Reunited in Seattle: Kakko and Lindgren Bring Familiar Bond to Kraken Locker Room
By Jayd Serdy
Seattle, WA - When the Seattle Kraken signed Ryan Lindgren on July 1st, 2025, they weren’t just adding a defenseman; they were reuniting a friendship that had been years in the making. For Kaapo Kakko, the news came as a surprise.
“He actually didn’t ask me anything about the city,” Kakko said with a smile. “That was the surprise, the time difference is 10 hours in Finland. So I was waking up in the morning [in Finland] and just see Ryan Lindgren signed with us. So I texted him right away – congrats, and I’m happy to have you.”
Seattle Kraken defenseman Ryan Lindgren as seen throughout the 2025-26 season at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photos by Eric Hiller for Circling Seattle Sports)
That reunion, unplanned as it may have been, has quickly become one of the more quietly meaningful storylines inside Seattle’s locker room throughout the 2025-26 season. The two first played together with the New York Rangers, both younger players navigating the early stages of their NHL careers side by side. Now, years later, they’ve found their way back to each other on the other side of the country.
“It was actually our seventh season starting together,” Kakko said. “We were young guys together… starting our careers. So it’s been nice.”
For Lindgren, the familiarity eased what can often be a difficult transition.
“He was the only guy I knew coming here,” Lindgren said. “So that was really nice… he was a guy I leaned on heavily when I first got here. It definitely made the decision easier and the transition period easier.”
Their relationship off the ice has translated into a mutual appreciation on the ice, and Kakko didn’t hesitate when asked about Lindgren’s game.
“He’s a warrior,” Kakko said. “He’s blocking shots… he’s a player the team needs. It’s hard to find. He really wants to win, and you can see that.”
Lindgren, in turn, has watched Kakko grow from a quiet 18-year-old adjusting to a new country into a more confident presence, both personally and professionally.
“I knew Kappy when he was 18 coming in,” Lindgren said. “He didn’t know English very well at that point… and now you just see him be more of a confident person each and every year. You kind of get to see who he is more as a guy.”
That growth has shown up in Kakko’s game as well, particularly as he’s settled into a full season in Seattle after arriving in mid-December of 2024 in a trade for defenseman Will Borgen.
“It’s kind of the same thing,” Lindgren said. “You just see his confidence grow more and more… as he gets into his mid-20s, you see him take off more and more as a player.”
Kakko’s first full season with the Kraken didn’t come without challenges. A pre-season injury disrupted his momentum early in the season, forcing him to play a bit of catch-up physically.
Seattle Kraken forward Kaapo Kakko as seen throughout the 2025-26 season at Climate Pledge Arena. (Photos by Eric Hiller for Circling Seattle Sports)
“I was super excited, but got injured early,” Kakko said. “That’s part of the game. Then, when you get back, you feel good, but game shape is always a little different; it takes some time.”
By the time the post-Olympic stretch arrived, Kakko felt like he was finding his rhythm.
“After the Olympics, that was kind of when I felt good and played well,” he said. “I had some good games; we played some good hockey as a line.”
However, like the rest of the Kraken, Kakko and Lindgren were left searching for answers as a promising season slipped away down the stretch. Seattle remained in the playoff race entering the break but struggled to rediscover its ever-elusive identity afterward.
“It just seemed like, towards the end of the year, we couldn’t get back to our game,” Lindgren said. “Before the break, we defended really well... didn’t give teams a whole lot. After, we were giving up too much and just spending too much time in the D-zone.”
Kakko echoed a similar sentiment, pointing out how thin the margin for error became in a crowded Western Conference “pillow fight” race.
“It was a tight race, a lot of good teams fighting for the last [wildcard] spot,” Kakko said. “We tried hard, but the last push just didn’t end up working.”
With all that being said, both players see the team's foundation being built and the role their shared history can play in strengthening it. Away from the rink, their bond remains as strong as ever.
“He’s one of my best friends,” Lindgren said. “One of my favorite guys I’ve played with my whole career.”
That kind of connection isn’t something teams can manufacture overnight. But for these two, it’s already there, woven into the fabric of a roster still finding its way in a tough league to crack.
As Seattle looks ahead into the 2026-27 season, the reunion of Kakko and Lindgren offers something steady to build around – familiarity, trust, and the kind of chemistry that doesn’t need time to develop because it already has.
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