Months after controversial exit from Rangers, Kaapo Kakko turns to the NHL for help in conflict with Kraken

While some changes may happen overnight, in the NHL, many situations take time to fully brew. If not, just ask Kaapo Kakko, who is facing a conflict with the Seattle Kraken just months after a noisy breakup with the New York Rangers.

And it looks like the Finnish star is turning to the league authorities to help him solve this situation with his current team. Recently, the NHL Players’ Association revealed that Kakko is among 11 players who filed for salary arbitration on Saturday.

A restricted free agent this offseason, Kakko can’t negotiate with other NHL teams yet. The Kraken recently extended him a qualifying offer, but his petition for league intermediation suggests it didn’t satisfy him.

Kappo not shying away from dispute despite changing Rangers for Kraken

This could see Kakko in a tough spot only months after leaving behind a tumultuous situation in New York. A fallout with then Rangers head coach Peter Laviolette due to lack of playing time led to his trade to Seattle in December, a change that had a positive impact in his performance last season.

Kaapo Kakko playing his first game for the Seattle Kraken after being acquired in a trade with the New York Rangers on December 18th.

“Over here, I feel there’s a good chance for me,” Kakko said about his change of scenery in January, via Nicholas J. Cotsonika of NHL.com. “I mean, I can already say, like, confidence is way better than it’s been for a long time. Even the coaches said, like, ‘You’re going to make mistakes sometimes, but keep trying to make plays.‘”

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Kakko got his career back on track in Seattle, recording 30 points (10 goals, 20 assists) in 49 games with the Kraken in the 2024-25 NHL season. However, that isn’t preventing him from letting his contract demands be known. Even if that means getting the NHL involved.

Kappo, Kraken could still reach an agreement without the NHL’s intervention

Still, this doesn’t guarantee things will get ugly for Kappo in Seattle. Salary arbitration hearings won’t start before July 20, which gives the Kraken and the player plenty of time to find a solution without a third party.

In fact, filing for salary arbitration is often a mere tactic used by players to put pressure on their teams, pushing them to provide a fair contract before the NHL forces them to do so.

In 2024, 14 restricted free agents filed for salary arbitration but only Nashville Predators defenseman Spencer Stastney needed a hearing with an independent arbitrator to get a new deal. Only time will tell whether there’s a happy ending to this situation for Kappo in Seattle.