NHL Insider Links Detroit Red Wings To Former 2nd Overall Pick In Free Agency
Photo credit: Jennifer Buchanan / The Seattle Times
The Detroit Red Wings need to utilize free agency to shore up the forward core, as Steve Yzerman could find a bargain option in the Seattle Kraken's Kaapo Kakko.
Kaapo Kakko was a 2nd overall pick by the New York Rangers. The Finnish forward would play a total of 5 and a third season with the Blueshirts.
He'd never be able to show his true potential in New York as we saw him struggle under multiple coaches, until a little flash of brilliance shone through in the 2022-2023 season, where he'd score 40 points under Gerard Gallant.
He would fizzle out and once again find himself in the doghouse after a dismal 2023-2024 season under Laviolette, scoring only 19.
The pretext would be set for him to be traded as Laviolette would shift him down in the lineup, and staple him to the third line. That was until GM Chris Drury traded him to the Seattle Kraken, where he's played great hockey since.
He's been a staple on the team's 1st line, and with his great play in Seattle should expect a nice new contract. But if the Kraken opt to let him walk into free agency, GM Steve Yzerman should be working the phones to sign the Finnish forward.
Kakko provides a solid replacement for Jonatan Berggren and would give them a chance to sign him at a bargain deal, a bridge. While giving them a player who can play not just on the 1st-line, but up and down the lineup and on the power-play.
«Replacing Jonatan Berggren with Kakko would allow the Wings to sign the winger at a lower rate, and put him on a bridge deal,» Matthews added. «Should Kakko prove he can finally be a consistent player in this league, then he'll get a true extension.»
Kakko didn't find his true potential until he arrived in Seattle and took off under Dan Byslma.
He scored 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 49 games with the Kraken during his short stint there.
GM Ron Francis has made it a priority to re-sign Kakko, but Yzerman could utilize an offer sheet in order to sign the promising 1st-round draft pick.
| POLL | ||
MAI 31 | 95 ANSWERS NHL Insider Links Detroit Red Wings To Former 2nd Overall Pick In Free Agency Should GM Steve Yzerman of the Detroit Red Wings offer-sheet forward Kaapo Kakko of the Seattle Kraken? | ||
| Yes | 49 | 51.6 % |
| No | 46 | 48.4 % |
| List of polls | ||
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