The Seattle Kraken has fully shifted its focus away from adding outside the organization and has begun looking internally. It's the time of the offseason when general manager Jason Botterill begins to sign the players he drafted and figure out what to do with the players who are facing arbitration. With Kaapo Kakko being the only player filing for arbitration, and his hearing fast approaching, this was an issue Botterill wanted to deal with quickly.
Thankfully for Kraken fans, there was no drama, as Kakko and Seattle agreed to a three-year deal with an average annual value of $4.525 million. This is a deal that will go a long way towards Seattle returning to the playoffs, something they have only done once in their five-year history. But how does Kakko contribute to the team's success?
How Kaapo Kakko can be a piece to the Kraken success
When the Kraken acquired Kakko back in December, it was seen as a low-risk, high-reward move. Despite being drafted second overall in 2019 by the Rangers, Kakko was unable to live up to the hype he generated during the draft process. During his time in New York, he was stuck on the third line and averaged only 10 goals and 12 assists for 22 points per season. A far cry from the top-line winger he was expected to be. He was also stuck in the bottom six and consistently missed time due to injuries.
The hope was that a change of scenery would be enough to unlock what scouts saw before he made the NHL. He was also only 24 years only, which is still very young by NHL standards. There was still plenty of time for him to have a breakout season and shake that bust label.
It's a risk that paid off big time for Seattle. In 49 games with Seattle, he recorded 10 goals and 20 assists for 30 points. This turned what appeared to be another loss season into the best of his career, tallying 14 goals and 30 assists for 44 points, which marked new career highs for him. It was also clear that he was a perfect fit on the top line with Jaden Schwartz and Matty Beniers.
Kakko provides much more than just his solid offensive numbers. He's also good in areas that can't be measured by stats. He's able to use his size and speed to bring a physical element to the top line. While it's not the central part of his game, it's a nice benefit to have. It can keep them from getting bullied by other teams, which is a necessity in the modern game.
Now, Kakko does have to keep improving to make this extension worthwhile. However, based on what we saw last season, he has all the makings to take that next step. He could become one of the most critical players on the Kraken roster.