In a surprising turn of events in the NHL, the New York Rangers have traded forward Kaapo Kakko to the Seattle Kraken.

The trade, which took place on Wednesday, saw the Rangers acquire defenseman Will Borgen, along with two draft picks—a third-round pick and a sixth-round pick, both for the 2025 NHL Draft.

Kakko departs New York after a solid, if not spectacular, stint, netting a total of 61 goals and 131 points across 330 games.

The 23-year-old winger was selected second overall in the 2019 NHL Draft, a choice that had fans excited for his potential.

This season, Kakko has scored four goals and accumulated 14 points in 30 games.

Despite a promising start alongside teammates Will Cuylle and Filip Chytil, he struggled alongside the team, which faced a disappointing stretch, prompting Rangers Coach Peter Laviolette to bench him against the St. Louis Blues.

Kakko expressed frustration post-scratch, noting, 'I have not been the worst' player amid the team’s struggles.

League sources indicated that Kakko’s comments did not play a role in his trade.

The Kraken had been in discussions with the Rangers and ultimately presented a better offer than other potential deals on the table.

The Rangers, wary of Kakko’s status as a pending restricted free agent, were looking for long-term solutions, honing in on Borgen, whom they had considered for some time.

Seattle is hopeful that Kakko can fulfill his potential away from the bright lights of New York.

Although he has not yet become the star many anticipated, he has shown flashes of promise.

Kakko's best season was in 2022-23 when he recorded 18 goals and 40 points.

His earlier seasons were marred by interruptions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and Kakko's adjustment to the North American game was complicated by a lack of Finnish teammates until Niko Mikkola’s arrival in 2023.

Borgen, the newest member of the Rangers, is a 6-foot-3 right-shot defenseman with a history of solid contributions on the ice.

Having registered two points in 33 games this season, he previously scored over 20 points in each of the two preceding seasons, including a career-high 25 points in 2023-24.

His experience in Seattle includes being part of their playoff run to the second round last season.

With the trade, the Rangers aim to address gaps in their defense, particularly with the absence of players like Jacob Trouba, who was traded to the Anaheim Ducks, and K’Andre Miller, currently sidelined with an upper-body injury.

Moreover, this move allows the Rangers to consider further development for rookie Victor Mancini, potentially sending him back to AHL Hartford.

As the NHL season unfolds, both teams will be watching this trade closely.

Kakko's journey with the Kraken is seen as an opportunity for renewal, while the Rangers' strategy shifts as they aim to recapture their competitive edge by reshaping their roster with much-needed draft capital.

Stay tuned for more updates as the NHL trade market heats up!

What does this mean for the futures of both players involved? Are the Rangers making a mistake, or is this the fresh start Kakko needs? Only time will tell!