"I Needed This": Ex-Ranger Opens Up About Kraken Trade in first Kraken Media Call

[@thommackris920]

Good luck Kappo. Another frustrated Ranger fan here. You deserve better than how the Rangers treated you. I'm happy you're getting a fresh start.

[@WSPFreak1013]

Agreed. His development was stifle right after he was dropped off the second line. Sucks. Guaranteed he’s gonna break out in Seattle.

[@Lifes-little-moments]

Right… bc the Rangers were being mean to him. That’s why he wasn’t on the top two lines and barely got special teams play. They just didnt like him. It wasn’t bc he wasn’t one of the top 6 forwards. You guys are goofy. That’s why two different coaches scratched him in the eastern conference finals in two different years. Just bc they were mean to him. Sorry… the best guys play. I think he’s played decently over his career and particularly this season compared to some who have played like absolute shit, he’s arguably played like a little less shit than some of them but doesn’t even make sense this “they’re being mean to him” argument.

[@adriankalitka3762]

Don't forget the reports that came out last season and in the off-season about how Panarin and I think it was Zibanijad refused to play with him. I don't know what happened but that's why he wasn't being played on the top 2 lines

[@dman1737]

@@adriankalitka3762 Where did you hear this?

[@MrHyde11976]

oh stop. hes not made for NY like the very many nhlers

[@1rtt1]

First time I saw the kid smile. Good Luck man. Hope you have a long healthy and prosperous career. May God Bless you.

[@rjsr4916]

Frustrated ranger fan here. You definitely need a change of scenery. Good luck Kappo!

[@bad_alien347]

We love you Kaapo 💙💙 thankyou

[@nyr4life]

Rangers fan here, Kakko is going to Thrive in Seattle. Unfortunately, Kakko has just become yet another victim to the Rangers development system. The organization in a nut shell is a circus act starting from its owner, to GM, to development staff, and to some of its players. I really believe the Kraken received a young, big, strong player who will show his true skill. The only thing that could be a positive for Ranger fans, is that if Kakko does thrive, then Drury might get fired. Anyways, big Kakko supporter, wish him all the best and hope he becomes a big contributer with the Kraken.

[@TheMightymolar]

In what ways do they not develop talent well? Do they put them in the NHL too quickly?

[@nyr4life]

@TheMightymolar There have been many discussions about the playerdevelopment with the Rangers organization for many years. Look not further than Liaas Anderson, Kratsov, Nils Lundkvist...etc . When Kakko came over, the organization did nothing to help him transition. He was an 18yr old who did not have teammates who spoke his language. Coach Quinn did not setup him to play top minutes or in key situations. There could have been many ways the Rangers could have handled Kakko's growth and development, in my opinion.

[@anthonybarone8745]

I believe other than krieder the last ranger drafted and developed player to hit 30 goals was Tony amonte in 92-93

[@edwardcelona6983]

Great to see him happy ! He is definitely going to sieze this opportunity . Loved him while he was a NYR but I am looking forward to his success. Good luck Kappo ! I’ll still root for you . Great person and even greater player.

[@hauntedvoid]

Let's go Kaapo!! All the best to you.

[@fakedeath13]

Devs fan jumping in to say Kakko treataed awfully by New York, and I think Seattle is a perfect opportunity to find his game. I see no reason he can't develop into a solid middle sixer/2nd line winger.

[@Lifes-little-moments]

Right… bc the Rangers were being mean to him. That’s why he wasn’t on the top two lines and barely got special teams play. They just didnt like him. It wasn’t bc he wasn’t one of the top 6 forwards. You guys are goofy. That’s why two different coaches scratched him in the eastern conference finals in two different years. Just bc they were mean to him. Sorry… the best guys play. I think he’s played decently over his career and particularly this season compared to some who have played like absolute shit, he’s arguably played like a little less shit than some of them but doesn’t even make sense this “they’re being mean to him” argument. Can he make the top two lines here? If he plays well enough he can. Hopefully they’re not mean to him too, right?

[@Justme77400]

Good luck in Seattle, Kappo. I hope you become an all star.

[@acerock013]

Good luck, Kappo. I was so happy we drafted you; you deserved more support and better coaching in NY. I'm happy that you've finally landed on a team that will give you shot and appreciate your hardwork. NYR blew it.

[@juans3728]

I always liked Kakko but in reality he was with the wrong team he has talent and can score he's a play maker and the Rangers already have playmakers, now with the Kraken he will score and his point average will increase so in other words this trade it is a Kraken win to a Ranger lose.

[@thomasstrecker-h3i]

Ranger fan here and frustrated too...good luck Kappo great guy

[@Dusther210]

So happy for you Kaapo! Will miss you in NY

[@j.thomas7128]

*The Rangers Org is awful!* Awful awful awful awful -They leaked Trouba's No-trade list taking clubs and offers off the table severely hurting his contact opportunities. They also threatened him with waivers. The Rangers org kept their captain off the ice when they made him a healthy scratch! That's insane to do your captain. -After Shesterkin laid out his contact needs, Igor said in no uncertain words that he wouldn't discuss his contact once the season started. What did the Rangers org do? They waited four days into the season to make him an offer. They then said that if he didn't negotiate his contact during the regular season, he should NOT expect an offer during the off season. They said this to vezina winner that wanted to be a legacy Ranger. More insanity. -The Rangers org put the well-liked locker room favorite and ALTERNATE CAPTAIN, Goodrow, on waivers leading him to be traded to the Sharks in a PRE-ARRANGED deal. Read that again.... WAIVERS for a pre-arranged deal. This is insane! -But the absolute worst was doing and saying nothing when officials kept repeatedly penalizing Ranger players for legal big checks. (I'm NOT saying all the calls were bad, but many of them were proper and legal checks and the Rangers said nothing. Too afraid of another $250,000 fine for speaking out). It seems Chris Drury is most concerned with accepting and complying with the league's desire to change how the game is played over the CLUB'S best interests. Lunacy! It's no wonder that so many players want to leave the club and aren't able to step up on any night.

[@dirkzink9204]

am a ranger fan...rangers made a very very stuopid trade ..drury needs to go

[@dirkzink9204]

i loved kaako i think he was a underdog he never got the oportunity

[@bassdog61]

Kraken Kaapo Kakko has a ring to it! Good luck with the Kraken.

[@LockedOnKraken]

Love the name!

[@jorgeeslava6455]

Kaapo we in NY wish you all the best. You deserve better than the NYR organization,,,,, you are going to do great. Make the Rangers regret trading you,,,, I sure am. You will always be in NY Rangers fans hearts.

[@davidjones145]

I'll be watching the Kraken every chance I get. You were my favorite Ranger since your draft day. I knew it would be uphill based on what I've seen with other players. NYR have a favorites tendency and you unfortunately took the brunt. Go 110% and show us all what we are missing in your years to come. #KK84

[@LockedOnKraken]

Welcome!

[@jeffloewi5632]

13 minutes, great defensive shifts. Good luck 84, this Ranger fan will miss 24.

[@JustaComment93]

Never seen him smile in New York. Wow. Seattle must be a nicer city.

[@Lifes-little-moments]

Guess you have never watched a rangers game bc I’ve seen him smile on the ice plenty. Why is everyone being so dramatic?

[@occultustactical6138]

Huge blueshirt fan who feels Kappo got thrown under the bus. Best of luck in Seattle. The Rangers are a five alarm dumpster fire right now and need to make some major changes. I just that doesn’t include rebuilding again. The last time they rebuilt it killed me watching all those outstanding players going to Tampa and other teams.

[@reallychillgoose]

NY will always love this kid. Im sorry our management hit an all time low with you. I regret this now and ill regret it again in 5 years. If you dont believe me lets talk about JT Miller, Buchnevich, Duclair, Vatrano the list unfortunately goes on and on. Love this team, cannot stand management.

[@j8velo]

I hate to see him go, but he looks happy. I hope he reaches his potential. Good luck, Kaapo! F-you, Drury.

[@AJ72281]

Good for Kaapo. Get out of that toxic environment and get an organization that will hopefully help him develop properly. Hope this helps him reach his full potential.

[@philtaylor2387]

Feel bad for him but he never showed the potential. The trade was bad one. I would have kept him as checking forward

[@D...M...A...]

Wow , Seattle has working mics ... That is a quality team ...

[@LockedOnKraken]

Bahaha, they work most of the time.

[@D...M...A...]

@LockedOnKraken NYR never work 😮

[@slammer3744]

Buddy is happy to be in a different time zone and closer to the mother land!

[@uranusismightybig5111]

He's from Finland so its much closer from NY than Seattle, to Suomi...but i get your meaning

[@JustaComment93]

Can’t believe this dude is not in rangers uniform crazy Drury should be fired

[@JohnnyReno71]

Rangers fan here: Drury and Rangers management wake the F up. Look at the comments and what this kid is saying.” You clowns have never been and able develop players the proper way”. Maybe you better just work out deals with other team and trade all your picks to team that can actually develop players and then trade them back to NY for a price.

[@mikeg9627]

Hopefully he can play better because there won't be so much pressure on him in Seattle

[@johnrwalker53]

As a Ranger fan,Kaako is right, veterans should have been healthy scratched instead of him, like Mika and BF Kreider.

[@chris2ferUtoob]

Why do i get the feeling this dude is going to make the Rangers look silly soon.

[@uranusismightybig5111]

Really disappointed at how Drury and the office handles their guy's in trades....these last ones have been really bad for everyone involved, just leaves a bad taste afterwards....no wonder the team locker room has lost heart. Gonna miss you in NY, Kaapo! But best of luck to you in Seattle!!

[@Seelow88pg]

That’s the problem.. we should’ve put him in top 6…instead we plug other guys there and keep him in bottom 6 … Smdh … good luck kid

[@Lifes-little-moments]

Yes… it’s all bc the rangers were mean and not bc he hasn’t played well enough. Makes sense.

[@MikeyScott90210]

Wish you well KK. You were misused and mishandled from the jump like so many other talented NYR prospects. Hope you can put it all together in Seattle.

[@gerryiannuzzi5122]

Wasn’t working for him in NY

[@seanl67]

Dude did nothing for the Rangers in 6 seasons. #2 overall draft pick? 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@theovrionides7666]

😂weres he in a sauna .. he will miss the Rangers locker room for sure ..

[@Aviation_Professional]

NY State is a TRASH HEAP. Good move kid.

[@cerscil]

Washington state isn't much better. Still, the Rangers have no idea how to develope young players. I hope he is happy and finds success.

[@ConfideKylie]

@@cerscil meh, matter of opinion I guess, but WA is one of the most beautiful and scenic states in the country and has no state income tax to boot 🤷🏻‍♂️

[@cerscil]

@@Aviation_Professional I know Washington is a beautiful state, as is NY once you are out of the cities. . I guess I should have said the cities are trash heaps. I still went to NYC to Rockafella Center to see the tree. That area wasn't too bad but the walk there from Penn Station....awful. early to mid 2000s was sooooo much nicer. Now there is just too much crime.

[@Ufukkkk]

Poor guy will never win a cup

[@TheSpyder699]

I will have keep him bad move from yhe rangers he can play second line easy with the Rangers bad GM

[@Lifes-little-moments]

Right, it’s bc they were mean to Kaapo. They just didn’t like him. They were prob xenophobic. That’s why, right? Not bc he hasn’t played well enough and when they put him on one of the top two lines it didn’t work out. That’s why two different coaches healthy scratched him in two different seasons in the eastern conference finals - bc they were mean to him - and not bc he hasn’t played well enough. When the new coach came in the staff was like … “listen, Kaapo is an amazing player and he really deserves to be in the top 6 and especially deserves to get a lot of PP time but we prefer to be mean to him. It’s just what we do, got it?”

[@nathanbreakfast7424]

I can't believe Rangers traded him. Complete nonsense move but I cant wait to see big highlights from him. I'm sure there will be some impressive moments coming up.

[@MrHyde11976]

have fun being an ass kraken ill always root for u KK

[@georgecampbell1453]

Hated to see you go Kappo, this is the best thing to happen to you. This team will appreciate you, you’re a good hockey player now the whole league will see it. Best of luck Kappo and go to the net. 🏒🏒🏒

[@Lifes-little-moments]

Right… he’s just gonna become a scoring machine here. The Rangers were being mean.

[@visse3615]

@@Lifes-little-moments And you just can't use more words than "the Rangers were being mean"

[@LockedOnKraken]

Here's hoping!

[@georgecampbell1453]

@@LockedOnKraken you guys got the better of that deal, good passes strong on the puck sharp shot. All he needs a lot of ice time good linemates

[@franktheo4755]

I'm a NYR fan since 1976 I've Seen Coaches & GM's come and go, but never ever have I seen anyone run the Capitan of town from any pro sports team ! It's not the players on this NYR team. Ranger management needs to clean house starting with firing Chris Drury before he destroys this NYR team. 🏒

[@bucktalk69]

This guy was giving ample opportunity and couldn’t do shit He has horrible shot accuracy and gets his shot off way to slow of his stick !!!

[@dutchmoe9697]

And yet he was a plus ÷12. Where Zban a −15 . More goals and more points with half the time on the ice.

[@bucktalk69]

@ it was no doubt a stupid trade he should have been moved last year or year before when his value was much higher completely agree with Zibanijade and krider you have to get these to guys out of hear to change the culture!!! This all should have been addressed by Drury after ECF against Tampa !!!! Drury is a 🤡

[@visse3615]

@@dutchmoe9697 and, when Kakko played with Zib, Zib couldn't even shoot at the net when he got passes in the offensive zone