drafted Kakko second overall in 2019, but he hasn't lived up to the billing of a top prospect. The Finland native has produced 131 points in 330 career games since breaking into the league as an 18-year-old.

Kakko's under contract until the end of the season at a $2.4-million cap hit. He's eligible for restricted free agency when his deal expires.