Kraken sign Kakko to an insane new contract

This just in, the Seattle Kraken have reportedly signed RFA forward Kaapo Kakko to a three year contract worth $4.25 million per season.

From NHL insider Elliotte Friedman:

Um... excuse me?

We talkin' about the guy who put up 14 goals last season?

The 24 year old was, of course, traded from the New York Rangers to the Kraken mid-season in 2024-25 after five and a half middling seasons in New York. Selected 2nd overall by the Rangers in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, Kakko has failed to live up to his draft pedigree and is now trying to reinvent himself in Seattle.

That cap hit though... yikes.

I'm guessing that the Kraken are counting on Kakko improving over the course of this deal. Because as it currently stands, it's quite an overpay.

I mean... just look at some of these reactions online:

Double yikes...