This 2024-25 season will be the beginning of the end of an era for the Seattle Kraken. Many of the team’s original players have already come and gone from the roster, but a group of core veterans that has stuck around through Seattle’s first three seasons in existence will begin filtering out next summer.
Roster stalwarts like Yanni Gourde, Adam Larsson, Will Borgen, and Brandon Tanev are all set to become unrestricted free agents after the coming season, and the deals for Jaden Schwartz, Jordan Eberle, Oliver Bjorkstrand, Eeli Tolvanen, and Jamie Oleksiak will end following 2025-26.
Meanwhile, a strong and growing prospect pool has produced several players that are knocking on the NHL door, and more could be ready for NHL gigs by the time some of the aforementioned veterans exit the fold.
So, while the 2024-25 Kraken will look fairly similar to the 2023-24 version, except with Chandler Stephenson and Brandon Montour providing upgrades over the likes of Kailer Yamamoto and Pierre-Edouard Bellemare, the group will look very different next season.
With all this in mind, we decided to look into our crystal ball and make some way-too-early predictions on which of the players mentioned above will remain with the Kraken beyond the next two seasons.
Kraken UFA’s in 2024-25
Yanni Gourde
Yanni has been a fan favorite since being selected in the Expansion Draft from the Tampa Bay Lightning. A leader on the team, his willingness to go into the dirty areas of the ice and muck it up with players twice his size, smiling through getting punched in the face, has endeared him to the Seattle faithful.
But Gourde is no spring chicken at 32 years old. The key to his game is speed and energy, and while we still saw that last season, we also saw a decrease in his offensive production from 48 points (14-34—48) in 2022-23 to 33 points (11-22—33) in 2023-24.
With Matty Beniers and now Stephenson set to take the two top-six center spots, and Shane Wright potentially jumping into the third spot, that likely pushes Gourde down to a full-time 4C role, which would surely limit his ice time.
As much as it pains us to say this, we think this will be Gourde’s last season in deep sea blue.
Adam Larsson
The Big Cat has been an integral part of this team for three seasons, anchoring the top defense pair alongside the more offensively gifted Vince Dunn. Like Gourde, Larsson too is getting up there in years at 31, but his game and role are quite different than those of Yanni.
Larsson plays a stay-at-home style that serves well on the top pair now but could also bring value on lower defense pairings, even if the Swede loses a step or two over the coming seasons.
We also get the sense that Larsson loves Seattle. We could see him signing for a couple more years after this one.
Will Borgen
Borgen was a sneaky strong pick in the Expansion Draft. Chosen from the Buffalo Sabres, he was a relative unknown when his name was announced at Gasworks Park in July, 2021. After being mired in the pressbox during the Kraken’s inaugural season, Borgen has blossomed as a reliable, right-shot, two-way defenseman that brings an edge to his game.
He has good speed and instincts and is a quintessential middle- or bottom-pair type of player. We would love to see him take another step offensively this season, but even if he doesn’t, Borgen brings value.
At 27 years old, if he wants to return, we think the Kraken would want him back, though next summer will be the time for Borgen to cash in on the open market. Even so, we will predict a three-year extension for Borgen this season.
Brandon Tanev
Tanev is a player that the Kraken seem to value for his tenacious forechecking, energy, and penalty killing. But assuming good health, he is destined for the fourth line next season at a big $3.5 million cap hit.
We’re somewhat surprised Tanev hasn’t been traded already, being that he is entering the last year of his deal, but unless he’s willing to take a big pay cut and/or starts producing offense, we just can’t see him sticking with Seattle after this season.
Joey Daccord
Though he doesn’t quite fit in the “roster stalwart” category with the others (2023-24 was his first season as a full-time NHLer), Joey Daccord is also set to become a UFA after 2024-25 and deserves mentioning.
Daccord was perhaps the biggest bright spot in an otherwise frustrating 2023-24 season, and if he builds on that next season, he could approach star territory. If that does happen, and if he wants to stay with Seattle beyond his expiring contract, then he will be due for a monster raise from his current $1.5 million AAV.
Remember, Philipp Grubauer is still under contract for three more years at $5.9 million per, so if Daccord gets to a point where he will command big dollars, and Seattle wants him back, then Grubauer may have to go.
We will predict that Daccord stays after this season, and Grubauer exits, either through trade (unlikely) or buyout (more likely).
Kraken UFA’s in 2025-26
Jaden Schwartz
Schwartz has flown under the radar for much of his tenure with the Kraken, but he does a better job at going hard to the blue paint than any other forward on the team. So, he’s an important piece for the current roster.
But Schwartz has dealt with a lot of health issues the last few years that have pushed him out of the lineup for several extended periods. When this contract ends, Schwartz will be 34 years old.
We would not expect Schwartz back with the Kraken beyond 2025-26.
Jordan Eberle
While Schwartz has flown under the radar, Eberle has been a heart-and-soul leader of the team since Day 1 and showed his loyalty to the organization by agreeing to a two-year extension on the eve of last season’s NHL Trade Deadline.
But also like Schwartz, Eberle is getting long in the tooth and will likely slow down more than he already has over these next two campaigns.
We would not expect Eberle to remain a Kraken beyond 2025-26.
Oliver Bjorkstrand
Bjorkstrand is a different story than Schwartz and Eberle. A splashy trade acquisition from the Blue Jackets two offseasons ago, the Maestro has been a key cog for Seattle and has plenty of tread left on his tires at 29 years old.
Oddly, we still feel like he hasn’t hit his full potential with the Kraken. Perhaps the offensive upgrades made to the team this summer could help unlock more production from Bjorkstrand moving forward, but either way, we think the Kraken value his game.
We will predict that Bjorkstrand sticks around beyond 2025-26.
Eeli Tolvanen
Tolvanen’s career was in a tough spot when he arrived in Seattle and saw things turn around under former head coach Dave Hakstol. Given plenty of opportunity and good linemates, Tolvanen flourished and earned himself a two-year extension earlier this summer.
Notably, the length of that new deal does not buy out any of Tolvanen’s UFA years. While we don’t know which (if either) side pushed for that two-year term, it does feel like the heavy-shooting Finnish winger is setting himself up to test the open market two summers from now.
We will predict that Tolvanen performs well over the next two seasons but exits as a free agent after 2025-26.
Jamie Oleksiak
And finally, the Big Rig. We do believe Oleksiak is underrated. For a player his size, we know fans want to see him play more physically, but his reach and ability to clear the front of the net make him an important defender and a big reason why Seattle’s blue line was a strength last season.
The Kraken don’t have a ton in their prospect pool on the backend, but we know the organization thinks highly of Ville Ottavainen. Ottavainen has a similar profile to Oleksiak and could be two seasons away from being ready to take over that big, stay-at-home role at the NHL level (and for much cheaper than Oleksiak).
With Ottavainen coming and Oleksiak currently 31 years old, we will predict that Oleksiak does not return after his current contract.
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What say you, folks? Who stays and who goes over the next couple years?
Darren Brown
Darren Brown is the Chief Content Officer at soundofhockey.com and the host of the Sound Of Hockey Podcast. He is a member of the PHWA and is also usually SOH’s Twitter intern (but please pretend you don’t know that). Follow him @DarrenFunBrown and @sound_hockey or email darren@soundofhockey.com.
This all seems pretty spot on.
I think you’re on track with all of your predictions but who knows what RF will do. On paper this is the perfect year to sell some parts at the trade deadline, batting for a playoff spot could complicate that though. Possibly we have a rookie or two who look like they could fill
In and we could sell a player or two without it costing us a playoff berth if we’re in that situation? The Gru situation is going to be the most interesting situation to watch this season. I do feel that he could be tradable with some salary retention and a prospect going with him, that might be a better option than buying him out?
Agree with the article and this response.
It would be interesting, Darren, if you extended this article to add two more features you hinted at:
1. Who is each of the leaver’s likely replacement (from the prospect pool)?
2. Assuming RF trades most of these leavers by TDL, what sort of return do you envision?
BTW, as Ottavainen is a RD while Oleksiak is a LD, how does one replace the other?
Playing the D out further, if what you say happens, then a future lineup has Montour, Larsson, Borgen, Ottavainen, and potentially Dragicevic and Nelson on the right side and only Dunn and Evans on the left side. How does this all sort out?
Darren, you could be a part-time carpenter because you nailed this one. Without naming names, there are a few contracts that are too long. Removing those players allows Seattle to find free agents. Aging players cannot produce like they did when they signed, love contracts that extend their career.
Sounds about right. Thanks for the great summer content Darren.
I think Borgen is going to be very tricky. As a 28 year old right-shot UFA defensemen who is – if you trust the rumors – coveted by other teams, if his agent brings him a three year contract that walks him to age 31… he should be fired… or it better be a huge number. I’d love to see him stay, but I think it’s gonna have to be a long term commitment. Given his teammates on the right side, the Kraken pipeline, and the rising cap, longer is probably better.
I also think Tolvanen’s contract makes him highly tradeable.
Can’t wait for opening day!!!
Go Kraken!!!
It’s interesting people keep saying Oleksiak is underrated, when I am always extremely frustrated watching him play. He is constantly missing opposing players wide open in front of the net (especially on the weak side) and looks “lost” around the net in general. He isn’t as physical as you would expect for his size. He constantly turns over the puck, either by “clearing” pucks directly to the opposing team for no reason, or even directly passing them the puck when they are wide open in the slot. I’ve also never seen a defenseman needlessly ice the puck as much as he does, and literally for no reason. If it weren’t such early days for the franchise, his contract and Gru’s (a combined $10mil+ for two marginal players at best) would have been a real issue for The Kraken. The sooner that can be fixed, the better, especially with Matty, Shane and Joey needing to be paid at some point.
That said, I am really excited about Montour and Stephenson joining The Kraken. Seattle has desperately needed these players in the locker room, and the cost was the cost. They both just turned 30, earned these contracts and I strongly believe they will continue to earn them in Seattle, on and off the ice and for enough years to make these contracts worth it. Players like these just make everyone around them better, so you are getting value multipliers in a variety of areas. They give everyone more confidence, create more difficult match-ups for opposing teams and generally raise the bar for the entire team.
Since season one I have been saying to my wife, “I wish he was better”, and by that I’ve always meant his puck handling. I don’t know that I’m as critical as you of Oleksiak, but I’ve always felt his puck handling is a weakness.
He’s a $4.6m D-man (so yeah, he and Gru are a combined $10.5m) who’s only skill seems to be blocking shots, and that’s probably because he is so large. I cringe every time he gets the puck. You can kind of tell the whole team tries to keep the puck away from him.
I can think of one other significant skill that Jamie Oleksiak has: punching Brendan Lemeiux in the face so hard that he skids half-way down the rink. But for real, he is a good penalty killer, and he is one of just a few guys on the roster who can clear the ice in front of Grubauer.
Hey Darren, great article.
From this week’s Pod – The OHL doesn’t allow teams to trade first round picks, hence the volume of picks for Rehkopf. – JC
Hey Darren…
Just listening to the podcast.
Dunno if you’ll see this but wanted to clarify a bit about the Canes/Habs offer sheets. I think folks much misunderstand what actually happened there.
The first offer sheet was Aho. The player and the team were going into the off-season without an extension and I think it’s widely acknowledged that Carolina plays hardball. Well this time, it turned out Gerry Johansson – Aho’s agent – was also willing to play hardball. Not only did he get the Habs to sign him, the deal had half of the $42m paid out in the first 12 months. While this has no bearing on the cap, a front-loaded contract creates a significant expense out of the owners pocket – and like return for the player. While it was characterized as Montreal “simply doing Carolina’s negotiating for them” it was clearly not the deal Dundon would have wanted. In addition to being front-loaded, it also captured only a single UFA season.
By comparison, Svechnikov’s second signing included four UFA seasons and the $7.75m AAV contract paid just $6m and $7m over the first two seasons respectively. The only signing bonus ($4m) comes the first year. After that… zero bonus dollars.
The Aho contract cost Dundon millions of dollars out of his own pocket over the deal I assume they were pushing for at the negotiating table. That would explain what happened next…
After the Canadiens surprising run to the Stanley Cup, media reports indicated Kotkaniemi was unhappy with his usage and development in Montreal, having been healthy scratch multiple times during the playoffs. Enter Tom Dundon. Knowing the Habs were in something of a cap crunch, the Canes made a run at revenge. One need look no further than the $20 signing bonus in the offer (Aho wears No.20) to know this was payback. There’s not an “m” missing – a twenty dollar signing bonus.
Now if you recognize an offer sheet as a three-party deal (team-player-team) then it’s pretty clear Aho “won” the first one, Carolina “lost”, and Montreal ended up with a draw. It would be hard to argue – so far – that Carolina didn’t “lose” the second one as well. In addition to coughing up an overpriced one year $6.1m deal, the Hurricanes also sent a 1st and a 3rd to the Canadiens. All along Don Waddell said they liked the player and it wasn’t about vengeance. Liking the player seems believable and they did sign him to an eight year extension – though it’s unclear if that deal was “in the drawer” as part of the offer sheet. Regardless, Kotkaniemi has not developed into the second line center they thought they were getting. All in, the Hurricanes have commited nine years, $44.7m, and 1st and 3rd round draft picks to a bottom-six center… that seems like a lot.