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Rangers Players Reunite With Former Teammates in Seattle

The New York Rangers played the Seattle Kraken in Seattle, and old teammates met up before the game. Even when players switch teams, friendships remain.
Hannah Eng|
Nov 1, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; The New York Rangers celebrate an overtime win against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Blake Dahlin-Imagn Images
Nov 1, 2025; Seattle, Washington, USA; The New York Rangers celebrate an overtime win against the Seattle Kraken at Climate Pledge Arena. Mandatory Credit: Blake Dahlin-Imagn Images | Blake Dahlin-Imagn Images

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Seattle KrakenNew York Rangers

The New York Rangers battled the Seattle Kraken on the road with an overtime win, bringing their record to 6-5-2.  A pre-puck drop reunion took place in Seattle between former Rangers and current Rangers players. Kaapo Kakko and Ryan Lindgren had the chance to catch up with old friends and teammates before their matchup.

Kakko and Lindgren are now on the Kraken. In an away game for the Rangers, the players got to see these nostalgic faces they haven’t seen since the trade. The Rangers continue on their winning streak with an overtime win of 3-2. The win still mattered to the Rangers, but if they didn’t win, they would probably still reunite with Kakko and Lindgren for dinner. When the horn went off, the game was over. As fans left the arena, the boys made plans to catch up over dinner.

Kakko was traded to the Kraken on December 18, 2024. Being that the Rangers were his first and only team in his NHL career, it was probably hard to say goodbye to his friends. He was drafted by the Rangers in 2019 during the second round.

Lindgren wasn’t an original Ranger like Kakko was, but he joined the Rangers in February of 2018. He could be considered a veteran; they did sell his jersey at MSG for many years. Lindgren didn’t go to the Kraken right away; he made a pit stop with the Colorado Avalanche during the trade. He went to the Avalanche on Mar 2, 2025, but moved to the Kraken shortly after, in July. As a result, Kakko got to have a familiar Ranger face in the locker room again.

A New York Ranger Reunion Worth Remembering

Kakko was especially happy to see his former team, which was essentially his family. The Rangers must have been ecstatic to see him, too, because there was a line of hugs for him outside the Rangers’ locker room. A tender moment for this reunion; he loved being a Ranger. 

The boys got dinner the day before the game, hosted by Lindgren. A perfect catch-up before the matchup when hockey is the focus. Nostalgia was in the air when everyone got together again. They all feasted on Italian food; carbs that probably aided the Rangers' win. It was good to see the boys catch up; it’s been so long since they got together. The next time they face each other is on January 12, 2026.

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Hannah Eng
HANNAH ENG

Hannah Eng is a hockey writer with a true love for the game. She has a Bachelor's degree in marketing, advertising, and communications. As a dedicated hockey fan, she has visited almost all 32 arenas. She hopes her writing can inspire women to feel the exact excitement she feels for hockey. Her jersey collection is one of her most prized possessions, and she always packs her jersey first for a trip. Her passion for hockey runs deep; her dad introduced her to the sport, and now she’s writing about it. Hannah’s journey maneuvered from ballet to runway modeling, and then to NHL arenas, and she finally found her true passion and loves all things hockey.

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