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Kaapo Kakko facts for kids

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Kaapo Kakko
KaapoKakko (cropped).jpg
Kakko with the New York Rangers in 2021
Born (2001-02-13) 13 February 2001 (age 23)
Turku, Finland
Height 6 ft 1 in (185 cm)
Weight 215 lb (98 kg; 15 st 5 lb)
Position Right wing
Shoots Left
NHL team
Former teams		 New York Rangers
TPS
National team Flag of Finland.svg Finland
NHL Draft 2nd overall, 2019
New York Rangers
Playing career 2017–present

Kaapo Ville Olavi Kakko (Finnish pronunciation: [ˈkɑːpo ˈkɑkːo]; born 13 February 2001) is a Finnish professional ice hockey forward for the New York Rangers of the National Hockey League (NHL). Kakko was selected second overall by the Rangers in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Kakko plays right wing, but also has experience playing at centre. He made his professional debut playing with TPS of the Finnish Liiga.

Playing career

New York Rangers

On 21 June 2019, as the top-ranked European skater heading into the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Kakko was selected second overall by the New York Rangers. On 11 July 2019, he was signed to a three-year, entry-level contract with the Rangers.

Kakko made his NHL debut for the Rangers on 3 October 2019. He scored his first NHL career goal on 12 October at home against the Edmonton Oilers, becoming the eighth player in Rangers franchise history to score a goal at the age of 18 or younger. He also became the second player in NHL history born in the 21st century to score a goal, after Ville Heinola (also born in 2001) of the Winnipeg Jets, who scored a goal just hours before Kakko on the same day.

Following the conclusion of his entry-level contract with the Rangers, Kakko as a restricted free agent was re-signed to a two-year, $4.2 million contract extension with New York on 28 July 2022.

As a restricted free agent, Kakko signed a one-year, $2.4 million contract extension with New York on 13 June 2024.

International play

Medal record
Ice hockey
Representing Flag of Finland.svg Finland
World Championships
Gold 2019 Slovakia
World Junior Championships
Gold 2019 Canada
World U18 Championships
Gold 2018 Russia

Kakko scored the gold-medal-winning goal for team Finland in the 2019 World Junior Ice Hockey Championships on 5 January 2019. Kakko is the youngest player in hockey history to win gold in all three IIHF world championship tournaments: the World U18 Championships, the World Junior Championships and the World Championships.

Personal life

Kakko has Type 1 diabetes and celiac disease.

Career statistics

Regular season and playoffs

Regular season Playoffs
Season Team League GP G A Pts PIM GP G A Pts PIM
2016–17 TPS Jr. A 7 0 4 4 0 3 0 1 1 0
2017–18 TPS Jr. A 38 25 30 55 16 — — — — —
2017–18 TPS Liiga 6 0 1 1 0 — — — — —
2018–19 TPS Liiga 45 22 16 38 10 5 4 1 5 6
2019–20 New York Rangers NHL 66 10 13 23 14 3 0 0 0 0
2020–21 New York Rangers NHL 48 9 8 17 10 — — — — —
2021–22 New York Rangers NHL 43 7 11 18 10 19 2 3 5 2
2022–23 New York Rangers NHL 82 18 22 40 8 7 1 1 2 0
2023–24 New York Rangers NHL 61 13 6 19 24 15 1 1 2 0
Liiga totals 51 22 17 39 10 5 4 1 5 6
NHL totals 300 57 60 117 66 44 4 5 9 2

International

Year Team Event Result GP G A Pts PIM
2018 Finland U18 1 7 4 6 10 2
2019 Finland WJC 1 7 2 3 5 0
2019 Finland WC 1 10 6 1 7 0
Junior totals 14 6 9 15 2
Senior totals 10 6 1 7 0

Awards and honours

Award Year
Liiga
Jarmo Wasama Memorial Trophy 2019
President's Trophy 2019
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