Kaapo Kakko’s Olympic Journey Amid Injuries
MILAN — Kaapo Kakko faced a tough moment in mid-November when he encountered his second injury of the NHL season. He was genuinely worried that this setback might derail his dreams of competing in the Olympics.
“After my first injury, I got there quite early and thought, maybe there’s still time,” Kakko reflected. He had initially missed the first ten games of the Kraken’s 2025-26 season due to a broken hand and later dealt with a lower-body injury that came late in the season. “Before the MRI, I was a bit anxious that the results wouldn’t be good. But fortunately, everything went well. I returned healthy and have been playing since then,” he added.
The former Ranger was back on injured reserve in November but only missed six games during this second recovery phase. Kakko came back to Seattle’s lineup after a frustrating six-game losing streak, contributing 20 points (5 goals, 15 assists) over the Kraken’s last 33 games before the Olympic break.
As the Seattle team entered the 20-day hiatus, they found themselves in a playoff position, sitting third in the Pacific Division with a solid .563 scoring percentage.
Kakko rotated with Oliver Kapanen on Finland’s third line, alongside his roommates Anton Randell and Etu Luostarinen in the Olympic village.
“When I was younger, I remember waiting eagerly for the Finnish games to start. There was just something about it,” he reminisced after a practice session. “Everyone would speculate about the competition and the outcomes. I do feel the pressure, sure, but it’s also exhilarating knowing everyone’s watching. My friends and family often ask how the Olympics are, which makes it even more enjoyable.”
Meanwhile, Team USA has been busy adjusting their lineup. They plan on keeping the Jack Eichel line intact, featuring the Tkachuk brothers following the 4 Nations tournament. Matt Boldy, a central figure from the 4 Nations’ third line, skated alongside Auston Matthews and Jake Guentzel during practice, while Kyle Connor, Dylan Larkin, and Tage Thompson formed another unit. The fourth line showed some variability, but it seems likely that Brock Nelson is set to center that group.
In the lineup news, Charlie McAvoy and Jack Hughes, both nursing injuries before the Olympics, may not compete. McAvoy was spotted skating with Quinn Hughes, but Coach Sullivan advised against drawing conclusions from this arrangement.
For Team Canada, the noteworthy lineup development includes Connor McDavid on a second line centered by Tom Wilson and Macklin Celebrini. Celebrini, at just 19, is the second-youngest athlete to light the Olympic cauldron, following Latvia’s Albert Smits, who is projected to be a top pick in the upcoming draft.
2026 Winter Olympics
“Physically, he may be young, but the kid’s game awareness is exceptional,” Canada coach John Cooper remarked. “He has a maturity that belies his age. It’s tough to see him merely as a kid anymore… he’s a remarkable talent.”
Certain sections of the Santa Giulia Arena still resemble a worksite. With curtains up to shield unfinished areas behind the goals, some seating remains unavailable due to ongoing construction issues. However, players and staff have downplayed any concerns about the ice and facility conditions.
“I feel good,” said Team USA captain Matthews. “I can’t imagine the pressure of pulling something like this together in such a short time frame. They’ve done a commendable job with the setup. The ice seems solid, and while it may not be perfect, it’s pretty impressive.”
“I didn’t find any shortcomings,” noted Finland’s Sebastian Aho, emphasizing that rink size shouldn’t impact play.
Both Team Canada and Team Sweden wrapped up practices that were closed to reporters Monday; Cooper mentioned space constraints in the smaller practice rink as the reason for the lack of media access.
As of now, no team has publicly announced a starting goaltender for the opening game. During Team USA’s practice, Connor Hellebuyck stayed in one net, while Jeremy Swayman and Jake Oettinger alternated in the other.
