With the Seattle Kraken loss to the Los Angeles Kings on Wednesday night, and the Kings defeating the San Jose Sharks on Thursday, the Kraken have officially been eliminated from the playoffs. If the Kraken were to win out the rest of the season, they would top out at 89 points, and the Kings currently sit at 91 points. The Kraken have seven games remaining, and with that 89-point maximum, Seattle has been mathematically eliminated.
How the Kraken did this week
- Mar. 30 — 3-0 shutout loss to the Stars
- Apr. 1 — 4-2 win versus the Sharks
- Apr. 3 — 5-2 loss at the hands of the Kings
As mentioned in last week’s playoff update, if the Kraken lost two games this week, that would be enough to eliminate them from playoff contention. Seattle did just that this past week, going 1-2-0. Both losses came against teams currently in playoff position, but the Kraken did not look like they belonged in either of those contests. The win against the lowly Sharks did feel good, and the Kraken dominated the play for a lot of the night but drooped in the second period to let San Jose back in the game.
The Kids
Shane Wright was called up from Coachella Valley this week. The 2022 No. 4 overall pick centered a line with Jordan Eberle and Jaden Schwartz. In the game against the Sharks, Wright scored on a 2-on-1 rush with Eberle.
In the two games Wright has played during this current call-up, he has looked improved and has averaged over 15 minutes of ice time and two minutes of power-play time per game. The only nitpick I had on Wright’s game was that there were three occasions where he made a pass, only to look up and realize nobody was there. Two of those passes were to the front of the net, though, so I was glad to see him trying to get the puck off the boards and to the center of the ice.
Overall, Wright looks good, and we expect him to make the big club full time next year.
Logan Morrison and Ryan Winterton also have remained with the club. Morrison has played in three games and Winterton in four. Neither forward has registered a point yet, and both were scratched against the Kings. Still, they are getting valuable time in the NHL to adjust to the speed of the game. It has been fun watching them play on the fourth line with Tye Kartye and generate some offensive chances.
At times, Ryker Evans has been on the ice with the fourth line. It has been amazing to see four players on the ice at the same time that are working their way through the Seattle Kraken development path. Morrison and Winterton do not have guaranteed roster spots on the Kraken next year. Development Camp should continue to get more and more competitive as these players push for spots.
Returning to Coachella Valley
At some point the “kids” will be sent back to Coachella Valley for the AHL playoff run. Wright can play four more games before burning a year of his entry-level contract. If Wright plays one more game for the Kraken, he would not be eligible next year for the Calder Memorial Trophy, awarded to the NHL’s rookie of the year, but this is probably not a big item on the mind of general manager Ron Francis.
Morrison and Winterton are not eligible to have their contracts slide this year, as both are over 20 years of age. So, there is no rush to send them back to the Firebirds. There is a possibility they will stay with the Kraken for the rest of the season before going back down and contributing to the Firebirds’ playoff run.
Kraken Games this coming week (Apr 5-11)
- Apr. 5 — Kraken @ Ducks
- Apr. 9 — Coyotes @ Kraken
- Apr. 11 — Sharks @ Kraken (last home game of the year and fan appreciation night)
The Kraken have a pretty easy week playing against three “Tanker” teams. The Kraken have a combined record of 5-1-2 against the Ducks, Coyotes, and Sharks. With 75 games played, the Kraken have a .500 points percentage, earning 75 points. This week is against lower-quality opponents, so a winning record can be expected. After this week, the Kraken will finish up their season with a four-game road trip against some tougher competition (Dallas, St. Louis, Winnipeg, and Minnesota).
Paint the Ice
Just a side note here, as the Kraken have been eliminated from playoff contention, there is an end-of-season event to look forward to called the “Paint the Ice” event. This event is for season ticket holders and requires a ticket, but it far exceeded my expectations last year. I highly recommend going if you have the option. “Paint the Ice” is scheduled for Saturday, Apr. 13, from 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Here are the results from the last year’s event at Climate Pledge Arena.
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Happy one month anniversary everyone of the last time the Kraken beat a team ranked higher than 30th in the league.
Sigh… what a season. I think we all know it’s best not to assume they’ll get off easy with the remaining games! I’ve certainly been burned before. Here’s to a new season. It can’t come fast enough.
Last night was a good night for the Kraken. Even though they didn’t play, they now look like a lock for a top ten pick.
I’m sure most of us stopped even considering the playoffs a long time ago, but the draft positioning has very much been on my mind.
The Penguin’s win over the Capitals last night all but eliminated them from the top ten and that leaves just four teams “competing” for the eighth, ninth, and tenth picks. Even though the Kraken have a favorable schedule, they have a solid grip on the first tie-break and seem to me a sure bet for eight or ninth.
For me the draft positioning has nothing to do with lottery chances and everything to do with the “tiers” this year… and the fact that most folks seem to think the best opportunities dry up around eleven.
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I’m sure Curtis and the rest of the gang will have lots of draft talk after the season, but for me, the race is on right now. I’m still rooting for the Kraken players, but the loses don’t hurt nearly as much right now.
Go Kraken!!!
Why did Gru play last game? He was definitely off and I thought didn’t play well in his previous game. It was looking like H was just going to alternate between goalies for the rest of the season, putting Gru in was a bit of a head scratcher. I guess we’re going for a better puck so it doesn’t really matter.
Anyone have any comments regarding the Geoff article regarding the future fate of H? I thought that Francis had an interesting non committed response that might be an indication that his days are numbered. We’ve got a very interesting offseason approaching.
Nino, I didn’t read the Geoff Baker article. Full disclosure… when I was young – decades ago – I had two Seattle Times paper routes at the same time, both on steep hills. I’ve never fully confronted all the child-labor misery surrounding this, so I still have a deep seated resentment for the ‘”Times”. That being said, the Times paywall is silly… and I’m all for “pay for content”. (Patreon)
Geoff Baker is fine… but not worth the ST cost of entrty.
What I would say… if you look at all three Kraken seasons so far, each is unique. What isn’t unique is how this franchise starts the season. First ten games this team has: lost seven-of-ten, six-of-ten, and seven-of-ten. In Vancouver, the turn on Bruce Boudreau really started when the reports out of training camp were “soft”. He didn’t prepare the team. I don’t know if the circumstances are relatable, but Seattle earned 100 points last season – and lost seven of ten to start this season. Hakstol can’t “ease” into next season.
I expect Ron Francis to make a few moves in the off-season, but regardless, if this team starts off like shit again, I think Hakstol will be gone early. I know the NHL coaching carousel goes round-and-round, but I think this is Hak’s last chance.
I hope his message to players on the way out the door at the end of the season isn’t, “don’t worry about it” like it was after the Sharks shutout going into the All-Star break.
Go Kraken!!!