Seattle Kraken fans are dealing with some tough news this week. With the NHL preseason winding down and the regular season just around the corner, players were starting to get more ice time to fine-tune their game.  But sadly enough, forward Kaapo Kakko will not feature in such matches. The 24-year-old will miss approximately six weeks following a broken hand in a preseason game against the Edmonton Oilers, which frustrated and left fans anxious about the Kraken’s early-season chances as well as Kakko having a chance at the Olympics to represent Finland.

The injury happened in the first period, at 6:23, when Oilers defenseman prospect Beau Akey slashed Kakko during Wednesday’s game. Kakko immediately left the ice and didn’t return. At that time, fans understood the severity of the injury. Well, this Finnish forward will now be sidelined for the start of the regular season on October 9 against the Anaheim Ducks.

However, Akey was assessed a two-minute minor penalty for slashing. But now, Kakko will undergo an extensive rehabilitation process, gradually regaining strength and mobility in his hand, returning to stick handling, skating drills, and eventually full game action. The timing is especially tough, as other key Kraken forwards, Jared McCann and Chandler Stephenson, are also sidelined with undisclosed injuries.

Kakko, the No. 2 overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft, signed a three-year contract with Seattle in July 2025 worth $4.525 million per season. The Turku, Finland, native was traded from the New York Rangers in December 2024 and had a breakout season last year, posting a career-high 44 points in 79 games, including 14 goals and 30 assists.

This pre-season injury was all the more frustrating to fans who were looking forward to him adding on that momentum this season. When Kakko starts his rehab, Kraken fans will be praying that he comes back quickly to not only fill the lineup of Seattle but also the Olympic hopes of Finland. There is an uproar of frustration online because most of them are concerned that this injury can cost him his opportunity to represent his nation in the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Heartbreak for fans as Kakko’s injury jeopardizes his Olympics chances

Fans are heartbroken over Kaapo Kakko’s injury. One tweeted, “Get well soon Kaapo Kakko!” while another added, “Get well soon Kaapo 😭 we love you.” It’s easy to see why! Kakko is not just a talented forward; he’s a player fans have been rooting for through every twist of his career. A former New York Ranger, Kakko played 330 games in New York, scoring 61 goals and tallying 70 assists. In New York, he skated alongside Filip Chytil and Alexis Lafrieniere on what was dubbed “the kid line.”

After being traded to the Kraken last season, Kakko adjusted quickly, notching 10 goals and 20 assists in 49 games despite the mid-year move. The change of scenery seemed to suit him, giving him the chance to play consistently after being shuffled around and benched in New York. One more wrote, “Unironically the worst day of my life.” Another added, “Season hasn’t even started yet and I’m already over it.” A third chimed in, “Oh my God, people, protect our Finns! Someone is casting a curse on them and now they might lose the chance to be in the Olympics.” Kaapo Kakko had a rocky tenure with the New York Rangers.

While he became a reliable third-line forward, he never fully lived up to the sky-high expectations, especially after Jack Hughes went No. 1 overall to the Devils that same year. As a then-18-year-old rookie in 2019-20, Kakko notched 23 points (10 goals, 13 assists) in 66 games. At the moment, Kakko would also be a representative of Finland in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo, as he was qualified for it. The 2023 World Championships made Finland clinch its place in the men’s ice hockey tournament based on the IIHF World Ranking. Kakko has been featured in the early Team Finland projections, such as Finland’s preliminary list of the 4 Nations Face-Off tournament in February 2025, indicating his probable inclusion on the Olympic team.

As a former No. 2 overall draft pick, there is massive pressure attached to it, and Kakko never really settled in New York, but appeared to be finding his footing in Seattle. However, now, following an injury in a preseason game,  there is still a chance that he may be well enough to compete in the Olympics, as it is a few months away, and that will be a huge boost to him as well as to Finnish hockey fans.