Kraken acquire Larry David's favorite player

The Seattle Kraken acquired Kaapo Kakko today from the New York Rangers today in exchange for defenseman Will Borgen and a third round and sixth round pick in the upcoming NHL amateur draft.

As often happens, Seattle fans were sorry to see Borgen go. An original Kraken, one of the more physical players on the team, a fan favorite, and Matty Beniers roommate.

To say that New York fans feel the same way about Kakko would be an understatement. Ranger Nation has universally panned the deal of social media and coupled with the trading of captain Jacob Trouba last week, fans are calling for the scalp of Ranger GM Chris Drury.

However, the most interesting aspect of this trade is that Kakko was a particular favorite of longtime New York sports fan and star of TV’s Curb Your Enthusiasm, Larry David.

The iconoclastic comedian appeared on Michael Kay’s ESPN radio show a couple of years ago berating then Rangers’ coach David Quinn for benching Kakko. (on a personal note, this writer covered a New England Babe Ruth Tournament years ago where Quinn almost sparked a near-riot).

Many New York fans feel that Kakko was traded away for criticizing management, particularly Ranger coach Peter Laviolette (another personal note, I occasionally covered Laviolette in his first coaching job with the AHL Providence Bruins).

Kakko was recently a healthy scratch again in a game against the Nashville Predators who have the worst record in the NHL so far this season. The Predators defeated the Rangers, 2-0. Kakko wasn’t pleased.

``I was surprised,” said Kakko. ``They had to do something. But it’s easy to pick a young guy and boot him out.’’

While those comments might have put a bullseye on Kakko’s back, Jon Chik of the Locked On New York Rangers website exclaimed, ``Kakko is a hero to Ranger fans. He called out the team on their BS. If he’s still on the team Sunday (nope) he should get a standing ovation from the fans.’’

Kakko, normally a right winger, was the second player selected in the 2018 draft and his numbers don’t cry out `superstar.’ His best statistical season came in 2022-23 when he scored 18 goals along with 22 assists. But he was considered one of the best defensive forwards on the Rangers and one of the hardest working players on the team. Still only 23, he played in the NHL as an 18-year-old.

This season the Finland native has four goals, 10 assists, and a +9. Since his rookie season, Kakko has been consistently on the positive side of plus/minus/. He also gives the Kraken a player who will compete in the Four Nations tournament. Kakko’s expected to play for Team Finland in a tourney that also includes the United States, Canada and Sweden.

Borgen was the Kraken selection from the Buffalo Sabres in the 2021 expansion draft. He was a fourth-round pick amateur pick by the Sabres in 2015, out of St. Cloud College.

Borgen’s stats haven’t been earth shattering this season. He has one goal and one assist, -13, 48 hits and 37 blocked shots. Borgen had moved down on the pecking order of Kraken defenseman with the free-agent signing of Brandon Montour. Borgen played on the third defensive unit with Ryker Evans this season, who also saw power-play time making Borgen arguably the sixth defenseman on the team.

With Trouba gone, the Rangers were in the market for a right-handed defenseman. As he was with the Kraken, the 6-3, 205-pound Borgen should be one of New York’s more physical defensemen.

Borgen (who’s five years older) and Kakko both have contracts that run out at the end of the season so it will be interesting to see if they sign up (and how quickly) with their new teams. The Kraken play at Chicago tomorrow (Thursday). No word whether Kakko will be in the lineup.

Borgen was a popular player among Kraken fans. Hopefully Larry David will like him in Ranger blue.